Effects of linalool on inflammation, matrix accumulation and podocyte loss in kidney of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

CONTEXT

This study aimed to evaluate the renoprotective action of linalool (LIN) on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats.

OBJECTIVE

The pathological changes in diabetic nephropathy (DN) include oxidative stress, renal injury, matrix accumulation and podocyte abnormalities. We investigated the renoprotective actions of LIN, a monoterpene alcohol, present in herbal essential oils in STZ-induced diabetic rats with renal injury.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

STZ-diabetic rats were administered LIN (25 mg/kg) for 45 days, after which the activities of key enzymes of glucose metabolism, collagen content, oxidative damage and expression of glucose transporter-1 (GLUT-1), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), nuclear factor-κBp65 (NF-κB p65) and nephrin were analyzed.

RESULTS

Diabetic rats displayed altered glucose metabolism, collagen accumulation and increased TGF-β1 and NF-κB expression in kidney. LIN treatment restored glucose-metabolizing enzymes, collagen content and GLUT-1 expression and also prevented nephrin loss. LIN also rescued kidney from oxidative stress and inflammation by decreasing the expression of TGF-β1 and NF-κB. Ultrastructural changes such as basement membrane thickening, reduction in podocyte number and loss of filtration barrier integrity in diabetic rats were mitigated by LIN.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

The results of this study suggest that LIN can attenuate nephropathic changes induced in kidney of diabetic rats. These findings highlight the utility of LIN as a potential drug to treat renal damage in diabetic subjects.