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Dioscorea Villosa (Wild Yam) Induces Chronic Kidney Injury Via Pro-Fibrotic Pathways, Ken Wojcikowski, Hans Wohlmuth, David Johnson, Glenda Gobe
Dioscorea Villosa (Wild Yam) Induces Chronic Kidney Injury Via Pro-Fibrotic Pathways, Ken Wojcikowski, Hans Wohlmuth, David Johnson, Glenda Gobe
Dr Hans Wohlmuth
Dioscorea villosa (wild yam) rhizome extract is a medicinal herb that is commonly used to treat symptoms of menopause and rheumatoid arthritis. We had evidence from previous in vitro experiments that this extract is toxic and pro-fibrotic in renal cells and aimed to test whether this occurs in vivo. Sprague-Dawley rats received 0.79 g/kg/d D. villosa extract in their food or no treatment over 7, 14 and 28d (n = 4 per group). Kidney and liver tissues were collected for protein extraction and Western immunoblots or fixed for special histologic stains, immunohistochemistry (IHC) and microscopy. Collagen deposition was assessed using …
An In Vitro Investigation Of Herbs Traditionally Used For Kidney And Urinary System Disorders: Potential Therapeutic And Toxic Effects, Ken Wojcikowski, Hans Wohlmuth, David Johnson, Margaret Rolfe, Glenda Gobe
An In Vitro Investigation Of Herbs Traditionally Used For Kidney And Urinary System Disorders: Potential Therapeutic And Toxic Effects, Ken Wojcikowski, Hans Wohlmuth, David Johnson, Margaret Rolfe, Glenda Gobe
Dr Hans Wohlmuth
Aim: Renal fibrosis is central to progression of most chronic renal pathologies. Antioxidants that protect the tubular epithelium and anti-fibrotics that induce apoptosis of pro-fibrotic myofibroblasts without adversely affecting tubular epithelium may slow progression of renal fibrosis, while toxic substances may exacerbate renal scarring. We investigated 47 herbs for their in vitro toxic or antioxidant effects on normal renal mammalian fibroblasts (NRK49F) and tubular epithelial cells (NRK52E) to determine their potential value as therapeutic agents in renal fibrosis involving oxidative stress. Methods: Herbs were chosen because of their traditional use in kidney or urinary system disorders, or because of recent …