Protective effect of white mulberry (Morus alba Linn.) leaf extract against inflammatory responses and oxidative stress in obstructive nephropathy-related kidney damage

White mulberry leaf extract (WME) is known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidative stress properties. Nevertheless, the mechanisms by which WME and its primary compound mitigate kidney damage in obstructive nephropathy remain unclear. This study investigates the efficacy of WME and chlorogenic acid (CGA) in suppressing inflammation and oxidative stress in animal models of obstructive nephropathy. Male Balb/c mice (n = 25) were randomly distributed into five groups: (1) the sham operation (SO) group, (2) the unilateral ureter obstruction (UUO) group, and UUO-induced mice treated with (3) enalapril (ENA), (4) WME, and (5) CGA. After the experiment, kidney organs were isolated for gene and protein analyses. Pro-inflammatory genes, including TLR-4, ICAM-1, and MCP-1, were measured using qPCR. The protein expression of TNF-α and NRF2 was examined using immunohistochemistry. The expression of TLR-4, ICAM1, and MCP-1 was downregulated in the WME and CGA groups (p < 0.0001) compared with the UUO group. TNF-α expression was markedly lower in the WME and CGA groups (p < 0.05) than in the UUO group. Furthermore, increased NRF2 protein expression demonstrated improved oxidative stress in the WME and CGA groups (p < 0.05). These findings indicate that WME and CGA mitigate kidney damage in obstructive nephropathy.