Planta Med 2012; 78(09): 866-873
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1298487
Biological and Pharmacological Activity
Original Papers
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Tanshinone IIA Prevents Uric Acid Nephropathy in Rats through NF-κB Inhibition

Xinlin Wu*
1   Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
,
Lihua Liu*
1   Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
,
Hongbo Xie
1   Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
,
Jiantang Liao
1   Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
,
Xin Zhou
1   Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
,
Jianxin Wan
1   Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
,
Kuang Yu
1   Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
,
Junbiao Li
1   Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
,
Yu Zhang
1   Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 11 January 2012
revised 30 March 2012

accepted 11 April 2012

Publication Date:
15 May 2012 (online)

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Abstract

The purpose of this research is to investigate the effect of tanshinone IIA, an extract of the Chinese medicine Que Xie Hua Yu Tang, on uric acid nephropathy (UAN) and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. UAN rat model was established. Fifty UAN rats were randomly allocated into 5 groups: adenine-treated group, allopurinol-treated group, and low/middle/high dose of tanshinone IIA-treated groups. Meanwhile, another 10 rats were used as normal controls. Serum uric acid (UA), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (Scr), MCP-1, and IL-1β levels were measured. Histological staining was performed. Comparison between the adenine group and treatment (allopurinol and tanshinone IIA) groups showed compound treatment could attenuate the inflammation status of the kidneys and decrease serum UA levels. Among different kinds of medicine, tanshinone IIA had similar effects as allopurinol and exerted anti-inflammatory and renal protective effect in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, we found tanshinone IIA alone could also inhibit urate-induced MCP-1 and IL-1β overexpression both in vivo and in vitro, accompanied with inhibition of NF-κB translocation from cytosome to nucleus. Tanshinone IIA could protect rats from uric acid-induced kidney damage, probably by attenuating renal inflammatory status.

* Xinlin Wu and Lihua Liu contributed equally to this work.