CASP1 and diabetic kidney disease: It was reported that Huangkui capsule decreased the expression of NLRP3, Caspase-1, and IL-1β in the renal tubular epithelial cells and kidneys of DKD rats, inhibited activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, and alleviated tubular epithelial-mesenchymal transition in DKD rats.[16] The Chinese medicine sarsasapogenin,[51] curcumin, the active component of the Chinese medicine turmeric, and ginsenoside compound K also have similar effects.[49,52]Cordyceps sinensis is a fungus-caterpillar complex that is a traditional Chinese medicine for nourishing the lung and the kidney.