Renoprotective effect of Bacopa monnieri via inhibition of advanced glycation end products and oxidative stress in STZ-nicotinamide-induced diabetic nephropathy.

Hyperglycemia and oxidative stress are involved in the development of diabetic nephropathy (DN). This study was designed to evaluate the effect of alcohol and hydroalcohol extract of Bacopa monnieri and stigmasterol isolated from B. monnieri in the treatment of DN. Diabetes was induced in male wistar rats by streptozotocin (65 mg/kg i.p.) 15 min after nicotinamide (230 mg/kg, i.p.) administration. After 30 days, the rats were treated with different doses of extracts (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) and stigmasterol (5 and 10 mg/kg) for 45 days to analyze their nephroprotective effect and produced significant attenuation in the serum glucose level, uric acid, creatinine, and lipid levels. Moreover, there is improvement in the level of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), and decrease in lipid peroxidation in terms of TBARS. The formation of AGEs in kidneys was also significantly reduced. These findings suggest that B. monnieri and its isolate (stigmasterol) might inhibit the progression of DN.