Radix Astragali has been an important traditional Chinese herbal medicine for over 2000 years. It is derived from two plant species, namely, Astragalus mongholicus [Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge. var. mongholic...Radix Astragali has been an important traditional Chinese herbal medicine for over 2000 years. It is derived from two plant species, namely, Astragalus mongholicus [Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge. var. mongholicus (Bge.) Hsiao] and Astragalus membranaceus [Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge.] (Leguminosae ), according to the Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China. In this study, the genetic diversity and genetic relationships of Radix Astragali in China were analyzed by Inter-Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) markers. A total of 25 highly polymorphic ISSR primers were selected to amplify 95 Radix Astragali samples. Among 273 DNA bands amplified, 213 are polymorphic (percentage of polymorphic bands: 78%). The average value of the amplified bands was 10.9 for each primer, and the number varied from 4 to 20. The genetic diversity of the 95 Radix Astragali samples was analyzed by using POPGENE 1.32 software. The Nei’s genetic diversity index (h) and Shannon’s information index (I ) were 0.3590 and 0.5308, respectively, which indicated the abundant genetic diversity of Radix Astragali . The level of genetic diversity in A. membranaceus (h: 0.3109, I : 0.4657) was slightly lower than that in A. mongholicus (h: 0.3364, I : 0.4969). Considering the average genetic similarity coefficient by NTSYS analysis to cluster the A. membranaceus of nine habitats and A. mongholicus of five habitats, Radix Astragali samples were clustered into two groups according to place of origin. This clustering is different from traditional clustering, which divides groups according to species. Results obtained from this study will provide a theoretical basis for the molecular study on germplasm resources of Radix Astragali .展开更多
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis(IPF)is a chronic,progressive,fibrotic interstitial lung disease.Current treatment options for IPF are limited.Radix Astragali(RA)and Radix Angelicae Sinensis(RAS),according to 5:1 ratio c...Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis(IPF)is a chronic,progressive,fibrotic interstitial lung disease.Current treatment options for IPF are limited.Radix Astragali(RA)and Radix Angelicae Sinensis(RAS),according to 5:1 ratio composed of Danggui Buxue decoction(DGBXD),which have played an essential role in the treatment of IPF.This article reviewed the experimental research,clinical research,and progress of RA and RAS(DGBXD)treating IPF to provide a deeper scientific basis for the future experimental research and clinical research.展开更多
Radix Astragali seu Hedysari is warm in nature and slightly sweet in taste.It belongs to the lung,spleen,and kidney meridians.It passes through a waterway,dredges the triple energizer,and has a significant effect on e...Radix Astragali seu Hedysari is warm in nature and slightly sweet in taste.It belongs to the lung,spleen,and kidney meridians.It passes through a waterway,dredges the triple energizer,and has a significant effect on edema due to renal diseases.Ancient doctors believed that Radix Astragali seu Hedysari is excellent in tonifying the middle,supplementing Qi,and dredging through the triple energizer.In modem times,many doctors have found that whether it is used as a single drug or in combination with other drugs,it is widely used in clinical practice and has a good effect in inducing diuresis.展开更多
AIM: To observe the protective effect of Radix Astragali injection on immune organs (lymph nodes, spleen and thymus) of rats with obstructive jaundice (OJ) and its mechanism. METHODS: SD rats were randomly divided int...AIM: To observe the protective effect of Radix Astragali injection on immune organs (lymph nodes, spleen and thymus) of rats with obstructive jaundice (OJ) and its mechanism. METHODS: SD rats were randomly divided into sham-operation group, model control group and Radix Astragali treatment group. On days 7, 14, 21 and 28 after operation, mortality rate of rats, pathological changes in immune organs, expression levels of Bax and nuclear factor (NF)-κB p65 proteins, apoptosis indexes and serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α level in spleen and thymus were observed, respectively.RESULTS: Compared to model control group, the number of dead OJ rats in Radix Astragali treatment group decreased (P > 0.05). The TNF-α level (27.62 ± 12.61 vs 29.55 ± 18.02, 24.61 ± 9.09 vs 31.52 ± 10.95) on days 7 and 21, the pathological severity score for spleen [0.0 (0.0) vs 0.0 (2.0) on days 7 and 14 and for lymph nodes [0.0 (1.0) vs 1.0 (2.0), 1.0 (0.0) vs 2.0 (1.0)] on days 21 and 28, the product staining intensity and positive rate of Bax protein in spleen [0.0 (0.0) vs 1.0 (2.0), 0.0 (1.0) vs 2.0 (1.5) and thymus [0.0 (0.0) vs 1.0 (2.0), 0.0 (1.0) vs 2.0 (1.5)] on days 14 and 28, the apoptotic indexes [0.0 (0.0) vs 0.0 (0.01)] in spleen and thymus [0.0 (0.0) vs 0.0 (0.01) on days 14 and 21 were significantly lower in Radix Astragali treatment group than in model control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Radix Astragali has protective effects on immune organs of OJ rats by relieving the pathological changes in immune organs, reducing TNF-α level and inhibiting Bax expression and apoptosis in spleen and thymus.展开更多
