Renal Protective Activity of Hsian-tsao Extracts in Diabetic Rats

Objective To investigate the renal protective activity of Hsian-tsao Mesona procumbens Hemsl. water extracts in diabetic rats. Methods Thirty Sprague-dawley female rats were randomly divided into three groups （n=10 each）, ＂control group＂ with intraperitoneal saline injection, ＂diabetic group＂ with 60 mg of intraperitoneal streptozotocin injection per kg of body weight and ＂Hsian-tsao group＂ with intragastric administration of Hsian-tsao extraction everyday for 4 weeks after intraperitoneal streptozotocin injection. The body weight and blood sugar were measured before and after model induction in the three groups. Thrombospondin-1 （TSP-1） expressions in the kidney were monitored by immunohistochemistry. Kidney ultrastructural changes were also analyzed by using transmission electron microscopy. Results Before diabetic model induction, there were no significant differences among the three groups in body weight and blood sugar. Four weeks after the induction of diabetes, the differences became statistically significant. Electron microscopy also revealed disruption of the foot processes of the podocytes and other damages in diabetic group. These damages were significantly less severe in Hsian-tsao group when compared with the diabetic group. TSP-1 expressions in the kidney were significantly increased in both the diabetic group and Hsian-tsao group, but it was relatively lower in Hsian-tsao group than in diabetic group. Conclusion Our results showed that Hsian-tsao treatment in the diabetic rats effectively prevented the pathological alterations in the kidney and decreased the TSP- 1 expression. It was suggested that Hsian-tsao had protective effect on the kidneys of the diabetic rats.

Neuroprotective effects of flavonoids extracted from licorice on kainate-induced seizure in mice through their antioxidant properties

A relationship between status epilepticus(SE)and oxidative stress has recently begun to be recognized.To explore whether the flavonoids extracted from licorice(LFs)have any protective effect on kainate(KA)-induced seizure in mice,we treated mice with LFs before and after KA injection.In KA-treated mice,we found that superoxide dismutase(SOD)activity decreased immediately after the onset of seizure at 1 h and then increased at 6 h.It returned to baseline 1 d after seizure and then increased again at 3,7,and 28 d,while malondialdehyde(MDA)content remained at a high level at 1 h,6 h,3 d,7 d,and 28 d,indicating a more oxidized status related to the presence of more reactive oxygen species(ROS).Treatment with LFs before KA injection reversed the seizure-induced change in SOD activity and MDA content at 1 h,6 h,3 d,7 d,and 28 d.Treatment with LFs after seizure decreased KA-induced SOD activity and MDA content at 7 and 28 d.Also,LF pre-and post-KA treatments decreased seizure-induced neuronal cell death.Subsequently,Morris water maze tests revealed that the escape latency was significantly decreased and the number of target quadrant crossings was markedly increased in the LF-treated groups.Thus,our data indicate that LFs have protective effects on seizure-induced neuronal cell death and cognitive impairment through their anti-oxidative effects.