Review Article

Several Alkaloids in Chinese Herbal Medicine Exert Protection in Acute Kidney Injury: Focus on Mechanism and Target Analysis

Table 1

Pathways involved in the amelioration of AKI by alkaloids.

ClassificationNameSourceDose/
Concentration
MechanismsModels
(in vivo/vitro)
Clinical etiology (mimic)

Pyrazine alkaloidsTetramethylpy-razine
(TMP)/Ligustrazine
Ligusticum wallichii Franchat100 mg/kg, i.p.Oxidative stressRats, GM (in vivo) [64]Drugs/toxics
50, 100 μMOxidative stress (Nrf2/HO-1)HK-2 cells, as (in vitro) [43]Drugs/toxics
50, 100 mg/kg, i.p.Oxidative stress (Nrf2/HO-1), inflammation (TLR4/NF-κB), apoptosisRats, CP (in vivo) [63]Drugs/toxics
40 mg/kg, i.p. (in vivo)
30, 50 μM (in vitro)
Inflammation (NOD2), apoptosis, autophagyRats, I/R (in vivo), NRK-52E cells, H/R (in vitro) [108]Surgery
40 mg/kg, i.p.Inflammation (NLRP3), apoptosis (caspase-3)Rats, I/R (in vivo) [75]Surgery
30, 60 mg/kg, i.v.Apoptosis (caspase-3)Mice, CLP (in vivo) [89]Sepsis
80 mg/kg, i.p.Apoptosis (Bax/bcl-2)Rats, CM (in vivo) [88]Drugs/toxics

Isoquinoline alkaloidsBerberine
(BBR)
Berberis vulgaris10 μMOxidative stress, mitochondrial damage, apoptosis (Bax/bcl-2/caspase-3)HK-2 cells, H/R (in vitro) [65]Surgery
1, 2, 3 mg/kg, i.g.Oxidative stress (Nrf2/HO-1), apoptosis (caspase-3), inflammation (NF-κB), autophagy (LC3B)Mice, CP (in vivo) [90]Drugs/toxics
20, and 40 mg/kg; p.o.Oxidative stress, apoptosis, inflammation, mitochondrial damageRats, GM (in vivo) [67]Drugs/toxics
20, 40 mg/kg, p.o.Oxidative stress, apoptosis (Bax/bcl-2/caspase-3), inflammationRats, I/R (in vivo) [17]Surgery
Nanoparticles, 2, 4 mg/kg, i.v.Oxidative stress, apoptosis (Bax/bcl-2/caspase-3),Rats, I/R (in vivo) [66]Surgery
5, 10, 20 mg/kg, i.v.Oxidative stressRats, DOX (in vivo) [42]Drugs/toxics
50 mg/kg, p.o.Oxidative stress (Nrf2/Keap1), apoptosis(Bax/bcl-2/caspase-3), inflammation (NF-κB)Rats, MTX (in vivo) [15]Drugs/toxics
5, 10 mg/kg, i.p. (in vivo)
1, 2, 4 μM (in vitro)
Autophagy (PINK 1/Parkin)Mice, CP (in vivo), NRK-52E cells, CP (in vitro) [101]Drugs/toxics

ProtopineC. Humosa Migo5 mg/kg, i.g.Apoptosis (Bax/bcl-2/caspase-9/caspase-3), inflammation (TLR4/NF-κB), pyroptosisLPS, mice (in vivo) [92]Sepsis
NeferineNelumbo nucifera20 mg/kg, i.p. (in vivo)
2, 4, 8 μM (in vitro)
Inflammation(NF-ΚB, klotho), apoptosis (Bax/bcl-2/caspase-3)Mice, I/R (in vivo), NRK-52E cells, H/R or LPS (in vitro) [103]Surgery, sepsis
Indole alkaloidsVinpocetine
(vin)
Catharanthus roseus5 mg/kg, i.p. (in vivo)
3 μ/ml (in vitro)
Oxidative stress (Nrf2), inflammation(NF-κB)Mice, CP (in vivo), HK-2 cells, CP (in vitro) [68]Drugs/toxics
GelsemineGelsemium elegans5, 25 mg/kg, p.o.Oxidative stressRats, CP(in vivo) [64, 71]Drugs/toxics
EvodiamineEuodia rutaecarpa (Juss.)Benth10 mg/kg, i.p.Oxidative stress, inflammation (NF-κB), apoptosis (caspase-3)Rats, I/R [91]Surgery

Pyridine alkaloidsOxymatrine (OMT)Sophora flavescens Ait,150 mg/kg, i.p.Oxidative stress(Nrf2/HO-1)Rats, I/R [69]Surgery

Tropane alkaloidsAnisodamineScopolia tangutica
Maxim
1 mg/kg, i.p.Oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis(caspase-3)Rats, glycerol [46]Drugs/toxics

β-Carbine alkaloidsHarminePeganum harmala L.25, 50 mg/kg, i.g.Inflammation (TLR4/NF-κB, NLRP3)Mice, LPS [70]Sepsis

Organic amine alkaloidsLeonurineLeonurus cardiaca50 mg/kg, p.o.Oxidative stress, inflammation (NF-κB)Mice, LPS [72]Sepsis

Aporphine alkaloidsNuciferineNelumbo nucifera30 mg/kg, i.g.FerroptosisMice, folic acid [87]Drugs/toxics