The Role and Mechanism of Breviscapine in Ameliorating Diabetic Nephropathy

Abstract

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the most serious complications of diabetes and a major cause of end-stage renal disease. However, due to the complexity of its pathogenesis, no new therapeutic drugs have been developed in the past 20 years, except for angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs). Breviscapine is a flavonoid active component isolated from Erigeron breviscapus, a member of the Asteraceae family. Pharmacological studies have confirmed that this compound has antioxidant stress, anti-inflammatory regulation, anti-fibrosis and neuroprotective effects. Currently, it is mainly used in clinical practice as an adjuvant treatment for ischemic stroke and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Notably, although its antioxidant and anti-fibrotic properties have been verified in organs such as the liver and lungs, the mechanism of action in the field of DN has not been fully elucidated, especially the regulatory effect on the interstitial transformation of renal tubular epithelial cells remains to be revealed. Our research group has for the first time systematically explored the molecular mechanism by which breviscapine improves high glucose-induced renal tubular fibrosis, providing a new theoretical basis for expanding its clinical application.