Compelling evidence indicates that polyphenolic
antioxidants protect against
diabetic nephropathy.
Pycnogenol is made up of
flavonoids, mainly
procyanidins and phenolic compounds, and is a known powerful
antioxidant.
Hyperglycemia is characteristic of
diabetic nephropathy and induces renal tubular cell apoptosis. Thus, in this study, we used high
glucose-treated renal tubular cells to investigate the protective action of
pycnogenol against high
glucose-induced apoptosis and
diabetic nephropathy. We also sought to further delineate the underlying mechanisms elicited by oxidative stress and
inflammation and suppressed by
pycnogenol. Results show that
pycnogenol significantly suppressed the high
glucose-induced morphological changes and the reduction in cell viability associated with cytotoxicity. Bcl2/
Bax protein levels indicated
pycnogenol's anti-apoptotic effect against high
glucose-induced apoptotic cell death. In addition, several key markers of oxidative stress and
inflammation were measured for
pycnogenol's beneficial effects. Results indicate
pycnogenol's anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory efficacy in suppressing lipid peroxidation, total reactive species (RS),
superoxide ((·)O(2)),
nitric oxide (NO(·)),
peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)), pro-inflammatory
inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and
cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and
nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) nuclear translocation. Based on these results, we conclude that
pycnogenol's anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties underlie its anti-apoptotic effects, suggesting further investigation of
pycnogenol as a promising treatment against
diabetic nephropathy.