Identification of effective component from a traditional herbal medicine and the inhibitory effects on experimental...

Effective constituents for renal disease were partially purified from a herbal prescription. The efficacy on renal diseases was examined using an experimental model system of glomerular lesion in mice induced by Agkistrodon acutus venom (Ac1-P). The extract of boiling water of the herbal prescription (P-3) was first fractionated by ether into an acidic fraction and a mixture of basic and neutral fractions. The acidic fraction was proved to be more effective and then further examined by thin layer chromatography and spectrophotometry. One of the main components was confirmed to be caffeic acid which had inhibitory effect on renal failure in mice by Ac1-P. This effect was considered to be caused by caffeic acid inhibiting the proteolytic enzyme activity of Ac1-P. Caffeic acid should thus have prophylactic or inhibitory effect on glomerular disease in which proteolytic enzymes may have pathogenic roles.