Figure 1.

Huajuxiaoji formula (HJXJ) alleviates phenyl sulfate (PS)-induced kidney injury in db/db mice. (a) H&E, Masson trichrome (MASSON), and periodic acid–Schiff (PAS) staining of kidney tissues of db/m (control) and db/db mice with PS in the absence or presence of HJXJ. Scale bar: 100 μm. (b–e) Specific assay kits detected the levels of (b) serum creatinine (CRE), (c) blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and in (d) urine samples and (e) plasma endotoxin. (f–g) Specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits detected serum levels of (f) IL-1β and IL-18 and (g) TNF-α and IL-6. Values are presented as mean ± SD. n = 6/group. ^∗∗∗P < 0.001 versus. control. ^#P < 0.05, ^##P < 0.01, ^###P < 0.001 versus PS.