Comparative study on the efficacy of Panax japonicus and its stem-leaf saponins in alleviating renal fibrosis and vascular calcification in mice with chronic kidney disease

The bioactive potential of Panax japonicus stems and leaves remained underexplored. As an essential component of Panax japonicus, the stems and leaves demonstrated significantly enhanced bioactive utility when utilized for medicinal or dietary applications. This study compared the two parts, emphasizing the untapped potential of the stems and leaves as valuable functional food ingredients. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to evaluate the compositional similarity between the stems and leaves of Panax japonicus and the herb itself. A chronic kidney disease (CKD) model was established in C57BL/6 mice by feeding them adenine-supplemented chow. The therapeutic effects of Panax japonicus, its stem and leaf extracts, and Chikusetsusaponin Ⅴ were compared to assess their overall anti-CKD efficacy in mice. Panax japonicus, its stem and leaf extracts, and Chikusetsusaponin Ⅴ inhibited vascular calcification in vivo by upregulating α-SMA and downregulating RUNX2 and OCN. Additionally, they suppressed renal fibrosis by reducing TGF-β1 expression and increasing p-Smad3 expression. The stem and leaf extracts of Panax japonicus, along with Chikusetsusaponin Ⅴ, alleviated chronic kidney disease (CKD) symptoms by modulating molecular signaling pathways that may have been associated with vascular calcification and renal fibrosis.