Multi-dimensional analytical strategy for Ribes diacanthum Pall. to identify renoprotective small molecules

Ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury is a major cause of acute kidney injury (AKI), characterized by disrupted renal metabolism and inflammation. Ribes diacanthum Pall. (RDP), a traditional Mongolian medicinal plant, shows promise in treating renal disorders, yet identifying its renoprotective compounds and mechanisms remains a challenge.

To develop a multi-dimensional analytical (M-DA) strategy for identifying the renoprotective components of RDP and elucidating their mechanisms in AKI treatment.

Initially, an IR-induced AKI mouse model was used to assess RDP in vivo effects. Subsequently, the chemical profile of RDP was analyzed using HPLC-QTOF-MS/MS, followed by network pharmacology and bioinformatics analysis to predict modulated signaling pathways. The involvement of core pathways was validated through western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence analyses. Next, targeted cell extraction technology was employed to identify active compounds. Finally, in vitro activity assays were conducted to evaluate active compounds, and their interactions with key molecular targets were further analyzed using molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations.

RDP treatment significantly reduced renal damage and dysfunction. Forty-one compounds were identified, with network pharmacology highlighting apoptosis and inflammation-related pathways. Validation confirmed that RDP modulates the PI3K/AKT and TLR2/NF-κB pathways. Three compounds-gallic acid, myricitrin, and eriodictyol-exhibited renoprotective effects in vitro and strong binding to AKT1 in computational simulations.

The M-DA strategy successfully identified three renoprotective compounds in RDP and their mechanisms of action. This novel approach not only advances the understanding of RDP therapeutic potential in AKI but also provides a valuable framework for the systematic exploration of bioactive compounds and their mechanisms in botanical medicine.