Effects of maslimic acid and related triterpene derivatives on kidney function of male Sprague-Dawley rats.

Ph. D. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 2014.Reports indicate that hyperglycaemia leads to development of kidney complications which result in sodium retention, decrease in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and high blood pressure. Various biochemical processes such as polyol pathway, AGEs formation are thought to gives rise to a development and progression of these complications. Clinical trials show that there is currently no commercially available compound that lowers blood glucose concentration while alleviating diabetic nephropathy (DN). Current methods involve the use of ACE blockers which are associated with side effects. Previous reports in our laboratories indicate that triterpene constituents of Syzygium spp. such as oleanolic acid (OA) possess hypoglycaemic and renoprotetive effects in STZ-induced diabetic rats. The important question is whether MA, a related triterpene also possesses the same properties. MA is a hydrophobic triterpene and we therefore synthesised derivatives to improve solubility, bioavailability and efficacy. Accordingly this study was designed to investigate the effects of MA and related triterpene derivatives on renal function of STZ-induced diabetic rats