Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The present study evaluates the protective effects of myricitrin and its solid lipid nanoparticle (SLN) on diabetic nephropathy (DN) induced by streptozotocin-nicotinamide (STZ-NA) in mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this experimental study, 108 adult male NMRI mice were divided into 9 groups: control, vehicle, diabetes, diabetes + myricitrin 1, 3, and 10 mg/kg and, diabetes + SLN containing myricitrin 1, 3, and 10 mg/kg. After the experimental period, the plasma and tissue samples were collected for experimental, histopathological, real-time PCR and apoptosis assessments. RESULTS: Total antioxidant capacity, catalase, glomerular filtration rate, plasma level of albumin, urine (BUN) and, creatinine (Cr) levels decreased, and the kidney weight, intake/output, malondialdehyde, plasma level of BUN and Cr, urine level of sodium, potassium, albumin and glucose, fractional excretions of sodium and potassium, transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) gene expression, red blood cell accumulation and infiltration of inflammatory cells, and kidney apoptosis increased in untreated diabetic mice compared to the control group, and administration of myricitrin and its SLN recovered all of these changes. CONCLUSION: Ultimately, myricitrin and its SLN administration improved DN changes by reducing oxidative stress and increasing antioxidant enzymes level, and these effects were more prominent in the SLN-administered mice.