Potential Effect of Nigella Sativa on the Development of Type 2 Diabetic Nephropathy in Rats: Possible Role of Hypoxia Inducible Factor

Abstract Objective This study was conducted to delineate the beneficial effect of Nigella Sativa (NS) on the development and progression of diabetic kidney disease. Methods Rats were allocated into 3 groups: control, T2D (type 2 diabetes), and T2D-NS-treated group. Animals were assessed for renal function, lipid profile, fasting glucose, insulin resistance, RT-qPCR was used to detect mRNA of AMPK, PI3K, AKT, mTOR, HIF-1α, and VEGF, and histopathological analysis was conducted using H&E staining. Results T2D group showed a significant elevation in the blood glucose, insulin, HbA1C, renal function tests, microalbuminuria as well as marked dyslipidemia compared to the control. Moreover, there were an increase in the expressional level of PI3K, AKT, mTOR, HIF-1α, and VEGF and downward regulation of AMPK associated with histopathological deleterious changes. NS treatment ameliorated the biochemical, and histopathological changes to comparable levels with the control. Conclusion NS exerted a clear antidiabetic, antihyperlipidemic, and renoprotective effect in T2D.