Panaxatriol saponins exert anti-renal fibrosis by suppressing TNF-α mediated inflammation and TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling pathway

Renal fibrosis is a key pathological process in the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Panaxatriol saponins (PTS), the main bioactive compounds extracted from Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F.H. Chen, have demonstrated antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activities. This study aimed to investig...

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Main Authors: Si Yi, Feiyan Li, Xin Ma, Yao Xu, Weijing Lai, Hongxi Chen, Junming Fan, Nan Mao, Sichong Ren
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Renal Failure
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/0886022X.2025.2516774
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author Si Yi
Feiyan Li
Xin Ma
Yao Xu
Weijing Lai
Hongxi Chen
Junming Fan
Nan Mao
Sichong Ren
author_facet Si Yi
Feiyan Li
Xin Ma
Yao Xu
Weijing Lai
Hongxi Chen
Junming Fan
Nan Mao
Sichong Ren
author_sort Si Yi
collection DOAJ
description Renal fibrosis is a key pathological process in the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Panaxatriol saponins (PTS), the main bioactive compounds extracted from Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F.H. Chen, have demonstrated antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activities. This study aimed to investigate the potential protective effects of PTS against renal fibrosis and explore the underlying pharmacological mechanisms. A unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) model was established in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats to induce renal fibrosis. Histopathological changes were assessed using hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, Masson’s trichrome staining, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Network pharmacology and molecular docking approaches were employed to identify potential signaling molecules through which PTS may mitigate renal fibrosis. Western blotting, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), and immunohistochemistry were utilized to validate the involvement of specific signaling pathways in PTS-mediated anti-fibrotic effects. Our data demonstrated that PTS alleviated renal dysfunction and provided protective effects against renal fibrosis, primarily through the TNF-α and TGF-β1 signaling pathways. Moreover, PTS treatment significantly downregulated pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-6, and Smad3 activity. Additionally, PTS inhibited the expression of key fibrosis markers, including α-SMA, collagen I, and fibronectin. Our study suggests that PTS exert a prevention effect in renal fibrosis by blocking the TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling pathway.
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institution Kabale University
issn 0886-022X
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publishDate 2025-12-01
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series Renal Failure
spelling doaj-art-e0a521b697c848ecb9c46f92c4d22f132025-08-20T03:30:45ZengTaylor & Francis GroupRenal Failure0886-022X1525-60492025-12-0147110.1080/0886022X.2025.2516774Panaxatriol saponins exert anti-renal fibrosis by suppressing TNF-α mediated inflammation and TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling pathwaySi Yi0Feiyan Li1Xin Ma2Yao Xu3Weijing Lai4Hongxi Chen5Junming Fan6Nan Mao7Sichong Ren8Department of Nephrology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, China National Nuclear Corporation 416 Hospital, Chengdu, ChinaClinical Medical College of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, ChinaClinical Medical College of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, ChinaClinical Medical College of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, ChinaClinical Medical College of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, ChinaClinical Medical College of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, ChinaClinical Medical College of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, ChinaClinical Medical College of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, ChinaClinical Medical College of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, ChinaRenal fibrosis is a key pathological process in the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Panaxatriol saponins (PTS), the main bioactive compounds extracted from Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F.H. Chen, have demonstrated antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activities. This study aimed to investigate the potential protective effects of PTS against renal fibrosis and explore the underlying pharmacological mechanisms. A unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) model was established in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats to induce renal fibrosis. Histopathological changes were assessed using hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, Masson’s trichrome staining, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Network pharmacology and molecular docking approaches were employed to identify potential signaling molecules through which PTS may mitigate renal fibrosis. Western blotting, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), and immunohistochemistry were utilized to validate the involvement of specific signaling pathways in PTS-mediated anti-fibrotic effects. Our data demonstrated that PTS alleviated renal dysfunction and provided protective effects against renal fibrosis, primarily through the TNF-α and TGF-β1 signaling pathways. Moreover, PTS treatment significantly downregulated pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-6, and Smad3 activity. Additionally, PTS inhibited the expression of key fibrosis markers, including α-SMA, collagen I, and fibronectin. Our study suggests that PTS exert a prevention effect in renal fibrosis by blocking the TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling pathway.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/0886022X.2025.2516774Panaxatriol saponinschronic kidney diseaserenal fibrosisTNF-αTGF-β1/smad3UUO model
spellingShingle Si Yi
Feiyan Li
Xin Ma
Yao Xu
Weijing Lai
Hongxi Chen
Junming Fan
Nan Mao
Sichong Ren
Panaxatriol saponins exert anti-renal fibrosis by suppressing TNF-α mediated inflammation and TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling pathway
Renal Failure
Panaxatriol saponins
chronic kidney disease
renal fibrosis
TNF-α
TGF-β1/smad3
UUO model
title Panaxatriol saponins exert anti-renal fibrosis by suppressing TNF-α mediated inflammation and TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling pathway
title_full Panaxatriol saponins exert anti-renal fibrosis by suppressing TNF-α mediated inflammation and TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling pathway
title_fullStr Panaxatriol saponins exert anti-renal fibrosis by suppressing TNF-α mediated inflammation and TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling pathway
title_full_unstemmed Panaxatriol saponins exert anti-renal fibrosis by suppressing TNF-α mediated inflammation and TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling pathway
title_short Panaxatriol saponins exert anti-renal fibrosis by suppressing TNF-α mediated inflammation and TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling pathway
title_sort panaxatriol saponins exert anti renal fibrosis by suppressing tnf α mediated inflammation and tgf β1 smad3 signaling pathway
topic Panaxatriol saponins
chronic kidney disease
renal fibrosis
TNF-α
TGF-β1/smad3
UUO model
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/0886022X.2025.2516774
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