Applications of Herbal Medicine to Treat Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease

Novel hits for autosomal dominated polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) targeting derived by in silico screening on ZINC-15 natural product database

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is the most common genetic kidney disorder that leads to growth cysts in the kidney, ultimately resulting in loss of function. Currently, no effective drug therapy can be safely used in the clinic. So, looking for effective therapeutic drugs is urgent for treating ADPKD. Our natural product library was prepared based on the ZINC-15 database. Lipinski's rule of five, drug-likeness, and toxicity screening of the designed library were evaluated. Swiss model online server was used for modeling of GANAB target. Finally, docking-based screening against ADPKD targets was done by MOE 2019 software. The top 14 favorable druglike and non-toxic hits were selected for docking studies. Our results showed that compound-10 (ZINC 6073947) as a sesquiterpene coumarin had more negative binding interaction into the active site of PPARG, OXSR1, GANAB, AVPR2, and PC2 with docking scores of -8.22, -7.52, -6.98, -6.61 and -6.05 kcal/mol, respectively, in comparison to Curcumin, as a natural product that is now in phase 4 clinical trial in ADPKD disease, with an affinity of -8.03, -6.42, -6.82, -5.84 and -5.10 kcal/mol, respectively. Furthermore, seven sesquiterpene coumarins similar to compound 10 were generated and docked. Farnesiferol B (16), compared to compound-10, showed binding affinity of -8.16, -6.4, -7.46, -6.92, and -6.11 kcal/mol against the above targets, respectively. Molecular dynamics, which was done on the compound-10 and 16 (Farnesiferol B) in complex with PPARG, GANAB, and AVPR2, showed more negative binding free-energy than Pioglitazone, Miglitol, and Tolvaptan as FDA-approved drugs for each target, respectively.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

TGF-β/Smad Signaling Pathway in Tubulointerstitial Fibrosis

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) was a major public health problem worldwide. Renal fibrosis, especially tubulointerstitial fibrosis, is final manifestation of CKD. Many studies have demonstrated that TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway plays a crucial role in renal fibrosis. Therefore, targeted inhibition of TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway can be used as a potential therapeutic measure for tubulointerstitial fibrosis. At present, a variety of targeting TGF-β1 and its downstream Smad proteins have attracted attention. Natural products used as potential therapeutic strategies for tubulointerstitial fibrosis have the characteristics of acting on multiple targets by multiple components and few side effects. With the continuous research and technique development, more and more molecular mechanisms of natural products have been revealed, and there are many natural products that inhibited tubulointerstitial fibrosis via TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway. This review summarized the role of TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway in tubulointerstitial fibrosis and natural products against tubulointerstitial fibrosis by targeting TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway. Additionally, many challenges and opportunities are presented for inhibiting renal fibrosis in the future.

Improvement in the Blood Urea Nitrogen and Serum Creatinine Using New Cultivation of Cordyceps militaris

Background

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a critical public health issue with a huge financial burden for both patients and society worldwide. Unfortunately, there are currently no efficacious therapies to prevent or delay the progression of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Traditional Chinese medicine practices have shown that Cordyceps militaris (C. militaris) mycelia have a variety of pharmacologically useful properties, including antitumor, immunomodulation, and hepatoprotection. However, the effect of mycelial C. militaris on CKD remains unclear.

Methods

Here, we investigated the effects of C. militaris mycelia on mice with CKD using four types of media: HKS, HKS with vitamin A (HKS + A), CM, and CM with vitamin A (CM + A).

Results

The results at day 10 revealed that the levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were significantly lower in the HKS (41%), HKS + A (41%), and CM + A (34%) groups compared with those in the corresponding control groups (nephrectomic mice). The level of serum creatinine in the HKS + A group decreased by 35% at day 10, whereas the levels in the HKS and CM + A groups decreased only by 14% and 13%, respectively, on day 30. Taken together, this is the first report using four new media (HKS, HKS + A, CM, and CM + A medium) for C. militaris mycelia. Each medium of mycelial C. militaris on CKD exhibits specific effect on BUN, serum creatinine, body weight, total protein, and uric acid.

Conclusions

Taken together, this is the first report using four new media (HKS, HKS + A, CM, and CM + A medium) for C. militaris mycelia. Each medium of mycelial C. militaris on CKD exhibits specific effects on BUN, serum creatinine, body weight, total protein, and uric acid. We concluded that treatment with C. militaris mycelia cultured in HKS or CM + A medium could potentially prevent the deterioration of kidney function in mice with CKD.