Effects of linalool on inflammation, matrix accumulation and podocyte loss in kidney of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Context: This study aimed to evaluate the renoprotective action of linalool (LIN) on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Objective: The pathological changes in diabetic nephropathy (DN) include oxidative stress, renal injury, matrix accumulation and podocyte abnormalities. We investigated the renoprotective actions of LIN, a monoterpene alcohol, present in herbal essential oils in STZ-induced diabetic rats with renal injury. Materials and methods: STZ-diabetic rats were administered LIN (25 mg/kg) for 45 days, after which the activities of key enzymes of glucose metabolism, collagen content, oxidative damage and expression of glucose transporter-1 (GLUT-1), transforming growth factor-beta(1) (TGF-beta(1)), nuclear factor-kappa Bp65 (NF-kappa B p65) and nephrin were analyzed. Results: Diabetic rats displayed altered glucose metabolism, collagen accumulation and increased TGF-beta(1) and NF-kappa B expression in kidney. LIN treatment restored glucose-metabolizing enzymes, collagen content and GLUT-1 expression and also prevented nephrin loss. LIN also rescued kidney from oxidative stress and inflammation by decreasing the expression of TGF-beta(1) and NF-kappa B. Ultrastructural changes such as basement membrane thickening, reduction in podocyte number and loss of filtration barrier integrity in diabetic rats were mitigated by LIN. Discussion and conclusion: The results of this study suggest that LIN can attenuate nephropathic changes induced in kidney of diabetic rats. These findings highlight the utility of LIN as a potential drug to treat renal damage in diabetic subjects.