Aqueous chicory seed extract ameliorates diabetic kidney damage via alteration of renal renin-angiotensin system (RAS) balance

Samin  Ardalani; Masoumeh Babaei  Khalili; Azin  Nowrouzi

doi:10.18502/abi.v3i2.19485

Samin Ardalani Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Masoumeh Babaei Khalili Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
Azin Nowrouzi Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/abi.v3i2.19485

Keywords: Diabetic nephropathy; Renin-Angiotensin System; Angiotensinogen; ACE; ACE2; chicory seed extract

Abstract

Objectives: This study investigated the effects of aqueous chicory seed extract (CSE),metformin (Met), and aspirin (Asp) on the Renin-Angiotensin System (RAS) in healthyWistar rats, as well as in early (NIA/STZ) and late-stage diabetes (STZ).

Methods: Rats were divided into Control, NIA/STZ, and STZ groups. NIA/STZ ratsreceived niacinamide/streptozotocin, while STZ rats received STZ to induce early andlate stages of diabetes. Subgroups received CSE (125 mg/kg), metformin (100 mg/kg),or aspirin (120 mg/kg). Measurements included mRNA levels of AGT, ACE, and ACE2;activities of ACE and ACE2; levels of Ang II and Ang-(1-7); protein carbonyl content(PCC); nitric oxide (NO); and kidney collagen.

Results: Late-stage diabetes (STZ) decreased AGT, ACE, and ACE2 mRNA, butincreased ACE activity, Ang II, Ang-(1-7), the ACE/ACE2 ratio, PCC, and collagen.CSE increased AGT and ACE2 mRNA, and decreased ACE activity, Ang II, the ACE/ACE2 ratio, and PCC. Metformin boosted AGT mRNA and reduced PCC and collagen.Aspirin lowered collagen. Early diabetes (NIA/STZ) decreased AGT, ACE2, and Ang-(1-7), while increasing ACE activity and Ang II levels. CSE increased AGT and Ang-(1-7), and reduced Ang II and the Ang II/Ang-(1-7) ratio. Metformin reduced ACE mRNAand increased Ang-(1-7). CSE decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) and improvedAng-(1-7) levels, especially in early stages. Both CSE and metformin helped reducefibrosis.

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that CSE supports renal tissue repair in both early andlate stages of T2D by increasing levels of the protective peptide Ang-(1-7).