Nephroprotective mechanism of Kunkui Baoshen decoction in diabetic kidney disease: Targeting the HERC2/NCOA4-mediated autophagy-dependent ferroptosis pathway

Figure 8 Kunkui Baoshen decoction alleviates fibrosis by inhibiting ferroptosis in vitro and in vivo. A-C: Levels of Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺, malondialdehyde, and glutathione/oxidized glutathione in renal tissues; D: Reactive oxygen species levels assessed by fluorescence microscopy in renal tissues (scale bars = 50 μm); E: Transmission electron microscopy images showing mitochondrial morphological changes related to ferroptosis in renal tissues (scale bars = 2 μm). L-KKBS: Low-dose Kunkui Baoshen decoction; H-KKBS: High-dose Kunkui Baoshen decoction; MDA: Malondialdehyde; GSH: Glutathione; GSSG: Oxidized glutathione; ROS: Reactive oxygen species. ^bP < 0.01 vs db/m group, ^dP < 0.0001 vs db/m group, ^eP < 0.05 vs db/db group, ^fP < 0.01 vs db/db group, and ^hP < 0.0001 vs db/db group.