From Wild Vegetable to Renal Protector: The Therapeutic Potential of <i>Aralia elata</i> (Miq.) Seem

<i>Aralia elata</i> (Miq.) Seem. (<i>A. elata</i>) is a medicinal and edible wild vegetable, which has potential applications in the pharmaceutical and health food industries. Araloside A (Ara A) is a natural triterpenoid saponin extracted from <i>A. elata</i>. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an important public health problem worldwide. There is still a lack of effective drugs to delay the progression of renal injury. We experimentally found that Ara A can alleviate pathological renal injury, reduce proteinuria and improve renal dysfunction in model mice. This is associated with its ability to mitigate oxidative stress and regulate ferroptosis-related proteins. In vitro experiments, we found that Ara A can inhibit ferroptosis in podocytes and protect functional proteins. Mechanically, Ara A alleviated iron accumulation and lipid peroxidation in vivo and in vitro, and played a renal protective role by influencing the solute carrier family 7a member 11 (SLC7A11)/glutathione (GSH)/glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) signaling pathway. Through cell and animal experiments, we have verified that Ara A, a component derived from <i>A. elata</i>, can delay glomerulosclerosis, with the inhibition of oxidative stress and ferroptosis as its potential mechanisms of action. These results provide evidence for the utilization of <i>A. elata</i> as a nutraceutical for the treatment of CKD.