Protective effect of eriodictyol against hyperglycemia-induced diabetic nephropathy in rats entails antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects mediated by activating Nrf2

Jozaa Z AlTamimi; Nora A AlFaris; Ghedeir M Alshammari; Reham I Alagal; Dalal H Aljabryn; Mohammed Abdo Yahya

doi:10.1016/j.jsps.2023.101817

Protective effect of eriodictyol against hyperglycemia-induced diabetic nephropathy in rats entails antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects mediated by activating Nrf2

Saudi Pharm J. 2023 Nov;31(11):101817. doi: 10.1016/j.jsps.2023.101817. Epub 2023 Oct 5.

Authors

Jozaa Z AlTamimi¹, Nora A AlFaris¹, Ghedeir M Alshammari², Reham I Alagal³, Dalal H Aljabryn¹, Mohammed Abdo Yahya²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Physical Sports Sciences, College of Education, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia.
² Department of Food Science and Nutrition, College of Food and Agricultural Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.
³ Department of Health Sciences, College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

The pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy (DN) involves cellular activation of oxidative stress and inflammation. Eriodictyol is a citrus-derived flavonoid with multiple pharmacological and protective effects in various conditions. The protective role of Eriodictyol against diabetes and diabetic nephropathy is less investigated. The current research aimed to explore the role of eriodictyol in protecting against DN prompted by streptozotocin in male rats and investigate some possible mechanisms of action. Diabetes was brought about in rats by an i.p injection of a lone dose (65 mg/kg). Five groups of rats were included (n = 8 each) as control (non-diabetic), eriodictyol (20 mg/kg, orally), STZ-diabetic, STZ + eriodictyol (20 mg/kg, orally), and STZ + eriodictyol (20 mg/kg, orally) + ML385 (30 µg/kg, i.p.). Kidney histology and the levels of some markers of kidney function, renal oxidative stress, and renal inflammation were analyzed in all groups of rats. Treatment with eriodictyol prevented the damage in the renal glomeruli and tubules and reduced renal immune cell infiltration in STZ-treated animals. It also spiked urinary creatinine excretion and reduced urine volume and urinary levels of albumin, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), urinary kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1), and nephrin in these diabetic rats. In addition, eriodictyol stimulated the nuclear protein accumulation of Nrf2 and boosted the expression of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), and catalase (CAT) in the diabetic rat kidneys. In concomitance, it reduced the nuclear levels of NF-κB and levels of interleukine-6 (IL-6), malondialdehyde (MDA), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and attenuated the reduction in renal ATP levels and the increase in the mitochondria transition pore opening (mtTPT). However, the administration of eriodictyol did not affect rats' body weights and fasting glucose and insulin levels but significantly reduced serum levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-c, and oxidized LDL-c (ox-LDL-c). In conclusion, eriodictyol prevents STZ-induced nephropathy by a hypolipidemic effect and concomitant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects mediated by activating Nrf2/NF-κB/antioxidant axis.

Keywords: Anti-inflammatory; Antioxidant; Diabetes; Eriodictyol; Kidney; Streptozotocine.