The nephroprotective action of Passiflora edulis in streptozotocin-induced diabetes

Abstract

In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effect of Passiflora edulis fruit peel aqueous (AFA) extract as an adjuvant to insulin to confer nephroprotection against streptozotocin-induced diabetes. Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups based on treatment received for 60 days: diabetic (DB), control (CTL), insulin (INS), and insulin + AFA extract (INS + AFA). mRNA and protein expression levels of podocyte (nephrin, podocin, and WT1) and tubular (megalin) proteins were measured in kidney tissue specimens and urine. Biochemical parameters and kidney histopathology were also examined. Herein, the INS + AFA group showed superior glycemic control, which resulted in the reduction of urinary albumin/creatinine ratio, maintenance of baseline levels of Nphs1, Nphs2, Wt1, and Lrp2 mRNA expression, prevention of protein loss from the kidney tissue into the urinary space, along with the maintenance of glomerular basement membrane thickness, hyalinization, glomerular and tubulointerstitial fibrosis at values approximating those of the CTL group and significantly lower than those in the DB group. Therefore, these results suggest that, as an anti-diabetic agent, the AFA extract adjuvant to insulin could reduce and potentially prevent diabetic kidney disease.

Phytocompounds from Amazonian Plant Species against Acute Kidney Injury: Potential Nephroprotective Effects

“…, and harmalinic acid (4) [115] Analgesic [22], hallucinogen [23], anesthetic [24], antidiabetic [25], anticancerogenic [18], nephroprotective, diuretic [26] Peganum harmala L. Seeds Harmol (5), harmalol (6), harmine (1), and harmaline (2) [116] Antioxidant, nephroprotective, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic [116] Passiflora edulis Sims Fruit peel, leaves, flowers, seeds Orientin (7) and isoorientin (8) [117] Anxiolytic, sedative, neuropathic pain [118], anticonvulsant [119], cognitive function and degenerative diseases [120] The numbers in bold correspond to the molecular structures shown below.…”

“…The species is rich in natural bioactive compounds, among them, a significant content of flavonoids. For example, orientin and isoorientin are compounds with potential hypoglycemic effects, pointed out in the study by Galdino et al [117] when evaluating the therapeutic effect of the aqueous extract of the fruit peel of P. edulis Sims as an adjuvant to insulin, to confer nephroprotection against diabetes induced by streptozotocin in Wistar rats. In the study, those animals treated with P. edulis extract showed superior glycemic control, which resulted in a reduction in the urinary albumin/creatinine ratio; maintenance of basal levels of mRNA expression of Nphs1, Nphs2, and Wt1n in the renal tissue; expression of mRNA Lrp2; prevention of protein loss from the renal tissue to the urinary space; and maintenance of glomerular basement membrane thickness, hyalinization, and glomerular and tubulointerstitial fibrosis with values close to those of the control group and significantly lower than those in the diabetic group.…”

The Response and Evaluation of Morphology, Physiology, and Biochemistry Traits in Triploid Passiflora edulis Sims ‘Mantianxing’ to Drought Stress

“…It is widely used in food processing due to its unique flavor. In recent years, it attracted much attention in the medical field and pharmaceutical industry [ 2 , 3 ] for containing various active phytochemical constituents, such as tannins, coumarin alkaloids, flavonoids, tyrosine, glycine, phenols, and polysaccharides [ 4 , 5 ].…”