Astragalus–Saffron–Rhubarb Mixture Delays the Progress of Diabetic Nephropathy in db/db Mice

Figures & data

Figure 1 Effects of BSR on body weight of db/db DN mice. Animals were assigned into six group (n = 25): control group (db/m), model group (db/db-m), positive group (db/db-me) and BSR at high- (db/db-hd), medium- (db/db-md) and low (db/db-ld) doses group. The data are shown as the mean±SD.

Figure 2 Effects of BSR on blood glucose of db/db DN mice (mmol/L). Animals were assigned into six group (n = 25): control group (db/m), model group (db/db-m), positive group (db/db-me) and BSR at high- (db/db-hd), medium- (db/db-md) and low (db/db-ld) doses group. The data are shown as the mean±SD.

Figure 3 Effect of BSR on the UAER of db/db DN mice (mg/24-hours). Animals were assigned into six group (n = 25): control group (db/m), model group (db/db-m), positive group (db/db-me) and BSR at high- (db/db-hd), medium- (db/db-md) and low (db/db-ld) doses group. The data are shown as the mean±SD.

Figure 4 Effect of BSR on blood urea nitrogen level of db/db DN mice (mg/24-hours). Animals were assigned into six group (n = 25): control group (db/m), model group (db/db-m), positive group (db/db-me) and BSR at high- (db/db-hd), medium- (db/db-md) and low (db/db-ld) doses group. The data are shown as the mean±SD.

Figure 5 Effect of BSR on serum creatinine level of db/db DN mice (mg/24-hours). Animals were assigned into six group (n = 25): control group (db/m), model group (db/db-m), positive group (db/db-me) and BSR at high- (db/db-hd), medium- (db/db-md) and low (db/db-ld) doses group. The data are shown as the mean±SD.

Figure 6 Pathological changes of DN in db/db mice treated with BSR for 24 weeks. Animals were assigned into six group (n = 25): control group (db/m), model group (db/db-m), positive group (db/db-me) and BSR at high- (db/db-hd), medium- (db/db-md) and low (db/db-ld) doses group. The data are shown as the mean±SD.

Table 1 Effect of BSR on Mesangial Matrix Dilation Score of db/db DN Mice (After 24 Weeks of Treatment)

Group	N	Db/m	db/db-m	db/db-me	db/db-hd	db/db-md	db/db-ld
Score of mesangial dilatation	6	-	2.60±0.40^#	0.95±0.51*	0.75±0.51*^#	0.87±0.8*^#	1.00±0.72*

Notes: db/m: blank control group, db/db-m: model group, db/db-me: positive control group, db/db-hd: high-dose treatment group, db/db-md: medium-dose treatment group, db/db-ld: low-dose treatment group. Compared with db/db-m group, *P < 0.01; compared with db/db-me group, ^#p < 0.01.

Table 2 Effects of BSR on the Levels of IL-6 in Renal Tissue Homogenate of db/db Mice (pg/mL)

Group	Time (Weeks)
	0	4	8	12	24
db/m	23.44±3.88*^#	22.80±2.77*^#	23.16±2.74*^#	23.57±3.48*^#	22.54±1.74*^#
db/db-m	215.54±9.44	299.15±6.33^#	324.64±24.59^#	339.35±16.60^#	351.01±32.65^#
db/db-hd	219.00±5.97	100.87±9.09*^#	102.18±10.72*^#	108.38±5.57*^#	123.12±31.14*^#
db/db-md	214.28±4.00	147.34±15.35*	144.13±21.20*^#	173.81±12.98*	176.39±18.42*
db/db-ld	213.32±10.71	218.93±7.36*^#	228.74±12.56*^#	214.92±19.16*^#	214.17±25.63*^#
db/db-me	216.91±8.26	149.40±5.93*	163.29±18.14*	168.21±12.38*	173.16±21.75*

Notes: IL-6 level were detected using Mouse IL-6 ELISA kit. Results were shown as the mean±SD. Compared with db/db-m group, *P < 0.01; compared with db/db-me group, ^#p < 0.01.

