Allium jesdianum hydro alcoholic extract ameliorates diabetic nephropathy by suppressing connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and receptor for advanced glycation endproducts (RAGE) gene expression in diabetic rats with streptozotocin

Effect of Allium Jesdianum's extract on the physicochemical, antioxidant, antimicrobial and sensory properties of Sausage characteristics

The study investigated the use of Allium Jesdianum plant extract as a natural preservative in sausage dough at varying concentrations. After preparation, chemical and microbial tests were conducted on the samples at zero, 14, 28, and 42 days. The study found no significant changes in pH, moisture, fat, or protein content, but the control samples consistently had the highest total volatile nitrogen (TVN) levels. The peroxide test revealed a significant difference between the control and extract samples. Sensory analysis indicated a significant difference between the control and the 200 and 300 ppm extracts (P < 0.05). Addition of Jesdianum extract significantly reduced the total viable count and psychrophilic bacteria compared to the control, subsequently extending the shelf-life of the product to over 42 days. Overall, Allium Jesdianum extract, with its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, is beneficial in preserving sausage products and can be recommended as a nitrite substitute.

A Review of Medicinal Plants with Renoprotective Activity in Diabetic Nephropathy Animal Models

Diabetic nephropathy (DN), also recognized as diabetic kidney disease, is a kidney malfunction caused by diabetes mellitus. A possible contributing factor to the onset of DN is hyperglycemia. Poorly regulated hyperglycemia can damage blood vessel clusters in the kidneys, leading to kidney damage. Its treatment is difficult and expensive because its causes are extremely complex and poorly understood. Extracts from medicinal plants can be an alternative treatment for DN. The bioactive content in medicinal plants inhibits the progression of DN. This work explores the renoprotective activity and possible mechanisms of various medicinal plant extracts administered to diabetic animal models. Research articles published from 2011 to 2022 were gathered from several databases including PubMed, Scopus, ProQuest, and ScienceDirect to ensure up-to-date findings. Results showed that medicinal plant extracts ameliorated the progression of DN via the reduction in oxidative stress and suppression of inflammation, advanced glycation end-product formation, cell apoptosis, and tissue injury-related protein expression.

Integrated Bioinformatics and Clinical Correlation Analysis of Key Genes, Pathways, and Potential Therapeutic Agents Related to Diabetic Nephropathy

Background

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a common microvascular complication of diabetes and a major cause of end-stage renal disease, resulting in a substantial socioeconomic burden around the world. Some unknown biomarkers, mechanisms, and potential novel agents regarding DN are yet to be identified.

Methods

GSE30528 and GSE1009 were downloaded as training datasets to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of DN. Common DEGs were selected for further analysis. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses of DEGs were performed to explore molecular mechanisms and pathways. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of DEGs was used to identify the top 10 hub genes of DN. Expression profiles of the hub genes were validated in GSE96804 and GSE47183 datasets. The clinical correlation analyses were conducted to confirm the association between key genes and clinical characteristics in the Nephroseq v5 database. The Drug Gene Interaction Database was used to predict potential targeted drugs.

Results

345 and 1228 DEGs were identified in GSE30528 and GSE1009, respectively; and 120 common DEGs were found. The biological process of DEGs was significantly enriched in kidney development. PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, focal adhesion, complement and coagulation cascades were significantly enriched KEGG pathways. The identified top10 hub genes were VEGFA, NPHS1, WT1, TJP1, CTGF, FYN, SYNPO, PODXL, TNNT2, and BMP2. VEGFA, NPHS1, WT1, CTGF, SYNPO, PODXL, and TNNT2 were significantly downregulated in DN. VEGFA, NPHS1, WT1, CTGF, SYNPO, and PODXL were positively correlated with glomerular filtration rate. The targeted drugs or molecular compounds were enalapril, sildenafil, and fenofibrate target for VEGFA; losartan target for NPHS1; halofuginone, deferoxamine, curcumin, and sirolimus target for WT1; and purpurogallin target for TNNT2.

Conclusions

VEGFA, NPHS1, WT1, CTGF, SYNPO, and PODXL are promising biomarkers for diagnosing and evaluating the progression of DN. The drug-gene interaction analyses provide a list of candidate drugs for the precise treatment of DN.

Clinical Application of the Classical Theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Diabetic Nephropathy

Objective

To explore the clinical application of the classical theory of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in diabetic nephropathy (DN).

Methods

A total of 100 patients with DN treated in our hospital from May 2019 to June 2021 were included. The patients were randomly assigned to the control group and the study group. The control group received routine treatment, and the study group was treated with the classical theory of TCM. The efficacy, TCM syndrome score, urine proteinuria (UTP), urine albumin-creatinine ratio (UACR), plasma albumin (ALB), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1C), fasting blood glucose (FBG), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cr), and treatment safety were compared between the two groups.

Results

In comparison to the curative effect, the study group was significantly effective in 34 cases, effective in 12 cases, and ineffective in 4 cases, and the effective rate was 92.00%; the control group was significantly effective in 16 cases, effective in 18 cases, and ineffective in 16 cases, and the effective rate was 68.00%. The effective rate in the study group was higher compared to the control (P < 0.05). In comparison to the TCM syndrome scores, there exhibited no significant difference before treatment (P > 0.05), but after treatment, the TCM syndrome scores of the two groups decreased, and the TCM syndrome scores of the study group were lower compared to the control at 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, and 36 weeks of treatment (P < 0.05). There exhibited no significant difference in the indexes of UTP and UACR before treatment, but the indexes of UTP and UACR in the two groups decreased after treatment, and the indexes of UTP and UACR in the study group were lower compared to the control at 6 and 12 weeks after treatment. There was no significant difference in the indexes of ALB, HbA1C, and FBG before treatment, but after treatment, the indexes of ALB increased, the indexes of HbA1C and FBG decreased in both groups, and the indexes of HbA1C and FBG i4n the study group were lower compared to the control, while the index of ALB in the study group was higher. The indexes of BUN and Cr were compared, and there was no significant difference before treatment, but after treatment, the indexes of BUN and Cr in the two groups decreased, and the indexes of BUN and Cr in the study group were lower compared to the control (P < 0.05). In terms of the treatment safety of the two groups, there was no abnormality in blood, urine, stool routine, and liver and kidney function examination in the study group. No obvious adverse reactions were found in all patients. There were 1 case of abnormal liver function and 2 cases of rash in the control group, and there exhibited no significant difference (P > 0.05).

Conclusion

Under the guidance of classical theory, the optimization scheme of comprehensive treatment of TCM may improve renal function by improving metabolic disorders, vascular lesions, neurotrophic disorders, antioxidant stress, and other ways to repair nerve injury, improving the changes of TCM syndromes, signs, and indicators of patients, and delay the progress of DN.