Plantago asiatica L. Ameliorates Puromycin Aminonucleoside-Induced Nephrotic Syndrome by Suppressing Inflammation and Apoptosis

Abstract

Objective: Nephrotic syndrome, a kidney disease with a variety of causes, is mainly characterized by heavy proteinuria, hypoproteinemia, and ascites. This study was designed to evaluate the underlying mechanism of action of Plantago asiatica L. (PAL) in treating nephrotic syndrome induced by puromycin aminonucleoside. Methods: PAL has been used in Asia as a traditional medicine and dietary health supplement. Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were intravenously injected with puromycin aminonucleoside (75 mg/kg/day), then treated with either Losartan (30 mg/kg/day) or PAL (200 mg/kg/day) by oral gavage for seven days. Results: PAL significantly decreased ascites, proteinuria level, and plasma lipid parameters. In addition, treatment with PAL attenuated histological damage and hypoalbuminemia. Treatment with PAL also restored podocin expression and reduced inflammation markers such as intracellular adhesion molecules (ICAM-1), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and high-mobility group box-1 (HMGB1). Lower expression levels of the apoptosis markers Bax, caspase-3 and capase-9 were documented in SD rats receiving PAL. PAL also significantly decreased the phosphorylation levels of MAPKs such as ERK, JNK and p38. Conclusion: As a multifunctional agent, PAL has a renoprotective effect in nephrotic syndrome rat models. The anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic properties, along with reductions in hyperlipidemia and ascites, represent important therapeutic effects. These results indicate that Plantago asiatica is likely to be a promising agent in the treatment of nephrotic syndrome.

Fu-Fang-Jin-Qian-Cao herbal granules protect against the calcium oxalate-induced renal EMT by inhibiting the TGF-β/smad pathway

“…FFJQC consists of D. styracifolium, P. asiatica, P. calvata, and Z. mays. Each herb has been studied to varying degrees (Huang et al 2014;Kho et al 2017;Hou et al 2018;Pardede and Muchlisyam 2018). In our previous study (Chen et al 2019), we focussed on the serum metabolic profile of FFJQC, and in the present study, we focussed on its mechanism of action on fibrosis on the kidney.…”

Potential Molecular Mechanisms of Plantain in the Treatment of Gout and Hyperuricemia Based on Network Pharmacology

“…It has been proved that plantain has significant effects such as reducing UA level [ 40 ], reducing XOD activity [ 81 ], anti-inflammatory and analgesic [ 12 ], and protecting kidney [ 15 ], so it is a common drug in clinical treatment of gout. Studies have shown flavonoids have strong anti-inflammatory activity [ 82 ].…”

“…In the traditional treatment, plantain has been used in the clinical treatment of gout and hyperuricemia with remarkable effect. Modern studies have also shown that plantain has the effect of reducing serum UA [ 10 , 11 ], anti-inflammatory and analgesic [ 12 , 13 ], inhibiting xanthine oxidase (XOD) activity [ 14 ], and protecting the kidney [ 15 ]. However, the mechanism of plantain to treat gout and hyperuricemia is still unclear, especially the molecular target mechanism of its effective chemical components, such as specific targets and pathways, which needs to be further explored.…”

Renoprotective Effect of Plantago major Against Proteinuria and Apoptosis Induced by Adriamycin in Rat

“…Our results were consistent with those of Kho et al (2017) who reported the anti-apoptotic effect of Plantago asiatica L . in puromycin aminonucleoside-induced nephrotic syndrome in rats [ 24 ]. Alleviation of renal cell apoptosis by P. major extract in ADR-treated rats may be attributed to its antioxidant and anti- inflammatory effects.…”