Study on the Regulation of HPA Axis and Nephrotoxicity of Different Processed Products of Psoraleae Fructus Products in Rats with Kidney-Yang Deficiency

Objective: To investigate the regulation of HPA axis and nephrotoxicity of different processed products of Psoraleae Fructus in rats with kidney-yang deficiency. Methods: Hydrocortisone was injected intramuscularly to create a model of kidney-yang deficiency, and the drug was administered for 15 d. ELISA was used to determine the content of 17-OHCS, CRH, ACTH, and CORT in serum, and HE staining was used to observe the adrenal tissue lesions and morphology; ELISA was used to determine the content of Kim-1 in serum and 24 h urine, and HE staining was used to observe the renal histopathology and morphology. Results: Compared with the model group, the body weight of rats in each group of different processed products of Psoraleae Fructus increased, but there was no significant difference ( P > 0.05); the liver index and serum levels of 17-OHCS and CORT of the rats in each group of different processed products of Psoraleae Fructus were higher than those of the model group ( P < 0.05), and the inflammatory lesions of the adrenal tissues were improved on different degrees; the renal index and adrenal index of the wine-made group and the renal index of salt-roasted group were significantly higher than those of the model group ( P < 0.05); the adrenal index of the salt-roasted group was higher than that of the model group, but there was no significant difference ( P > 0.05); compared with the blank group, the renal tubules of each group of different processed products of Psoraleae Fructus were slightly dilated, and the lesions of the wine product were more serious; the blood Kim-1 level of the tonic fat group was significantly higher than that of the blank group ( P < 0.05); blood and urine Kim-1 levels (except for blood Kim-1 in the salt-roasted group) were significantly higher than those of the blank group in the processed products of Psoraleae Fructus ( P < 0.05). Conclusion: Different processed products of Psoraleae Fructus can improve the symptoms of kidney-yang deficiency and regulate the HPA axis in rats, but the specific mechanism of action has some differences; different processed products of Psoraleae Fructus still retain a certain degree of nephrotoxicity, but the toxicity of salt-roasted tonic bone resin is lower.