Mitigating Effect of Silymarin on Renal Injury in Diabetic Rats and the Action Mechanism

This study aimed to investigate the effect and mechanism of silymarin on renal injury in diabetic rats and the action mechanism. The diabetes model of rats was established by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. The modeled rats were randomly divided into model and 30, 60, and 120 mg/kg silymarin groups, 10 rats in each group. A group of 10 non-diabetic rats was included as control. The 30, 60, and 120 mg/kg silymarin groups were given the corresponding dose of silymarin, respectively. After 8 weeks of treatment, compared with model group, in 120 mg/kg silymarin group the body weight of rats was significantly increased, with kidney index significantly decreased; the fasting blood glucose level was significantly decreased, with fasting insulin level significantly increased; the serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen and 24 h urine protein levels were significantly decreased; the serum tumor necrosis factor a, interleukin 6 and hypersensitive C-reactive protein levels were significantly decreased; the kidney tissue superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase levels were significantly increased, with malondialdehyde level significantly decreased; the kidney tissue B-celllymphoma-2/B-celllymphoma-2 associated X ratio was significantly increased, with cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-3/beta-actin ratio significantly decreased. In conclusion, silymarin can mitigate the renal injury in diabetic rats by reducing inflammatory response, oxidative stress and apoptosis.