From Wild Vegetable to Renal Protector: The Therapeutic Potential of Aralia elata (Miq.) Seem

Aralia elata (Miq.) Seem. (A. elata) is a medicinal and edible wild vegetable, which has potential applications in the pharmaceutical and health food industries. Araloside A (Ara A) is a natural triterpenoid saponin extracted from A. elata. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an important public health problem worldwide. There is still a lack of effective drugs to delay the progression of renal injury. We experimentally found that Ara A can alleviate pathological renal injury, reduce proteinuria and improve renal dysfunction in model mice. This is associated with its ability to mitigate oxidative stress and regulate ferroptosis-related proteins. In vitro experiments, we found that Ara A can inhibit ferroptosis in podocytes and protect functional proteins. Mechanically, Ara A alleviated iron accumulation and lipid peroxidation in vivo and in vitro, and played a renal protective role by influencing the solute carrier family 7a member 11 (SLC7A11)/glutathione (GSH)/glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) signaling pathway. Through cell and animal experiments, we have verified that Ara A, a component derived from A. elata, can delay glomerulosclerosis, with the inhibition of oxidative stress and ferroptosis as its potential mechanisms of action. These results provide evidence for the utilization of A. elata as a nutraceutical for the treatment of CKD.