To explore the intervention effect of Danggui Shaoyao Powder on the Nrf2/SLC7A11/Gpx4 pathway and oxidative stress injury in the kidneys of juvenile rats with nephrotic syndrome (PNS).

4-week-old SD rats were randomly divided into six groups: CON group, MOD group, KDS group, DSS group, COM group and ANT group. Except for the CON group, in each group, the nephrotic syndrome model was established by intravenous injection of doxorubicin at regular intervals through the tail vein. After modeling, each group was intervened with the corresponding drug. The combined group was given the Danggui Shaoyao Powder combined with candesartan regimen. The drug intervention lasted for 4 weeks. At the 4th week, the 24-hour urine protein quantification (24 hUTP) of the rats was detected by the Coomassie brilliant blue method, the serum albumin (ALB), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine (CREA) of the rats were detected by the biochemical method, and the reactive oxygen species (ROS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the renal tissue of the rats were detected by ELISA, and the levels of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), and iron ions (Fe^{2 +}) were detected by immunofluorescence. The related factors of the Nrf2/SLC7A11/Gpx4 pathway in the kidneys of the rats were detected by Western blot method.

After 4 weeks of intervention, compared with the CON group, the 24 h UTP level was increased and the ALB level was decreased in the MOD group; the levels of ROS, MDA, 8-OHdG and Fe²+of oxidative stress indicators were elevated, while SOD and GSH levels declined, and the expressions of Nrf2, SLC7A11 and Gpx4 were significantly downregulated, with statistically significant differences (P < 0.05). Compared with the MOD group, all above indexes were markedly improved in KDS, DSS and COM groups (P <0.05). The improvement in the COM group was superior to that in DSS and KDS groups (P <0.05). After intervention with the blocker ML385, the protective efficacy of Danggui Shaoyao Powder was obviously abolished in the ANT group, and there was significant difference compared with the DSS group (P <0.05). No obvious changes of BUN and CREA were observed among all groups (P > 0.05).

Danggui Shaoyao Powder can regulate the Nrf2/SLC7A11/Gpx4 pathway in the kidneys of juvenile rats with nephrotic syndrome, alleviate oxidative stress damage, and exert a protective effect on their kidneys.