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Abstract
Diabetic nephropathy is one of the various complications of diabetes mellitus, affecting
patients for lifetime. Earlier studies have revealed that genipin can not only improve
diabetes, but also induce cytotoxicity. Therefore, it is not clear which effect of
genipin on kidneys occurs, when it is used in the treatment of diabetes. In the present
study, we performed nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based metabolomics analysis of
urine and kidney tissue samples obtained from diabetic rats to explore the change
of endogenous metabolites associated with diabetes and concomitant kidney disease.
Nine significant differential metabolites that were closely related to renal function
were screened. They were mainly related to three metabolic pathways: synthesis and
degradation of ketone bodies, glycine, serine and threonine metabolism, and butanoate
metabolism, which are involved in methylamine metabolism, energy metabolism and amino
acid metabolism. In addition, after the intervention of genipin, the metabolic levels
of all the metabolites tended to be normal, indicating a protective effect of genipin
on kidneys. Our results may be helpful for understanding the antidiabetic effect of
genipin.
Author and article information
Journal
Title:
Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines
Abbreviated Title:
Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines