11/06/2018 / By RJ Jhonson
Diabetes is a fearsome health condition. When left uncontrolled, it can easily damage various parts of your body, including your kidneys. According to a study published in the journal BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, the combination of two herbal formulations used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can help protect your kidneys from damage brought about by diabetes.
The condition, called diabetic nephropathy (DN), is one of the most common complications of diabetes. It is also a considerable contributor to end-stage renal disease (ESRD), more commonly known as kidney failure. The pathogenesis of DN is not thoroughly understood, but some studies suggest the involvement of inflammation and errors caused by a high-glucose environment.
Two herbal medicines used in TCM, Radix puerariae (RP) and Fructus crataegi (FC), are believed to have renal protective effects, especially in people with DN. RP is also known as Gegen in Chinese and is made from the root of either Pueraria lobata or Pueraria thomsonii (kudzu). It is noted for its hypoglycemic effect and its ability to improve insulin resistance, which is why it is prescribed to sufferers of diabetes.
On the other hand, FC is formulated from either of two varieties of Crataegus pinnatifida (shan zha) and is usually made into tea. It is known for its rich antioxidant content, which has been proven in in vitro studies.
To test the effectiveness of the herbal combination (RPFC) against DN, the researchers used a Type 2 diabetic rat model. In the study, the researchers fed 20 rats with high-fat diet meant to induce insulin resistance. The animals were divided into five groups: normal; high-fat diet; a diabetic group that was given saline solution; a group that was given a high-fat diet plus RPFC; and a diabetic group that was given RPFC. Diabetes was induced through an injection of streptozotocin (STZ), a toxin that affects the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.
Throughout a 15-week period, the animals’ blood glucose levels and weight were measured once a week. The researchers also kept track of the rats’ urine albumin excretion rate. In the end, the animals were sacrificed and their kidneys collected and examined.
The researchers found that treating with RPFC resulted in decrease in blood glucose. Administering RPFC also reduced damage to the kidney cells, as well as the presence of Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and protein kinase B (AKT), both modulators of inflammation.
The results led the researchers to conclude that treatment with RPFC blocks the P13K/AKT pathway in the kidneys, reducing inflammation and preventing injury in the rats’ kidneys.
The best way to prevent DN is to reduce your risk of Type 2 diabetes. Here are some tips you can follow to avoid the disease:
Learn more about preventing diabetes and its complications at DiabetesScienceNews.com.
Sources include:
Tagged Under: alternative medicine, diabetes complications, Diabetic nephropathy, end-stage renal disease, fructus crataegi, herbal medicine, kidney failure, kidneys, Kudzu, Radix Puerariae, renal injury, shan zha, TCM, traditional Chinese medicine, Type 2 Diabetes