Rosa roxburghii Tratt juice attenuates cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury by alleviating inflammatory response partially related to gut microbiota metabolism

This study sought to elucidate the renoprotective effects and molecular mechanisms of Rosa roxburghii Tratt juice (RRTJ)—recognized for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and organ-protective properties—in a murine model of cisplatin-induced (7 mg/kg) acute kidney injury (AKI). Using a multi-faceted approach that assessed renal function parameters, histopathology, signaling pathways, 16S rDNA sequencing, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), and non-targeted metabolomics, we identified rosamultin, procyanidin B1, catechin, and rosavin as major constituents. RRTJ administration mitigated cisplatin-induced renal dysfunction and histopathological damage, suppressed the NF-κB/COX-2 mediated inflammatory response, and promoted favorable shifts in gut microbiota composition and metabolic pathways. This included the normalization of fecal acetic, propanoic, and hexanoic acid levels. FMT studies demonstrated that the therapeutic benefits of RRTJ are partially dependent on the modulation of gut microbiota metabolism. These findings collectively indicate that RRTJ holds promise for alleviating chemotherapy-associated AKI via its anti-inflammatory activity and regulation of gut microbiota metabolism.