WITHDRAWN: Salvianolate attenuates renal fibrosis in rat models of diabetic nephropathy by inhibiting inflammation and oxidative stress mechanisms

Abstract Mounting evidence has shown that inflammation and oxidative stress are involved in the development and progression of diabetic nephropathy. Salvianolate is proven to have multiple bioactivities including anti-inflammation and anti-oxidative stress effects in diverse diseases. However, its role in rat models of diabetic nephropathy remains unclear. In this study, we examined the renoprotective effect of Salvianolate on rat models of diabetic nephropathy induced by streptozotocin intraperitoneal injection. We found that salvianolate protected against renal injury in rats with diabetic nephropathy; it decreased protein urea, improved renal function and alleviated renal fibrosis. Its underlying mechanism involved decreased activation of TGF-β-smad and phophorylated -NF-KB signaling pathway, decreased production of inflammation cytokines and renal oxidative stress, increased PPARγ and improved glucose metabolism. Our findings suggest that salvianolate could prove to be a promising and effective drug against diabetic nephropathy.