PHARMACOLOGICAL MODULATION OF DIABETIC NEPHROPATHY BY TRICHOSANTHES SPECIES: MOLECULAR PATHWAYS, EXPERIMENTAL EVIDENCE, AND TRANSLATIONAL PERSPECTIVES

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a progressive microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus and a leading cause of end stage renal disease (ESRD). The pathogenesis is multifactoria l, involving oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and activation of profibrotic pathways such as transforming growth factor beta (TGF β). Current pharmacotherapies offer only partial renoprotection, necessitating exploration o f multi target phytotherapeutics. Trichosanthes species, particularly Trichosanthes dioica, have demonstrated significant antihyperglycemic, antioxidant, anti inflammatory, and nephroprotective properties in preclinical models. This review critically evalu ates the pharmacological mechanisms and experimental evidence supporting the use of Trichosanthes species in DN, integrating molecular insights with translational relevance in a Scopus indexed scholarly format.

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