Effect of losartan potassium tablets combined with Bailing capsules on rats with chronic kidney disease

Purpose: To study the combined therapeutic effect of losartan potassium tablets and Bailing capsules in rats with chronic kidney disease (CKD) via PI3K/Akt/NF-κB pathway. Methods: Sixty Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomized into blank (BG), model (MG) and study groups (OG), with 20 rats in each group. The CKD model was established in MG and OG through oral gavage of adenine. The OG was administered losartan potassium tablets combined with Bailing capsules, while BG and MG were administered saline. After 6 weeks of continuous administration, BUN, Scr, UAlb, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 were assessed. Protein expression and changes in the mRNA of PI3K, Akt and NF-κB were determined. Results: The BUN, Scr and UAlb, as well as IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α levels were highest in MG, followed by OG, and lowest in BG (p < 0.05). PI3K and Akt proteins were lowest in MG, followed by OG, and highest in BG, whereas NF-κB protein was highest in MG, followed by OG, and lowest in BG (p < 0.05). PI3K mRNA and Akt mRNA levels were lowest in MG, followed by OG, and highest in BG, while NF-κB mRNA was highest in MG, followed by OG, and lowest in BG (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The combination of losartan potassium tablets and Bailing capsules are effective in treating CKD in rats, and improves the renal function of rats. Thse effects may be related to the down-regulation of PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signaling pathway