Efficacy-based identification of active component of hachimijiogan ameliorating diabetic nephropathy

Abstract

Traditional medicines, including Chinese prescriptions, have attracted much attention due to their extensive and unique biological activities without toxic and/or side effects. We evaluated the effects of hachimijiogan and identified its active compound ameliorating diabetic renal damage using a type 1 diabetic nephropathy rat model which underwent a subtotal nephrectomy plus streptozotocin injection, and Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty rats as a model of human type 2 diabetes and its complications. Hachimijiogan treatment decreased the levels of glucose-induced oxidative stress, advanced glycation endproduct formation, renal protein overexpression, and proteinuria. These results indicate that hachimijiogan is a potential therapeutic agent in the development of type 1 and 2 diabetic nephropathy. Furthermore, according to the identification of the active component of the crude drug, Corni Fructus, 7-O-galloyl-D-sedoheptulose is considered to be the most important contributor to prevent and/or delay the onset of diabetic renal damage. 7-O-Galloyl-D-sedoheptulose is expected to provide a novel therapeutic strategy against the development of diabetic nephropathy.