Figure 1.

Pathways and mediators of DN relevant for the action mechanisms of the phytoagents active in DN. The schematic is meant to highlight the complexity of the factors and interconnections involved in DN pathogenesis, although it leaves out many of them lest it might become unintelligible. HG↑: activated/increased/induced by high glucose (HG); HG↓: inactivated/decreased by HG, mes.: mesangial; exp.: expansion; hypercell.: hypercellularity; continuous arrowhead-ended lines indicate a stimulating effect; dotted diamond-ended lines indicate an inhibitory effect.