Effect of supplementing Qi-nourishing Yin-dispersing blood stasis-dredgingcollateral herbs on p38 MAPK signaling pathway inkidney of early diabetic rats

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of supplementing Qi-nourishing Yin and dispersing blood stasis-dredging collateral herbs on p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) signaling pathway in the kidney of early diabetic rats. METHOD: Dividing SD rats randomly into 6 groups: Simple nephrectomy group, model group, irbesatan group, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) low dose group, TCM middle dose group and TCM high dose group. Each group of rats was fed with the corresponding dose of medicine. After 6 weeks, detecting 24 h urine protein (UPro) level, renal function, p38 MAPK mRNA and p-p38 MAPK protein level. RESULT: UPro levels of irbesatan group, TCM low group and TCM middle dose group decreased significantly (P < 0.05) , compared with that of the model group. Renal function of the treated groups was improved greatly and their p38 MAPK mRNA and p-p38MAPK protein levels decreased significantly (P < 0.05), compared with those of the model group. CONCLUSION: Supplementing Qi-nourishing Yin-dispersing blood stasis-dredging collateral herbs could treat DN rats effectively by inhibiting the expression of p38 MAPK signaling pathway.