Water extract of earthworms mitigates kidney injury triggered by oxidative stress via activating intrarenal Sirt1/Nrf2 cascade and ameliorating mitochondrial damage.

-induced cytotoxicity in kidney cells in vitro and improved IR-induced kidney damage in rats. Mechanistically, WEE potentiated the Sirt1/Nrf2 axis and relieved mitochondrial damage in the kidney cells. These events inhibited the apoptosis and ferroptosis induced by oxidative stress. Our findings support the potential application of WEE for the clinical treatment of kidney diseases caused by intrarenal oxidative stress.