Effect of Panax Notoginsenosidum on the renal function in diabetic nephropathy rats

Objective To observe the effect of Panax Notoginsenosidum(PNS)on the prevention and therapy of diabetic nephropathy(DN)and its mechanism by observing its influence on the renal function in DN rats.Methods Forty-eight male rats were randomly divided into normal group,model group,enalapril group and PNS group,with 12 rats in each group.Except control group,the other three groups received gavage with normal saline,enalapril and PNS respectively(once per day)after the establishment of DN models.After 10 weeks,all these four groups were observed the levels of serum triacylglycerol(TG),serum total cholesterol(TC),serum creatinine(SCr),blood urea nitrogen(BUN),urine protein(UP),renal advanced glycation endoproducts(AGEs),renal superoxide dismutase(SOD)and renal malondialdehyde(MDA).Results The levels of TG,TC,SCr,BUN,UP,AGEs and MDA were significantly higher and SOD level was significantly lower in model group than those in normal group(P0.05).The levels of TG((1.15±0.30)mmol/L),TC((2.43±0.46)mmol/L),SCr((69.58±5.62)μmol/L),BUN((18.28±2.02)mmol/L),UP((7.23±2.58)mg/24h),AGEs((27.18±2.81)AUF/mg)and MDA((8.92±0.80)nmol/mg)were significantly lower in PNS group than those in model group(TG:(1.61±0.37)mmol/L,TC:(3.92±0.58)mmol/L,SCr:(92.83±6.78)μmol/L,BUN:(21.04±3.66)mmol/L,UP:(19.37±10.50)mg/24 h,AGEs:(38.67±4.08)AUF/mg,MDA:(15.17±1.26)nmol/mg)(P0.05),and SOD was higher in PNS group((30.26±2.09)u/mg)than that in model group((14.89±1.15)u/mg)(P0.05).There were no significant differences in the above indexes between PNS group and enalapril group(P0.05).Conclusion PNS might reduce kidney damage in DN by anti-oxidant,inhibiting overproduction of AGEs,and reducing the levels of UP,TG,TC,SCr and BUN,and further protect the renal function in DN rats.