Diabetic nephropathy is a clinical syndrome characterized by albuminuria, hypertension
and progressive renal insufficiency. The aim of this study was to investigate the
effect of strawberry (Fragaria 9 ananassa) leaf extract on diabetic nephropathy in
rats. Streptozotocin (STZ) diabetic rats were orally treated with three doses (50, 100
and 200 mg/kg) of strawberry leaf extract for 30 days. Nephropathy biomarkers in
plasma and kidney were examined at the end of the experiment. The three doses of
strawberry leaf extract significantly decreased the levels of blood glucose, urea nitrogen,
plasma creatinine, kidney injury molecule (Kim)-1, renal malondialdehyde
(MDA), tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a), interleukin (IL)- 6 and caspase-3 in
diabetic rats. Meanwhile, the levels of plasma insulin, albumin, uric acid, renal catalase
(CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and vascular endothelial growth factor A
(VEGF-A) were significantly elevated in diabetic rats treated with strawberry leaf
extract. These results indicate the role of strawberry leaf extract as anti-diabetic,
antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptosis in diabetic nephropathy.