Targeting Mitochondrial Dysfunction by Natural Products for the Treatment of Diabetic Kidney Disease

ABSTRACT Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is one of the most common complications of diabetes and is the primary cause of end‐stage renal disease (ESRD). However, due to its complex pathological mechanism, there is a lack of effective targeted drugs for DKD. Natural products, such as Corbrin Capsule, Huang Kui Jiaonang, and uremic clearance granule, which are derived from Chinese herbal medicine, have several advantages and potential in the treatment of various human diseases, especially DKD, and they have become promising treatment strategies for DKD. Recent research has suggested that mitochondrial dysfunction plays a vital role in the progression of DKD, and many natural products have been found to ameliorate or delay DKD by improving mitochondrial function. In this review, we mainly describe mitochondrial dysfunction involved in the progression of DKD and summarize natural products targeting mitochondrial dysfunction through multiple signaling pathways in the treatment of DKD, providing new insights and promising therapeutic targets for DKD.