For years, there have been studies based on the use of natural compounds plant-derived as potential therapeutic agents for various diseases in humans. Curcumin is a phenolic compound extracted from Curcuma longa rhizome commonly used in Asia as a spice, pigment and additive. In traditional medicine of India and China, curcumin is considered as a therapeutic agent used in several foods. Numerous studies have shown that curcumin has broad biological functions particularly antioxidant and antiinflammatory. In fact, it has been established that curcumin is a bifunctional antioxidant; it exerts antioxidant activity in a direct and an indirect way by scavenging reactive oxygen species and inducing an antioxidant response, respectively. The renoprotective effect of curcumin has been evaluated in several experimental models including diabetic nephropathy, chronic renal failure, ischemia and reperfusion and nephrotoxicity induced by compounds such as gentamicin, adriamycin, chloroquine, iron nitrilotriacetate, sodium fluoride, hexavalent chromium and cisplatin. It has been shown recently in a model of chronic renal failure that curcumin exerts a therapeutic effect; in fact it reverts not only systemic alterations but also glomerular hemodynamic changes. Another recent finding shows that the renoprotective effect of curcumin is associated to preservation of function and redox balance of mitochondria. Taking together, these studies attribute the protective effect of curcumin in the kidney to the induction of the master regulator of antioxidant response nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2 (Nrf2), inhibition of mitochondrial dysfunction, attenuation of inflammatory response, preservation of antioxidant enzymes and prevention of oxidative stress. The information presented in this paper identifies curcumin as a promising renoprotective molecule against renal injury.

Ephedra is one of the largest genera of the Ephedraceae family, which is distributed in arid and semiarid regions of the world. In the traditional medicine from several countries some species from the genus are commonly used to treat asthma, cold, flu, chills, fever, headache, nasal congestion, and cough. The chemical constituents of Ephedra species have been of research interest for decades due to their contents of ephedrine-type alkaloids and its pharmacological properties. Other chemical constituents such as phenolic and amino acid derivatives also have resulted attractive and have provided evidence-based supporting of the ethnomedical uses of the Ephedra species. In recent years, research has been expanded to explore the endophytic fungal diversity associated to Ephedra species, as well as, the chemical constituents derived from these fungi and their pharmacological bioprospecting. Two additional aspects that illustrate the chemical diversity of Ephedra genus are the chemotaxonomy approaches and the use of ephedrine-type alkaloids as building blocks in organic synthesis. American Ephedra species, especially those that exist in Mexico, are considered to lack ephedrine type alkaloids. In this sense, the phytochemical study of Mexican Ephedra species is a promising area of research to corroborate their ephedrine-type alkaloids content and, in turn, discover new chemical compounds with potential biological activity. Therefore, the present review represents a key compilation of all the relevant information for the Ephedra genus, in particular the American species, the species distribution, their ecological interactions, its ethnobotany, its phytochemistry and their pharmacological activities and toxicities, in order to promote clear directions for future research.

Recent studies from our laboratory have shown that the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) blockade with spironolactone (Sp) prevented renal dysfunction and reduced renal injury in both acute and chronic cyclosporine (CsA) nephrotoxicity. This study was designed to evaluate whether Sp administration reduces functional and structural renal damage associated in the setting of preexisting chronic CsA nephrotoxicity. Twenty eight male Wistar rats were fed a low-sodium diet. Fourteen received vehicle (V) and the others were treated with CsA (15 mg/kg sc). After 18 days one half of each group received Sp (20 mg/kg po) for the subsequent 18 days. Creatinine clearance, arteriolopathy, tubulointerstitial fibrosis, arteriolar thickening, glomerular diameter, apoptosis index and TGF-β, procaspase-3, and kidney injury molecule 1 (Kim-1) mRNA levels as well as Kim-1 shedding in urine were evaluated. Sp reduced the progression of renal dysfunction and tubulointerstitial fibrosis in preexisting chronic CsA nephrotoxicity. There was a significant reduction of arteriolar thickening in the CsA+Sp group that was associated with greater glomerular diameter and reduction of apoptosis index. These renoprotective effects were associated with reduction of TGF-β, procaspase-3, and Kim-1 mRNA levels as well as Kim-1 shedding into the urine. In conclusion, MR blockade with Sp prevented the progression of renal injury in preexisting chronic CsA nephropathy. These results suggest that Sp may reduce CsA-induced established nephrotoxicity in patients.