Physalin A Enhances Autophagy and Suppresses Oxidative Stress Injury and Extracellular Matrix Deposition in Diabetic Nephropathy

Abstract

Diabetic nephropathy is the major cause of chronic kidney disease worldwide. Persistent hyperglycemia plays a causative role in diabetic nephropathy. Physalin A, a steroidal plant-derived bioactive compound known to exhibit anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-fungal, and analgesic activities, has been widely used in traditional Chinese medicine practice. The present study examined the effect of Physalin A on high-glucose-treated HBZY-1 cells, a cell culture model of diabetic nephropathy. The results show that Physalin A alleviated cell proliferation, oxidative stress, extracellular matrix protein deposition, and insufficient autophagy induced by high glucose through inhibiting the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway.