Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Diabetes, a heteregenous metabolic and chronic disease, is a growing health problem in most countries. It has been claimed that diabetes is associated with the increased formation of free radicals and decreased in antioxidant potential. Oxidative stress formed in diabetes may cause DNA damage in the tissues. Ursolic acid, a well-known pentacylic triterpene, is commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine due to its beneficial health effects such as antioxidant, anticancer, and antiulcer properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of ursolic acid in the kidneys of Wistar albino rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: DNA damage was evaluated in the kidney cells of rats using alkaline comet assays. Oxidative stress parameters such as CAT, SOD, GR, and GSH-Px enzyme activities and total GSH and MDA levels were also evaluated. RESULTS: Ursolic acid treatment was found to significantly decrease DNA damage, GR enzyme activities, and MDA levels, and significantly increase GSH levels and CAT, SOD and GSH-Px enzyme activities in diabetic rats. CONCLUSION: According to our results, it seems that ursolic acid may be beneficial against diabetes-induced renal damage.