Evaluation of the nephroprotective potential of 2′,6′-dihydroxyacetophenone in experimental diabetic nephropathy in rats

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) presents a major public health challenge worldwide. Phenolic compounds play an important role in oxidative stress. The goal of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of 2′,6′-dihydroxyacetophenone (DHDA) against diabetic nephropathy (DN). Diabetic nephropathy was triggered by a single intraperitoneal (ip) injection of streptozotocin (STZ) at a dose of 40 mg/kg, , administered 15 minutes after an ip injection of nicotinamide (ND) at 100 mg/kg. The animals were divided into 4 groups: normal control, disease control, low dose of DHDA (30 mg/kg), and high dose of DHDA (60 mg/kg). Fasting blood glucose (FBG), water intake, body weight, and food intake were assessed. The renal function tests were also done. In addition, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C) and the lipid profiles were evaluated, as well as the determination of oxidative stress status in the kidney tissue. Finally, the histopathology of the kidney was analyzed. The antioxidant effect of DHDA was also assessed in vitro. The results of this study demonstrated that DHDA decreased the fasting blood glucose (FBG) and improved the symptoms of polydipsia and anorexia. It also significantly improved the renal function test and decreased the levels of very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL) while increased high-density lipoproteins (HDL). DHDA also alleviated the oxidative stress in the kidney. Additionally, DHDA therapy alleviated the histological alterations in kidney structure. Moreover, DHDA exhibited a scavenging activity of superoxide radical and hydrogen peroxide in vitro. In conclusion, the DHDA treatment exhibited a protective effect against DN induced by STZ -ND.