Qingda granule alleviate angiotensin.-induced hypertensive renal injury by suppressing oxidative stress and inflammation through NOX1 and NF-κB pathways

Hypertension has become one of the important diseases harmful to human health. In China, Qingda granule (QDG) has been used to treat hypertension for decades. Previous studies by our team have shown that oxidative stress may be one of the pathways through which QDG inhibits hypertension-induced organs injury. However, the specific molecular mechanism of its anti-hypotension and renal oxidative stress response were unclearly. This study investigated QDG's potential protective mechanism against hypertension-induced renal injury. Mice were infused with Angiotensin II (Ang II, 500 ng/kg/min) or equivalent saline solution (Control) and administered oral QDG (1.145 g/kg/day) or saline for four weeks. QDG treatment mitigated the elevated blood pressure and reduced renal pathological changes induced by Ang II. As per the RNA sequencing results, QDG affects oxidative stress signaling. In agreement with these findings, QDG significantly attenuated the Ang II-induced increase in Nitrogen oxides 1 (NOX1) and reactive oxygen species and the decrease in superoxide dismutase in renal tissue. Additionally, QDG significantly inhibited Interleukin 6 (IL-6), Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), and Interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta) expression in renal tissues and blocked the phosphorylation of P65 (NF-kappa B subunit) and I kappa B. These results were confirmed in vitro. Overall, QDG reduced Ang II-induced elevated blood pressure and renal injury by inhibiting oxidative stress and inflammation caused by NOX1 and NF-kappa B pathways. The results of this study provide an experimental basis for the clinical application of QDG, and to open up a new direction for the clinical treatment of hypertension.