Bakuchiol from Psoralea corylifolia L. Ameliorates acute kidney injury and improves survival in experimental polymicrobial sepsis

•Bakuchiol (BAK) improved survival and relieves clinical signs in polymicrobial sepsis.•BAK ameliorated acute kidney injury in polymicrobial sepsis.•BAK reduced bacterial load and inflammation during polymicrobial sepsis.•BAK attenuated renal oxidative stress in polymicrobial sepsis.•BAK inhibited sepsis-induced activation of NF-κB and p38 MAPK in kidney. Bakuchiol (BAK) is a prenylated phenolic mono-terpene extracted from the fruit of Psoralea corylifolia L., which exerts a protective effect on organs. However, whether BAK has a protective effect on sepsis-induced acute kidney injury (S-AKI) is not clear. In our study we have demonstrated for the first time that pretreatment with BAK significantly reduced bacterial load, inflammation and renal oxidative stress in caecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced sepsis. Moreover, CLP-induced renal histological damage, mortality and clinical signs were markedly attenuated by BAK. Additionally, BAK inhibited sepsis-induced activation of NF-κB and p38 MAPK signaling in the kidneys. The evidence presented here has confirmed that BAK exerts multifunctional activity in protection against S-AKI. This action of BAK is probably due to the blockade of the NF-κB and p38 MAPK signaling pathways. Our findings offer a novel potential for BAK in protection against sepsis and S-AKI.