Effect of Poria cocos on Puromycin Aminonucleoside‐Induced Nephrotic Syndrome in Rats

Abstract

Nephrotic syndrome is associated with altered renal handling of water and sodium and changes in the levels of aquaporins (AQPs) and epithelial Na channels (ENaCs). The dried sclerotia of Poria cocos Wolf (WPC) have been used for treating chronic edema and nephrosis. We evaluated the effects of WPC on puromycin aminonucleoside- (PAN-) induced renal functional derangement and altered renal AQP2 and ENaC expression. In the nephrotic syndrome rat model, animals were injected with 75 mg/kg PAN and then treated with Losartan (30 mg·kg−1 ·day−1) or WPC (200 mg·kg−1 ·day−1) for 7 days. In the WPC group, proteinuria and ascites improved significantly. Plasma levels of triglyceride, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein- (LDL-) cholesterol reduced significantly in the WPC group. In addition, the WPC group exhibited attenuation of the PAN-induced increase in AQP2 and ENaC α/β subunit protein and mRNA levels. WPC suppressed significantly PAN-induced organic osmolyte regulators, reducing serum- and glucocorticoid-inducible protein kinase (Sgk1) and sodium-myo-inositol cotransporter (SMIT) mRNA expression. Our results show that WPC improves nephrotic syndrome, including proteinuria and ascites, through inhibition of AQP2 and ENaC expression. Therefore, WPC influences body-fluid regulation via inhibition of water and sodium channels, thereby, improving renal disorders such as edema or nephrosis.

Tongbixiao Pills Improve Gout by Reducing Uric Acid Levels and Inhibiting Inflammation

“…47 The water extract of poria cocos can reduce blood uric acid levels in rats, and at the same time can reduce the creatinine level to protect the kidney. 48 Plantago seed extract affects the activity of xanthine oxidase in the liver of model rats, can prevent kidney damage, and reduce inflammation. 49 In the clinical study, we treated 105 gout patients with allopurinol and Tongbixiao pills to demonstrate the efficacy of Tongbixiao pills for gout.…”

“…47 The water extract of poria cocos can reduce blood uric acid levels in rats, and at the same time can reduce the creatinine level to protect the kidney. 48 Plantago seed extract affects the activity of xanthine oxidase in the liver of model rats, can prevent kidney damage, and reduce inflammation. 49…”

Novel inhibitors of the cellular renin‐angiotensin system components, poricoic acids, target Smad3 phosphorylation and Wnt/β‐catenin pathway against renal fibrosis

“…One of these preparation, Wulinsan, was shown to confer a significant renoprotective effect (Yang et al, ; Yoon et al, ) and is widely used in the treatment of patients with CKD. A number of studies have demonstrated the renoprotective effect of P. cocos (Lee et al, ; Yoon et al, ; Lee et al, ). In addition, several studies have shown the protective effect of lanostane triterpenoids derived from the sclerotia of P. cocos on renal tubular epithelial cells including LLC‐PK1 and HK‐2 cells (Lee et al, ; Wang et al, ).…”

Traditional Chinese Medicine in the Treatment of Chronic Kidney Diseases: Theories, Applications, and Mechanisms

“…In the ADR-induced NS rat model, Poria extract could significantly improve the levels of urine protein, creatinine, serum total cholesterol, and IL-4 cytokine and attenuate kidney injury ( Zan et al, 2017 ). Likewise, Poria treatment significantly improves the disturbance of water metabolism in puromycin aminonucleoside (PAN)-induced NS rats by inhibiting the expression of the epithelial sodium channel and AQP2 ( Lee et al, 2014 ). An in vitro study also revealed that Poria treatment inhibited the activation of Sgk1 and decreased the expression of TonEBP mRNA ( Lee et al, 2012 ).…”