The Renal Protective Effect of Jiangya Tongluo Formula, through Regulation of Adrenomedullin and Angiotensin II, in Rats with Hypertensive Nephrosclerosis

Mechanism of herbal medicine on hypertensive nephropathy (Review)

Hypertensive nephropathy is the most common complication of hypertension, and is one of the main causes of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in numerous countries. The basic pathological feature of hypertensive nephropathy is arteriolosclerosis followed by renal parenchymal damage. The etiology of this disease is complex, and its pathogenesis is mainly associated with renal hemodynamic changes and vascular remodeling. Despite the increased knowledge on the pathogenesis of hypertensive nephropathy, the current clinical treatment methods are still not effective in preventing the development of the disease to ESRD. Herbal medicine, which is used to relieve symptoms, can improve hypertensive nephropathy through multiple targets. Since there are few clinical studies on the treatment of hypertensive nephropathy with herbal medicine, this article aims to review the progress on the basic research on the treatment of hypertensive nephropathy with herbal medicine, including regulation of the renin angiotensin system, inhibition of sympathetic excitation, antioxidant stress and anti-inflammatory protection of endothelial cells, and improvement of obesity-associated factors. Herbal medicine with different components plays a synergistic and multi-target role in the treatment of hypertensive nephropathy. The description of the mechanism of herbal medicine in the treatment of hypertensive nephropathy will contribute towards the progress of modern medicine.

Effects of Yishen Pinggan Recipe on Renal Protection and NF-κB Signaling Pathway in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

Inflammation is an important etiological factor of hypertensive renal damage. The effects of Yishen Pinggan Recipe (YPR) on urine microalbumin, histology, and NF-κB/P65, IκB-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in renal tissues were evaluated in SHR to explore the mechanism of its renal protection in hypertensive renal damage. The SBP of 12-week-old SHR was 192.41 ± 3.93 mmHg and DBP was 142.38 ± 5.79 mmHg. Without treatment, the 24-week-old SHRs' SBP was 196.96 ± 3.77 mmHg and DBP was 146.08 ± 4.82 mmHg. After the 12-week-old SHR were administered YPR for 12 weeks, the rats' SBP was 161.45 ± 7.57 mmHg and DBP was 117.21 ± 5.17 mmHg; YPR could lower blood pressure in SHR. And renal function damage was observed in 24-week-old SHR without treatment, manifested as urine protein and morphological changes which could be inhibited by YPR. In addition, YPR could reduce the expression of inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) in kidneys. It could also inhibit the nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 and degradation of IκB-α in renal cells, indicating that the NF-κB signaling pathway was inhibited by YPR. Finally, the study suggests that YPR could significantly improve the renal function in SHR. The mechanism could be attributed to its inhibition of renal NF-κB signaling pathway and inflammation.