Eriodictyol inhibits high glucose‐induced extracellular matrix accumulation, oxidative stress, and inflammation in human glomerular mesangial cells

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the major complications of diabetes mellitus. The progression of DN has been found to be associated with high glucose (HG)‐induced oxidative stress and inflammation in diabetes mellitus. Eriodictyol is a flavonoid that possesses antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory effects. However, the effect of eriodictyol on DN remains unknown. In the present study, we evaluated the role of eriodictyol in mesangial cells (MCs) in response to HG condition. The results showed that eriodictyol repressed cell proliferation of HG‐stimulated MCs. Treatment with eriodictyol attenuated oxidative stress, which was evidenced by increased superoxide dismutase activity as well as decreased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde. Besides, eriodictyol suppressed the expressions of two NADPH oxidase (NOX) isoforms, NOX2 and NOX4, which are responsible for the generation of ROS. Eriodictyol suppressed the production of extracellular matrix proteins including fibronectin and Collagen IV, as well as the secretion of inflammatory cytokines including TNF‐α, IL‐1β, and IL‐6 in HG‐induced MCs. Moreover, the HG‐induced activation of Akt/NF‐κB pathway was mitigated by eriodictyol. In conclusion, eriodictyol protected MCs from HG stimulation though inhibition of Akt/NF‐κB pathway.