College of Pharmacy, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi, 154007, Heilongjiang, P.R. China.
Food Funct. 2021 Mar 21;12(6):2543-2553. doi: 10.1039/d0fo03143g. Epub 2021 Feb 24.
Gouty nephropathy (GN) is considered to be a prevalent renal disease and is an inflammatory event mainly induced by MSU crystals. Plantaginis Semen is a traditional Chinese herb that has been used in the treatment of gout, gouty arthritis and GN, but the mechanism and ingredients have been unclear. In this study, we explored and evaluated the preliminary structural characterizations of Plantaginis Semen polysaccharides (PSPs) and the activity of protecting against renal damage in GN rats. Three polysaccharide fractions, PSP-D, PSP-H and PSP-S, were sequentially extracted by different processes from the seed of Plantago asiatica L. The Fourier transform infrared spectral (FTIR) results showed that there were significant differences between PSP-S and the other two polysaccharides (PSP-D and PSP-H). PSP-D and PSP-H have pyrene monomers and linkages of β-glycosides in their structures, and PSP-S has furanoside in the molecular structure. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) images of three polysaccharides showed that PSP-D has a smooth surface and a small curve, PSP-H is block-like and uneven in magnitude, whereas PSP-S is sea-tent-like and its surface is very distinct from the others. Main components and molar ratios are also different. Rats were randomly divided into six groups (n 8 per group): the control group, model group, positive group, and three treatment groups (PSP-D, PSP-H and PSP-S). For all groups except the control group, rats were intragastrically administered the adenine suspension (50 mg kg d) and fed with a high-yeast diet (15 g kg d) for 28 days. On the 9th day, the control group and the model group were administered normal saline at the same time. Treatment groups were individually given corresponding drugs for 20 days. We found that PSPs could prevent renal damage, including decreasing the inflammatory response and regulating the (NOD)-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) protein in renal tissue. The underlying mechanism was related to NLRP3 inflammasome signal pathways, and it could take effect through the down-regulation of the protein expression levels of NLRP3, ASC and caspase-1 and inhibit the release of downstream inflammatory factors. PSPs are promising polysaccharides that could protect against renal injury through ameliorating renal inflammation in GN rats. Plantaginis Semen polysaccharides are potential functional food ingredients or pharmacological agents for treating GN in clinical practice.
痛风性肾病（GN）被认为是一种普遍存在的肾脏疾病，是由 MSU 晶体引起的炎症事件。车前子是一种传统的中药，已被用于治疗痛风、痛风性关节炎和 GN，但机制和成分尚不清楚。在这项研究中，我们探索和评估了车前子多糖（PSPs）的初步结构特征及其在 GN 大鼠肾损伤保护中的活性。通过不同的工艺，从车前子种子中依次提取了三种多糖级分，PSP-D、PSP-H 和 PSP-S。傅里叶变换红外光谱（FTIR）结果表明，PSP-S 与其他两种多糖（PSP-D 和 PSP-H）之间存在显著差异。PSP-D 和 PSP-H 的结构中都有芘单体和β-糖苷键，而 PSP-S 的分子结构中有呋喃糖苷。三种多糖的扫描电子显微镜（SEM）图像显示，PSP-D 表面光滑，曲线小，PSP-H 块状，大小不均匀，而 PSP-S 呈海篷子状，表面与其他两种多糖明显不同。主要成分和摩尔比也不同。大鼠随机分为六组（每组 8 只）：对照组、模型组、阳性组和三个治疗组（PSP-D、PSP-H 和 PSP-S）。除对照组外，所有组均给予腺嘌呤混悬液（50mgkg d）灌胃，同时给予高酵母饲料（15gkg d）喂养 28 天。第 9 天，对照组和模型组同时给予生理盐水。治疗组分别给予相应药物治疗 20 天。结果发现，PSPs 可预防肾损伤，包括减轻炎症反应和调节肾组织中的（NOD）样受体蛋白 3（NLRP3）蛋白。其作用机制与 NLRP3 炎性体信号通路有关，可通过下调 NLRP3、ASC 和半胱天冬酶-1 的蛋白表达水平，抑制下游炎症因子的释放而发挥作用。PSPs 是有前途的多糖，可通过改善 GN 大鼠的肾炎症来保护肾脏免受损伤。车前子多糖是治疗 GN 临床实践中潜在的功能性食品成分或药理学药物。
