Effect of the Anti-inflammatory and Antioxidant Effects of Salvia miltiorrhiza On Diabetic Nephropathy in Induced Diabetic Rats

Abstract Diabetic nephropathy, a severe consequence of diabetes, can culminate in chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal failure. Controlling blood glucose levels, reducing inflammation, and managing oxidative stress are important strategies for preventing, delaying, and managing diabetic nephropathy. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of Salvia miltiorrhiza extract (SME) in ameliorating renal complications within the context of experimental diabetes-induced by streptozotocin (STZ) administration in rats. The study included 40 out of 50 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats, randomly divided into four groups ( n = 10): Group I: the control group administered distilled water orally; Group II: SME group received for 4 weeks oral intake of SME (100 mg/kg) per day; Group III: The STZ group was administered one dose of STZ injected intraperitoneally at a dose of 60 mg/kg; and Group IV: STZ + SME group received single STZ injection followed by SME administration for 4 weeks. Diabetic rats demonstrated significantly elevated blood glucose concentrations compared to the control, partially mitigated by treatment with S. miltiorrhiza extract (SME). STZ-induced diabetic rats showed increased kidney tissue cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukins (IL)-1β, and IL-6, which were decreased with SME treatment. Furthermore, STZ-induced diabetic rats displayed a significant elevation of malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and a decrease in the actions of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) within the kidney tissue, indicative of oxidative stress. Treatment with SME decreased MDA and elevated GSH and SOD levels in diabetic rats. SME was found to reduce caspase-3 activity in diabetic rat kidneys, indicating a potential role in preventing kidney cell death. Finally, SME treatment also reduced blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels, suggesting improved kidney function. In conclusion, SME has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-apoptotic properties that show therapeutic potential for diabetic nephropathy prevention and treatment.