Cupuaçu extract protects the kidneys of diabetic rats by modulating Nrf2/NF-κB p65 and iNOS

Diabetes is characterized by increased levels of oxidative stress. Its suggested that extract of cupuaçu could improve the antioxidant system in diabetes. The aim was to evaluate the effect of EC on Nrf2/NF-κB p65 in normal and diabetic rats. Male, adult Wistar rats (9-week-old) were distributed in 4 groups: control (CTL) and diabetic (DM) who received water; CTLEC and DMEC who received 1 mL/day of EC (1 g/mL), via gavage for 8 consecutive weeks. The diabetes was inducted with a single intravenous dose of 45 mg/kg streptozotocin. Glycemia and body weight were measured at the beginning and end of the protocol, and the renal tissue was analyzed by Western blot for SOD-1, SOD-2, CAT, GSSG, Nrf2, NF-κB p65, iNOS and 3-NT. Glycemia was reduced in DMEC vs. DM after 8 weeks of EC treatment. There was no difference in body weight of DMEC vs. DM; however, DMEC vs. DM presented increased levels of CAT and Nrf2, with a significant reduction of NF-κB p65, iNOS and 3-NT. Therefore, we suggest that EC could be utilized as a complementary therapy to ameliorate the antioxidant profile via Nrf2 and to delay the evolution of diabetic complications in renal tissue by inflammatory pathway inhibition.