Table 3 Effects of BSR on the Levels of TNF-α in Renal Tissue Homogenate of db/db Mice (pg/mL)

Group	Time (Weeks)
	0	4	8	12	24
db/m	42.31±7.94*^#	46.51±8.31*^#	53.70±10.33*^#	59.47±3.27*^#	64.35±4.25*^#
db/db-m	355.87±31.99	701.96±4.83^#	725.52±5.80^#	842.29±26.73^#	937.83±25.44^#
db/db-hd	353.43±9.40	420.79±57.92*^#	428.16±23.36*^#	442.18±32.50*^#	461.63±24.50*^#
db/db-md	352.47±5.61	533.77±22.24*	617.51±60.92*	626.77±56.53*^#	660.14±46.42*
db/db-ld	354.63±4.52	581.36±83.81*^#	611.33±12.13*^#	661.11±29.43*	632.56±24.97*^#
db/db-me	350.89±7.80	542.90±31.46*	639.11±16.33*	673.09±22.56*	667.66±34.16*

Notes: TNF-α level were detected using Mouse TNF-α ELISA kit. Results were shown as the mean±SD. Compared with db/db-m group, *P < 0.01; compared with db/db-me group, ^#p < 0.01.

Table 4 Effects of BSR on the Levels of TNF-1R in Renal Tissue Homogenate of db/db Mice (pg/mL)

Group	Time (Weeks)
	0	4	8	12	24
db/m	14.18±2.35*^#	13.40±1.86*^#	13.61±1.00*^#	12.87±2.03*^#	15.80±3.05*^#
db/db-m	289.06±6.65	464.49±25.95^#	434.83±20.97^#	448.20±31.14^#	420.00±13.87^#
db/db-hd	289.37±15.25	164.28±9.88*^#	180.52±20.18*^#	183.55±8.10*^#	201.50±10.14*^#
db/db-md	286.84±10.92	222.77±8.91*	208.70±7.05*	264.30±29.30*^#	243.90±12.74*
db/db-ld	288.69±8.35	336.20±4.56*^#	350.28±28.63*^#	375.57±20.95*^#	360.40±28.67*^#
db/db-me	288.20±6.15	223.51±14.32*	215.66±7.60*	243.34±22.24*	252.98±35.60*

Notes: TNF-1R level were detected using Mouse TNF-1R ELISA kit. Results were shown as the mean±SD. Compared with db/db-m group, *P < 0.01; compared with db/db-me group, ^#p < 0.01.

Table 5 Effects of BSR on the Levels of TNF-2R in Renal Tissue Homogenate of db/db Mice (pg/mL)

Group	Time (Weeks)
	0	4	8	12	24
db/m	45.42±3.32*^#	55.11±23.22*^#	45.61±3.87*^#	46.44±1.80*^#	47.18±2.82*^#
db/db-m	239.51±12.04	371.50±14.08^#	358.50±24.33^#	357.04±21.72^#	363.49±13.91^#
db/db-hd	236.06±16.20	104.93±3.05*^#	109.59±15.57*^#	120.64±8.23*^#	129.89±12.88*^#
db/db-md	243.28±9.01	156.29±22.62*	243.69±31.71*^#	255.10±12.06*	250.96±17.87*
db/db-ld	241.97±31.92	223.89±38.52*^#	252.35±43.55*	288.31±32.65*^#	312.59±12.26*^#
db/db-me	207.96±12.66	160.11±21.39*	262.92±42.88*	260.82±14.44*	251.21±15.50*

Notes: TNF-2R level were detected using Mouse TNF-2R ELISA kit. Results were shown as the mean±SD. Compared with db/db-m group, *P < 0.01; compared with db/db-me group, ^#p < 0.01.

Figure 7 Effects of BSR on the levels of TNF-α, IL-6, TNF-1R and TNF-2R in renal tissue homogenate of db/db mice (pg/mL). Animals were assigned into six group (n = 25): control group (db/m), model group (db/db-m), positive group (db/db-me) and BSR at high- (db/db-hd), medium- (db/db-md) and low (db/db-ld) doses group. The data are shown as the mean±SD.