Kidney function modulation via herbal compounds

The phrase "Kidney function modulation via herbal compounds" refers to the overarching approach of using herbal medicines and their bioactive components to influence renal health—either by protecting against or treating kidney damage. This is not a single molecular target but a therapeutic paradigm exploiting multiple herbal constituents’ actions on targets such as inflammatory pathways, oxidative stress responses, mitochondrial function, and microbial metabolites. Numerous single herbs (like Astragalus membranaceus, Salvia miltiorrhiza, Vitis vinifera) and multi-herb formulas are investigated for anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-fibrotic, immunomodulatory, and mitochondrial effects that can slow CKD progression or protect against acute injury. However, these actions are produced through various and often overlapping mechanisms targeting multiple molecular pathways rather than a unique, well-defined molecular entity[6][5][3][2][1]. Consequently, the term describes a therapeutic strategy, not a canonical biological target.

Other names

Herbal modulation of kidney functionHerbal nephroprotectionRenoprotective herbal therapy

Anti-inflammatory signaling inhibition, such as Rac1/PAK1/p38MAPK pathway; Antioxidant effect via Nrf2-ARE and Keap1-Nrf2-ARE pathway activation; Modulation of gut microbiota to reduce uremic toxins and inflammation; Inhibition of fibrosis-related protein expression and pathways (e.g., TGF-β, mTOR, PI3K/Akt, AMPK); Promotion of mitochondrial oxidative defense and function; Downregulation of pro-oxidant and pro-fibrotic mediators