The Business Bytes
PRIYABRAT BISWAL
BHUBANESWAR, MARCH 05, 2023
With India promoting the importance the Ayurveda for human wellbeing, Neeri KFT, an Indian traditional ayurvedic polyherbal formulation has been found to be effective in regulating the functions of at least six genes variants causing kidney dysfunction, researchers have said ahead of the World Kidney Day, which will be observed on March 9 this year.
Though the herbal drug, manufactured by AIMIL Pharmaceuticals (India) Ltd., is already known for its therapeutic properties, researchers from Jamia Hamdard’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) for the first time conducted a trial to investigate nephroprotective action of the drug against genes related to kidney dysfunction using in-silico, in-vitro and in-vivo approaches.
The results were encouraging in all the categories.
The researchers explained that six genes — CASP, IEL, AKT, ACE-2, AGTR-1 and SOD-1 — are responsible for regulating the functioning of the kidney. In other words, proteins associated with these genes help in ensuring the health of this vital organ. Any variation in these molecules can complicate or damage the kidney structure.
The study found that the compounds such as gallic acid, caffeic acid and ferulic acid were the major constituents of Neeri KFT, while network pharmacology analysis indicated a strong interaction between polyphenols and the genes involved in the pathophysiology of kidney disease.
Similarly, the in-vivo study showed a significant ameliorative effect of the herbal drug on biochemical markers and antioxidant enzymes and it regulated inflammatory cytokine expression in kidney tissues.
Dr. Sanchit Sharma from AIMIL Pharma pointed out that the herbal formulation based on time-tested phytoconstituents of extracts of medicinal plants like Punarnava, Giloy, Gokhru, Palash and Varuna has been developed after intensive scientific researches.
The study published in the journal Biomedicines offers a ray of hope to several patients of kidney diseases which are on the rise in the country as in the world.
In fact, the first phase of a pan-India study conducted by the Indian Society of Nephrology has found that of the people suffering from diabetes and blood pressure, at least 30 per cent were detected with chronic kidney disease, a condition which rarely shows any early symptoms and leads to gradual kidney failure.
Genetically, people of South Asian geographic regions, i.e., people from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, have a higher risk of contracting chronic kidney disease (CKD), especially with increased rates of diabetes and hypertension.
The approximate prevalence of CKD in India is 800 per 10 lakh of people, while the incidence of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is 150-200 per 10 lakh.
World Kidney Day is a global healthcare event celebrated on the second Thursday in March every year since 2006. This year’s World Kidney Day theme is “Kidney Health for All – Preparing for the unexpected, supporting the vulnerable”, a call to patients, governments, world leaders, and the concerned stakeholders those are in positions of power with an intention to work collaboratively to accelerate awareness about the challenges faced by patients suffering with chronic kidney disease.
