Micheliolide mitigates diabetic nephropathy by modulating oxidative stress and inflammation in rats

Diabetic Nephropathy (DN) is a serious problem caused by diabetes mellitus (DM), and there are few effective treatments available.

This study aimed to explore the potential therapeutic effects of micheliolide in a rat model of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) induced by a high-fat diet and streptozotocin.

Rats were fed a high-fat diet and received an injection of 30 mg/kg streptozotocin to induce T2DM. They were divided into five groups and treated for 6 weeks: a control group, a diabetic control group, and three diabetic treatment groups receiving 20 mg/kg and 40 mg/kg of micheliolide, as well as glibenclamide at 600 μg/kg.

We assessed the effects of treatments on various parameters, including body weight loss, hyperglycemia, insulin resistance (measured by Fasting Blood Glucose (FBG), HbA1c, Advanced Glycation End-products (AGEs), and HOMA-IR), as well as insulin, adiponectin, and HOMA-β cell function levels.

The results indicated significant improvements in insulin sensitivity and renal function. Treatment with micheliolide notably restored serum electrolyte balance and lipid profiles while improving renal function parameters and decreasing KIM-1 and NGAL levels. Moreover, micheliolide enhanced antioxidant activity by activating the Nrf2/Keap1 pathway and reducing NOX1 and NOX4 protein levels. It also exhibited anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway, decreasing pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, and IFN-γ), and increasing IL-10 levels. Furthermore, it affected apoptosis and fibrosis by regulating various signaling proteins.

These findings suggest that micheliolide activates Nrf2/Keap1 signaling and inhibits NF-κB-mediated inflammation, establishing its potential as a nephroprotective agent. The therapeutic benefits of micheliolide are linked to its dual effects on TGF-β/Smad/MAPK signaling.