Evaluating the Renoprotective Effect of Milk Thistle Extract on Patients With Type II Diabetic Nephropathy

Inclusion Criteria: * Type II diabetes * Overt proteinuria defined by urinary albumin excretion \> 300 mg/24 hr in 2 consecutive determinations despite treatment with highest FDA recommended doses of an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker for at least 6 months. * Treatment of hyperglycemia with (but not limited to) an oral hypoglycemic agent or insulin (If a thiazolidinedione is used, stable dose for at least 6 months) * Treatment of hypercholesterolemia with (but not limited to) one medication from the class statins * Presence of diabetic retinopathy * Signing informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Type I diabetes * Advanced chronic kidney disease defined by estimated GFR \< 30 ml/min/1.73 m2 * Severely uncontrolled diabetes defined by HbA1C \> 10% * Uncontrolled hypertension defined by SBP \>160 mmHg or DBP \>100 mmHg despite antihypertensive therapy * Secondary forms of hypertension with defined etiology other than diabetes mellitus * Other renal diseases * History of solid organ transplantation * Chronic Heart Failure with NYHA class III or IV * Active infection * Pregnancy * Use of one of the following medications within 2 months prior to enrollment in the study: * Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents * Antioxidants supplements including: vitamin E, vitamin C, N-acetyl- cysteine (NAC), Pentoxyfilline, Lipoic acid, Fish-oil extracts (omega-3 fatty acids), Soy extracts (isoflavones), Green-tea preparations, Pomegranate extracts, Grape extracts * Active malignancy * Hepatitis virus or Human Immunodeficiency virus infections * History of drug or alcohol dependency * Cigarette smoking * Psychiatric or neurological condition, preventing aware consent to the study and/or adherence to the study protocol