Polydatin (PD), a resveratrol glycoside, has been shown to protect renal function in diabetic nephropathy (DN), but the underlying molecular mechanism remains unclear. This study demonstrates that PD stabilize the mitochondrial morphology and attenuate mitochondrial malfunction in both KKAy mice and in hyperglycemia (HG)‐induced MPC5 cells. We use Western blot analysis to demonstrate that PD reversed podocyte apoptosis induced by HG via suppressing dynamin‐related protein 1 (Drp1). This effect may depend on the ability of PD to inhibit the generation of cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). In conclusion, we demonstrate that PD may be therapeutically useful in DN, and that, podocyte apoptosis induced by HG can be reversed by PD through suppressing Drp1 expression.

The present study aimed to investigate the protective effects and molecular mechanisms of Dendrobium officinale polysaccharides on gastric mucosal injuries. Following one week of continuous intragastric administration, a gastric mucosal injury model was established using intragastric administration of anhydrous ethanol. The area of gastric ulcer was measured, the contents of interleukin- 6 (IL-6), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and thyroid transcription factor 1 (TFF-1) in serum were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the expressions of EGFR, TFF-1, IL-6, Raf-2, MAP kinase kinase 1 (MEK1), MEK2, and ERK1 in the gastric tissue were determined utilizing qPCR, Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Simultaneously, Dendrobium officinale polysaccharides and anhydrous ethanol were added to the gastric mucosal cells (GES1) cultured in vitro, and the protective effects of Dendrobium officinale polysaccharides on cell viability was detected using Cell Counting Kit (CCK)-8. The addition of Dendrobium officinale polysaccharides markedly improved the gastric epithelial defect, inflammatory cell infiltration, and redness and swelling stemmed from gastric mucosal injuries and greatly reduced the area of gastric ulcer. The inhibition rates of gastric ulcer were 48.12 ± 2.98, 42.95 ± 1.52, and 27.96 ± 2.05% in the high, medium, and low concentration Dendrobium officinale polysaccharide groups, respectively. Dendrobium officinale polysaccharides could increase the expressions of EGFR and TFF-1 and decrease the expressions of IL-6, Raf-2, MEK1, MEK2, and ERK1. Dendrobium officinale polysaccharides could reduce the level of inflammatory factors and protect gastric mucosa by inhibiting the expression of MAPK pathway genes and proteins.