Abstract:

Objective: To explore inhibitory effect and its mechanism of ethanol extract from buckwheat chaff (EBC) on renal injury of diabetic rats. Methods: The diabetic rat model was induced by intraperitoneal injection with alloxan. The level of fasting blood glucose (FBG), 24-hour urine protein, creatinine clearance rate (Ccr), renal index and fructosamine and AGEs of kidney were observed in the normal control group, model group, positive control group (administered benazepril BNPL) and low- and high-dose EBC groups. The morphological changes of kidney were observed through HE and Masson staining. Results: Compared with the normal control group, the levels of FBG, 24-hour urine protein, renal index, fructosamine and AGEs of kidney in the model group exhibited a significant increase, but the level of Ccr exhibited a significant decrease (P＜ 0.01). Meanwhile, obvious renal damages in the model group were observed. However, compared with the model group, the levels of FBG, 24-hour urine protein, renal index and fructosamine and AGEs of kidney in BNPL treatment group and EBC treatment groups exhibited a reduction but the level of Ccr revealed an enhancement (P＜0.05, P＜ 0.01), and a slight renal damage was observed in all these treatment groups. Conclusion: EBC significantly inhibits renal injury of diabetic rats induced by alloxan, and the mechanism may be related to inhibition of the formation of AGEs resulting from lowered blood glucose level.

Key words: ethanol extract from buckwheat chaff, diabetes mellitus, renal injury