A review of oxidative stress in acute kidney injury: protective role of medicinal plants-derived antioxidants

Abstract

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is the common clinical syndrome which is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The severity extends from less to more advanced spectrums which link to biological, physical and chemical agents. Oxidative stress (OS)-related AKI has demonstrated the increasing of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) and the decreasing of endogenous antioxidants. Medicinal plants-derived antioxidants can be ameliorated oxidative stress-related AKI through reduction of lipid peroxidation (LPO) and enhancement of activities and levels of endogenous antioxidants. Therefore, medicinal plants are good sources of exogenous antioxidants which might be considered the important remedies to ameliorate pathological alterations in oxidative stress-related AKI.

Keywords: Acute kidney injury; Medicinal plant; Oxidative stress.

Figure 1

Generation of ROS and RNS (modified from Valko et al., 2007). Note: superoxide anions (O2^•); hydroxyl radical (^•OH); hydrogen peroxide (H2O2); hypochlorous acid (HOCl); peroxynitrite (ONOO⁻); nitric oxide (^•NO); nitric oxide synthase (NOS); superoxide dismutase (SOD); myeloperoxidase (MPO); glutathione peroxidase (GPx); glutathione reductase (GR); reduced glutathione (GSH); oxidized glutathione (GSSG); nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH); ferric (Fe³⁺); and ferrous (Fe²⁺)