Effects of fermented red bean extract on nephropathy in streptozocin-induced diabetic rats.

Background: The antioxidant effects of -fermented red bean (natto-red bean) extract (NRBE) in young (6 weeks old) Sprague-Dawley rats and aged (12 months old) mice had been reported previously.

Objective: To evaluate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of NRBE in the kidneys of streptozocin-induced diabetic rats.

Design: Normal control rats and diabetic rats were orally gavaged with saline and low-dose NRBE (100 mg/kg body weight [BW]), medium-dose NRBE (200 mg/kg BW), and high-dose NRBE (500 mg/kg BW), for 12 weeks and then sacrificed.