Effects of maslimic acid and related triterpene derivatives on kidney function of male Sprague-Dawley rats.
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Date
2014
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Abstract
Reports indicate that hyperglycaemia leads to development of kidney complications which result
in sodium retention, decrease in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and high blood pressure. Various
biochemical processes such as polyol pathway, AGEs formation are thought to gives rise to a
development and progression of these complications. Clinical trials show that there is currently no
commercially available compound that lowers blood glucose concentration while alleviating
diabetic nephropathy (DN). Current methods involve the use of ACE blockers which are associated
with side effects. Previous reports in our laboratories indicate that triterpene constituents of
Syzygium spp. such as oleanolic acid (OA) possess hypoglycaemic and renoprotetive effects in
STZ-induced diabetic rats. The important question is whether MA, a related triterpene also
possesses the same properties. MA is a hydrophobic triterpene and we therefore synthesised
derivatives to improve solubility, bioavailability and efficacy. Accordingly this study was designed
to investigate the effects of MA and related triterpene derivatives on renal function of STZ-induced
diabetic rats.
Description
Ph. D. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 2014.
Keywords
Triterpenoid saponins., Rats as laboratory animals., Sprague Dawley rats., Kidney function tests., Kidney glomerulus., Kidneys--Hypertrophy., Theses--Human physiology.