The molecular mechanisms underlying anti-inflammatory effects of galangin in different diseases.

When used as an alternative source of drugs to treat inflammation-associated diseases, phytochemicals with anti-inflammatory properties provide beneficial impacts. Galangin is one of the most naturally occurring flavonoids. Galangin has many biological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiproliferative, antimicrobial, anti-obesity, antidiabetic, and anti-genotoxic activities. We observed that galangin was well tolerated and positively impacted disease underlying inflammation for the renal, hepatic, central nervous system, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal system, skin, and respiratory disorders, as well as ulcerative colitis, acute pancreatitis, retinopathy, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Galangin anti-inflammatory effects are mediated mainly by suppressing p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases, nuclear factor-kappa B, and nod-like receptor protein 3 signals. These effects are confirmed and supported by molecular docking. Clinical translational research is required to accelerate the bench-to-bedside transfer and determine whether galangin can be utilised as a safe, natural source of pharmaceutical anti-inflammatory medication for humans.

Flavonoids-mediated TLR4 Inhibition as a Promising Therapy for Renal Diseases.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) control both innate and adaptive immunity with a wide expression on renal epithelial cells and leukocytes. Activation of TLRs results in the production of cytokines, chemokines and interferons along with activation of the transcription factor NF-κB, resulting in inflammatory perturbations. TLR4 signaling pathway is the most extensively studied of TLRs. TLR4 is expressed on renal microvascular endothelial and tubular epithelial cells. So, targeting TLR4 modulation could be a therapeutic approach to attenuate kidney diseases that are underlined by inflammatory cascade. Medicinal plants with anti-inflammatory activities display valuable effects and are employed as alternative sources to alleviate renal disease linked with inflammation. Flavonoids and other phytochemicals derived from traditional medicines possess promising pharmacological activities owing to their relatively cheap and high safety profile. Our review focuses on the potent anti-inflammatory activities of twenty phytochemicals to verify if their potential promising renoprotective effects are related to suppression of TLR4 signaling in different renal diseases, including sepsis-induced acute kidney injury, renal fibrosis, chemotherapy-induced nephrotoxicity, diabetic nephropathy and renal ischemia/reperfusion injury. Additionally, molecular docking simulations were employed to explore the potential binding affinity of these phytochemicals to TLR4 as a strategy to attenuate renal diseases associated with activated TLR4 signaling.

Protective effects of berberine on various kidney diseases: Emphasis on the promising effects and the underlined molecular mechanisms.

Berberine (BBR) is a pentacyclic benzylisoquinoline alkaloid that can be found in diversity of medicinal plants. BBR has a wide range of pharmacological bioactivities, in addition when administrated orally, it has a broad safety margin. It has been used as an antidiarrheal, antimicrobial, and anti-diabetic drug in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine. Several scholars have found that BBR has promising renoprotective effects against different renal illnesses, including diabetic nephropathy, renal fibrosis, renal ischemia, renal aging, and renal stones. Also, it has renoprotective effects against nephrotoxicity induced by chemotherapy, heavy metal, aminoglycosides, NSAID, and others. These effects imply that BBR has an evolving therapeutic potential against acute renal failure and chronic renal diseases. Hence, we report herein the beneficial therapeutic renoprotective properties of BBR, as well as the highlighted molecular mechanism. In conclusion, the studies discussed throughout this review will afford a comprehensive overview about renoprotective effect of BBR and its therapeutic impact on different renal diseases.