Honokiol protects against renal ischemia/reperfusion injury via the suppression of oxidative stress, iNOS, inflammation and STAT3 in rats

Abstract

Abstract. Honokiol is the predominant active ingredient in the commonly used traditional Chinese medicine, Magnolia, which has been confirmed in previous studies to exhibit anti-oxidation, antimicrobial, antitumor and other pharmacological effects. However, its effects on renal ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) remain to be elucidated. The present study aimed to examine the effects of honokiol on renal IRI, and to investigate its potential protective mechanisms in the heart. Male adult Wistar albino rats were induced into a renal IRI model. Subsequently, the levels of serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and the levels of serum nitrite and the kidney nitrite were examined in the IRI group. The levels of oxidative stress, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), inflammatory factors and caspase-3 were evaluated using a series of commercially available kits. The levels of phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (p-STAT3) and the protein expression levels of STAT3 were determined using western blotting. Pretreatment with honokiol significantly reduced the levels of serum creatinine, BUN, ALT, AST and ALP, and the level of nitrite in the kidney of the IRI group, compared with the control group. The levels of malondialdehyde, the activity of myeloperoxidase, and the gene expression and activity of iNOS were reduced in the IRI rats, compared with the sham-operated rats, whereas the levels of superoxide dismutase and catalase were increased following treatment with honokiol in the IRI rats. In addition, the expression levels of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 in the IRI rats were increased by honokiol. Treatment with honokiol suppressed the protein expression levels of p-STAT3 and caspase-3 in the IRI rats. These findings indicated that honokiol protects against renal IRI via the suppression of oxidative stress, iNOS, inflammation and STAT3 in the rat.

Neuroprotective effects of honokiol: from chemistry to medicine

“…Several lines of evidence have demonstrated that honokiol is able to induce antioxidative activity. Numerous studies have shown that honokiol can reduce oxidative stress parameters in several catabolic tissue such as the liver , endothelial cells , muscle tissue , heart , or kidney . It was even documented that honokiol was able to produce significantly stronger antioxidative activity compared to α‐tocopherol .…”

<p>Development of Nanosome-Encapsulated Honokiol for Intravenous Therapy Against Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis</p>

“…Honokiol, a natural hydrophobic phytochemical extracted from the Chinese herb Houpu, has been traditionally used to treat many mental and neurological disorders. 12 It has been well documented that honokiol exerts several pharmacological activities, including anti-anxiety, 13 anti-hyperalgesia, 14 anti-inflammation, 15 anti-oxidation, 16 anti-senescence, 17 and neuroprotection. 18 In mouse models, honokiol treatment could ameliorate the symptoms of allergic asthma, postoperative ileus and arthritis by reducing the production of inflammation-related factors, such as TNF, IL-6, and IFN-γ.…”

Evaluation of Vitamin C Supplementation on Kidney Function and Vascular Reactivity Following Renal Ischemic Injury in Mice

“…Oxidative stress represents the increased presence of various free radicals that could not be buffered by the antioxidant capacity consisting of enzymatic and non-enzymatic components. Renal tissue injury during ischemia/reperfusion comes as a result of oxidative damage of proteins and DNA [7]. Meanwhile, enhanced vasoconstriction has been documented as a result of increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) and ROS could also impair vascular reactivity due to declining nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability [8].…”