Protective Effects and Mechanisms of Flavonoids in Renal Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury

Pharmacology. 2023;108(1):27-36. doi: 10.1159/000527262. Epub 2022 Nov 29.

Abstract

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common and potentially fatal complication encountered during a variety of kidney surgeries. Renal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is the predominant mechanism of AKI in this setting. Hence, controlling I/R injury is a key research imperative as it is directly related to the prognosis of patients.

Summary: In the last decade, studies in vitro and in animal models have demonstrated that flavonoids can significantly alleviate I/R-induced AKI through a variety of pathways, including anti-oxidative stress, anti-inflammation, anti-cell death, inhibition of endoplasmic reticulum stress, and alleviation of mitochondrial dysfunction. Based on the extensive role of flavonoids in ischemia-reperfusion injury, the lack of drugs entering the clinic so far is a question worthy of consideration.

Key messages: This review summarizes the available evidence pertaining to the protective effect of flavonoids against renal I/R injury and discusses their potential clinical application in renal I/R injury.

Keywords: Anti-cell death; Anti-inflammatory; Antioxidant; Flavonoids; Ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acute Kidney Injury* / drug therapy
  • Acute Kidney Injury* / prevention & control
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis
  • Flavonoids / pharmacology
  • Flavonoids / therapeutic use
  • Kidney
  • Reperfusion Injury* / complications
  • Reperfusion Injury* / drug therapy
  • Reperfusion Injury* / prevention & control
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Flavonoids