Piper longum (Linn.) fruit mitigates diabetic nephropathy: Insights from in vitro, in vivo, and microarray studies

Abstract

Piper longum (Linn.) is familiar for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, both of which play a crucial role in mitigating diabetic nephropathy (DN). However, its renoprotective potential has not been extensively studied. Therefore, current study explores the protective effects of Piper longum hydro-alcoholic extract (PLHA) in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced DN in rats through in vitro, in vivo, and computational analyses. Oral doses of PLHA (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) were administered for 60 days. GC-MS analysis identified key phytoconstituents, and biochemical as well as histopathological evaluations were conducted to assess renal function and tissue injury. In vitro assays demonstrated the antioxidant potential of PLHA, while in vivo studies showed improvements in blood glucose levels, body weight, urinary output, and renal biomarkers, likely due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Moreover, histopathological analysis confirmed reduced renal damage in treated groups. In silico studies identified albumin (ALB) as a key molecular target, suggesting a potential mechanism for the nephroprotective effects of PLHA. These findings indicate that PLHA may serve as a promising therapeutic agent for preventing the progression of DN. Further clinical studies are needed to validate its efficacy.