REVIEW article
Front. Pharmacol.
Sec. Ethnopharmacology
This article is part of the Research TopicHerbal Medicine for the Treatment of Chronic Metabolic Diseases, Volume IIView all 45 articles
Pharmacological potential of Chinese botanical drugs in managing chronic kidney disease by targeting mitochondrial quality control
Provisionally accepted
Hongyu Liu1
Shumin Huang2
Shichun Chen3
Shuzhen Liang3Minying Huang4Shiyu Li5Yongxiang Xu3*
Baocheng Xie3*- 1Department of Pharmacy, Central Hospital of Guangdong Prison, Guangzhou, China
- 2Dongguan People's Hospital, Dongguan, China
- 3Department of Pharmacy, Dongguan People's Hospital, Dongguan, China
- 4Department of Pharmacy, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- 5Rehabilitation Department, Central Hospital of Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China
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Abstract: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a multifactorial health issue characterized by structural and functional impairments of the kidneys, with significant incidence and mortality rates in global populations. Mitochondrial quality control (MQC) comprises cellular mechanisms that maintain mitochondrial health, and imbalances in the MQC system, including abnormalities in mitochondrial oxidative stress, dynamics, biogenesis, autophagy, and apoptosis, have been implicated in the onset and progression of CKD. In addition, the interplay between gut microbiota, microbial metabolites, and mitochondrial integrity has gained increasing attention in CKD research. Consequently, therapeutic strategies targeting MQC have attracted considerable research interest. Chinese botanical drugs (CBD), known for their multi-component, multi-target profiles and favorable safety, demonstrate considerable potential in slowing CKD progression by modulating MQC. This review systematically summarizes current evidence on CBD metabolites and formulations that ameliorate CKD through MQC regulation. Firstly, we outline the mechanisms of action of MQC system, with 2 a focus on its role in CKD. We then discussed the pivotal role of the gut microbiota-microbial metabolites-mitochondria axis in the progression of CKD. Finally, we provide a summary of CBD metabolites and formulations that target the MQC system for CKD treatment to date, and explore their specific therapeutic mechanisms. Despite promising preclinical findings, we also critically assess limitations within the available literature, such as methodological variability and a lack of clinical validation. By integrating current knowledge and identifying key research gaps, this review aims to inform future studies and advance the development of CBD-based therapies for CKD.
Keywords: Chinese botanical drugs, Chronic Kidney Disease, gut-kidney axis, Mitochondrial dysfunction, Mitochondrial quality control
Received: 15 Oct 2025; Accepted: 30 Nov 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Liu, Huang, Chen, Liang, Huang, Li, Xu and Xie. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Yongxiang Xu
Baocheng Xie
Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.