[Effect of the ethanol extract of Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora on the progression of chronic kidney disease in a rat remnant kidney model].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of the ethanol extract of Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora (EPS) on renal function and tissue damage in a rat remnant kidney model. METHODS: Rat models of chronic kidney disease induced by 5/6 nephrectomy (5/6 Nx) were randomly assigned into two groups for treatment with a gavage of either EPS or vehicle for 9 weeks. The rats in the control group received only sham operation. RESULTS: Compared with vehicle-treated 5/6 Nx rats, the EPS-treated rats displayed significantly decreased urinary excretion of malondialdehyde, serum levels of AGEs and AOPPs, and increased serum SeGSHPx activities. These changes were associated with attenuated urinary protein excretion, glomerular sclerosis and interstitial fibrosis. CONCLUSION: EPS can obviously improve the renal functions and renal pathologies in rats with chronic kidney disease probably by inhibiting the oxidative stress.

Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora improves accelerated atherosclerosis through inhibition of redox-sensitive inflammation.

BACKGROUND: Accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) or advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs) has been identified as a risk factor for accelerated atherosclerosis seen in diabetes and chronic kidney disease. However, little is known about the intervention for atherogenesis associated with these oxidized proteins. The rhizome of Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora (PS) has long been used to treat inflammatory diseases as a traditional medication. The study was performed to test the hypothesis that ethanol extraction of PS (EPS) may improve AGEs- or AOPPs-induced accelerated atherosclerosis in vivo. METHODS AND RESULTS: Hypercholesterolemic or normal rabbits were randomly assigned to 8 groups treated with intravenous injection of AGEs- or AOPPs-modified rabbit serum albumin (AGEs-RSA or AOPPs-RSA), unmodified RSA or vehicle in the presence or absence of EPS (10 mg/kg/2 days) gavage for 10 weeks. Compared with hypercholesterolemic rabbits without EPS treatment, EPS administration significantly decreased the aortic plaque volume and oxidized low density lipoprotein (Ox-LDL) deposition in hypercholesterolemic animals. This was accompanied by significant histological improvement including decrease of intimal and smooth muscle cell proliferation and macrophage influx in affected areas. EPS administration almost completely abolished the accelerated atherosclerosis induced by chronic treatment of AGEs- or AOPPs-RSA in both hypercholesterolemic and normal rabbits. EPS administration significantly restored the AGEs- or AOPPs-induced redox imbalance and inflammation, evidenced by decrease of plasma Ox-LDL, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and TNF-alpha, and increase of glutathione peroxidase activity. CONCLUSION: These data suggested that EPS may improve atherosclerosis, particularly that induced by AGEs or AOPPs, through inhibition of redox-sensitive inflammation.