Researchers tested a traditional Chinese herbal medicine called Yi-Shen-Hua-Shi on mice with kidney disease to understand how it works. The treatment improved kidney function and reduced inflammation by activating specific pathways in kidney cells that help restore energy and reduce scarring. While these results are encouraging, this is early-stage research in animals, and more studies in humans are needed before doctors can recommend it as a standard treatment for kidney disease patients.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether a traditional Chinese herbal medicine could help repair kidneys damaged by a disease that causes kidney scarring and dysfunction
  • Who participated: Laboratory mice that were given a special diet to develop kidney disease similar to chronic kidney disease in humans. The study also included kidney cells grown in dishes to test the medicine’s effects directly
  • Key finding: The herbal medicine improved kidney function, reduced scarring, and lowered inflammation in sick mice. It worked by turning on protective pathways in kidney cells that help them produce energy and fight damage
  • What it means for you: This research suggests the herbal medicine may help kidney disease, but it’s still in early testing stages. People with kidney disease should not try this without talking to their doctor first, as human studies are needed to prove it’s safe and effective

The Research Details

Scientists created kidney disease in mice by feeding them a special diet for 4 weeks. Then they gave some mice the herbal medicine (at two different amounts), some mice a comparison medicine, and some mice just water for 2 weeks. They measured kidney function, looked at kidney tissue under a microscope, and used advanced technology to study all the proteins in the kidney cells to understand exactly how the medicine worked.

The researchers also grew human kidney cells in dishes and exposed them to harmful substances to see if the herbal medicine could protect them. They used special techniques to identify which pathways in the cells the medicine was activating.

This multi-level approach—testing in whole animals, examining tissues, analyzing proteins, and testing in isolated cells—helps researchers understand both whether something works and how it works.

Understanding the exact mechanism (how the medicine works) is important because it helps scientists know if the results are real and reproducible. By identifying the specific pathways the medicine activates, researchers can predict whether it might work in humans and design better human studies. This approach also helps rule out whether improvements happened by chance.

This study used modern scientific techniques including mass spectrometry (a powerful tool for identifying proteins) and multiple validation methods to confirm findings. The researchers tested their results in different ways—in whole animals, in tissues, and in isolated cells—which strengthens confidence in the findings. However, because this is animal research, results may not directly translate to humans. The study was well-designed but represents early-stage research that needs human testing before clinical use.

What the Results Show

Mice with kidney disease that received the herbal medicine showed significant improvement in kidney function compared to untreated mice. Their kidneys had less scarring (fibrosis), which is a major problem in kidney disease. The medicine also reduced the number of inflammatory immune cells that were damaging the kidneys.

At the cellular level, the herbal medicine restored the ability of kidney cells to produce energy efficiently. Kidney cells in diseased mice were struggling to make ATP (the energy currency of cells), but the medicine fixed this problem. The medicine also helped kidney cells manage fats better, which is important for cell health.

The researchers identified that the medicine works by activating two important protective proteins called PPARγ and Klotho. These proteins act like switches that turn on repair and protection mechanisms in kidney cells. When these switches were turned on by the medicine, kidney cells became more resistant to damage.

The herbal medicine reduced levels of inflammatory markers in the blood, suggesting it calms down the body’s overactive immune response to kidney disease. The medicine also prevented the buildup of scar tissue in the kidneys, which is crucial because scarring is what eventually leads to kidney failure. Tests in isolated human kidney cells confirmed that the medicine protected them from injury through the same PPARγ-Klotho pathway identified in mice.

This research builds on previous observations that this herbal medicine helps kidney disease patients in China. However, this is the first study to explain the detailed mechanism of how it works at the molecular level. The PPARγ-Klotho pathway identified here has been studied in other kidney disease research, so these findings fit with existing scientific knowledge about kidney protection. The study goes deeper than previous work by using advanced protein analysis to map all the changes happening in diseased kidneys.

This study was conducted entirely in mice and laboratory cells, not in humans. Mouse biology doesn’t always match human biology, so results may not directly apply to people. The study didn’t test whether the herbal medicine works better than current kidney disease treatments. The exact dose and form of the medicine that would work best in humans is unknown. Long-term effects in humans haven’t been studied. The research doesn’t tell us whether the medicine would help people with kidney disease caused by other conditions (the mice had disease from a specific chemical, adenine).

The Bottom Line

Based on this research alone, the herbal medicine cannot be recommended as a treatment for kidney disease in humans. The evidence is promising but preliminary (confidence level: low to moderate). People with kidney disease should continue following their doctor’s current treatment plan. Anyone interested in trying this medicine should discuss it with their nephrologist (kidney doctor) before making any changes. More human studies are needed to establish safety and effectiveness.

People with chronic kidney disease and their doctors should follow this research as it develops. Researchers studying kidney disease and herbal medicine effectiveness should pay attention to these findings. People interested in traditional Chinese medicine may find this interesting, but should not self-treat based on this animal research. This is NOT appropriate for people to try on their own without medical supervision.

In the mice studied, improvements appeared within 2 weeks of treatment. However, human kidneys heal more slowly than mouse kidneys, so benefits in people would likely take weeks to months to appear. It could take 3-5 years of human studies before this medicine might become available as a treatment option.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Users with kidney disease could track kidney function markers (creatinine levels and GFR scores from blood tests) monthly to monitor disease progression, which would be important if they ever participate in studies of new treatments
  • Users could use the app to log their current kidney disease medications and set reminders to discuss new research findings with their nephrologist at their next appointment, ensuring they stay informed about emerging treatments
  • Set up quarterly reminders to review kidney function test results and track trends over time. Users could also use the app to maintain a record of any herbal supplements they’re considering, with notes to discuss with their doctor before starting anything new

This research is preliminary animal and laboratory research and does not constitute medical advice. Chronic kidney disease is a serious condition that requires ongoing medical supervision by a qualified nephrologist. Do not start, stop, or change any kidney disease treatment without consulting your doctor first. While this herbal medicine shows promise in animal studies, human safety and effectiveness have not been established. Anyone considering any new treatment for kidney disease should discuss it with their healthcare provider before proceeding. This summary is for educational purposes only.