Water extract of the root of Lindera strychnifolia slows down the progression of diabetic nephropathy in db/db mice.

Abstract We examined a possible preventive effect of Linderae radix (LR), the root of Lindera strychnifolia , on the progression of diabetic nephropathy. Water extract of Linderae radix (LR extract) was orally administered to the C57BL/KsJ- db/db ( db/db ) mice, a model of genetic diabetes, at a dose of 730 mg/kg/day for 12 week. The LR extract treatment did not affect glucose metabolism and systolic pressure. However, it resulted in a better renal function as evaluated by creatinine clearance (Ccr) and serum creatinine than the control; Ccr and serum creatinine were progressively worsened in controls (0.13 ± 0.01 (l/day) and 0.69 ± 0.04 (mg/dl), respectively) whereas unchanged in the treated group (0.24 ± 0.03 (l/day), p p 1 expression was decreased in the LR extract-treated group. These findings suggest that the LR therapy can be a novel therapeutic approach against diabetic nephropathy.