Rhododendron groenlandicum (Labrador tea), an antidiabetic plant from the traditional pharmacopoeia of the Canadian Eastern James Bay Cree, improves renal integrity in the diet-induced obese mouse model.

ContentOur team has identified Labrador tea [Rhododendron groenlandicumL. (Ericaceae)] as a potential antidiabetic plant from the traditional pharmacopoeia of the Eastern James Bay Cree. In a previousin vivostudy, the plant extract was tested in a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese model using C57BL/6 mice and it improved glycaemia, insulinaemia and glucose tolerance. ObjectiveIn the present study, we assessed the plant’s potential renoprotective effects. Materials and methodsRhododendron groenlandicumwas administered at 250 mg/kg/d to mice fed HFD for 8 weeks to induce obesity and mild diabetes. Histological (periodic acid–Schiff (PAS), Masson and Oil Red O staining), immunohistochemical (IHC) and biochemical parameters were assessed to evaluate the renoprotective potential ofR. groenlandicumtreatment for an additional 8 weeks. ResultsMicroalbuminuria and renal fibrosis were developed in HFD-fed mice. Meanwhile, there was a tendency forR. groenlandicumto improve microalbuminuria, with the values of albumin-creatinine ratio (ACR) reducing from 0.69 to 0.53. Renal fibrosis value was originally 4.85 arbitrary units (AU) in HFD-fed mice, dropped to 3.27 AU after receivingR. groenlandicumtreatment.Rhododendron groenlandicumreduced renal steatosis by nearly one-half, whereas the expression of Bcl-2-modifying factor (BMF) diminished from 13.96 AU to 9.43 AU. Discussion and conclusionsTaken altogether, the results suggest thatR. groenlandicumtreatment can improve renal function impaired by HFD. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]