To study the protective effects of radix astragali against anoxic damages to in vitro cultured neurons in rats, NaCN was used to develop a hypoxic model of in vitro cultured neurons from newborn rat cerebral cortex. T...To study the protective effects of radix astragali against anoxic damages to in vitro cultured neurons in rats, NaCN was used to develop a hypoxic model of in vitro cultured neurons from newborn rat cerebral cortex. The cellular morphology, A value (cell survival number) and effluxes of lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) and K+ from cells were measured in the radix astragali group and the control group respectively. After 48 h of anoxia, A value was decreased from 0. 325± 0. 031 before anoxia to 0. 145± 0. 011, the effluxes of LDH and K+ were increased from 65. 80± 2. 90 U/L and 5. 23 ± 0. 11mmol/L before anoxia to 148. 80± 8. 40 U/L and 7. 31 ± 0. 18 mmol/L, respectively. It was found that in the anoxic circumstance in the Radix astragali group, the mophological changes were mild, the effluxes of LDH and K+ were decreased and A value increased as compared with those in the control group. It was suggested that Radix astragali could protect the cultured rat neurons against anoxic damages in the anoxic circumstance.展开更多
Objective:This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of Astragalus on diabetic foot,as well as the effects on the levels of serum VEGF,bFGF,MMP-2,and inflammatory factors in patients,and to provide a scientific...Objective:This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of Astragalus on diabetic foot,as well as the effects on the levels of serum VEGF,bFGF,MMP-2,and inflammatory factors in patients,and to provide a scientific basis for the treatment of diabetic foot with the traditional Chinese medicine Astragalus.Methods:By taking 100 cases of diabetic foot patients who were admitted to the metabolic internal medicine division of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and met the criteria of natriuresis during April 2021-April 2023 as the study subjects,and according to the random number method,all patients were divided into the control group and the observation group,with 50 cases in each group.In the control group,only basic treatment was carried out,while in the observation group,Astragalus injection was added based on the control group.After 8 weeks of treatment,the clinical efficacy,serum VEGF,bFGF,MMP-2,and inflammatory factor levels of the patients in the two groups were compared,respectively.Results:The total clinical efficiency of patients in the observation group was significantly better than that in the control group(χ^(2)=5.01,P<0.05).The inflammatory factor indexes decreased substantially in both groups.However,the decrease in the observation group was significantly higher than in the control group(P<0.05).Compared with the control group,serum VEGF and bFGF were considerably higher in the observation group,while MMP-2 was significantly lower(P<0.05).Conclusion:Astragali Radix is clinically effective in the diabetic foot,which can induce vascular endothelial repair and reduce the level of inflammatory factors,to improve the inflammatory state of patients and promote the restoration of ulcerated wound tissue,which is worth promoting in clinical practice.展开更多
Background:Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)has been shown to be effective in treating ischemic stroke(IS),and the combination of Angelicae Sinensis Radix(ASR)and Astragali Radix(AR)is a core TCM prescription that is ...Background:Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)has been shown to be effective in treating ischemic stroke(IS),and the combination of Angelicae Sinensis Radix(ASR)and Astragali Radix(AR)is a core TCM prescription that is widely acknowledged for its efficacy in IS treatment.This study utilized network pharmacology methods to explore the molecular mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of Angelicae Sinensis Radix and Astragali Radix in IS treatment,with preliminary validation conducted through molecular docking.Methods:Information on the structure,targets,main biological functions,and pathways of the active components in Angelicae Sinensis Radix and Astragali Radix was collected using databases such as PubChem,PharmMapper,UniProt,and GeneCards.The results were visualized using software such as Cytoscape 3.6.1,Ledock,and pymol.Results:We retrieved 20 active components and 149 targets associated with the compatibility of Angelicae Sinensis Radix and Astragali Radix from various databases,and GeneCards database was used to search 3350 IS-related gene targets,including 78 key targets of Angelicae Sinensis Radix and Astragali Radix for the treatment of IS.Enrichment analysis of these 78 targets using gene ontology(GO)and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)revealed the involvement of 48 GO terms in the treatment of IS,mainly in biological processes such as metabolism,biological regulation,and stress response.The composition of biological devices such as supercavitary membrane,cell fluid,and extracellular space was also involved.The biological functions mainly included protein binding,ion binding,hydrolytic enzyme activity,and others.The identified pathways were estrogen signaling pathway,mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK)signaling pathway,PI3K-AKT signaling pathway,RAP1 signaling pathway,P53 signaling pathway,PPAR signaling pathway,FOXO signaling pathway,RAS signaling pathway,prolactin signaling pathway,HIF-1 signaling pathway,and TNF signaling pathway.Molecular docking analysis showed that the 17 key active components of Angelicae Sinensis Radix and Astragali Radix had strong binding activity with 13 IS key targets.Conclusion:Through the application of network pharmacology methods,it was found that the use of Angelicae Sinensis Radix and Astragali Radix for treating ischemic stroke mainly targets the MAPK and PI3K-AKT signaling pathways,involving several crucial compounds and genes.Nevertheless,additional in vitro and in vivo studies are needed to verify these findings.展开更多
Radix Astragali(RA),a traditional Chinese medicine from the dried root of Astragalus species,is widely distributed throughout the temperate regions of the world.The major bioactive constituents of RA are triterpene gl...Radix Astragali(RA),a traditional Chinese medicine from the dried root of Astragalus species,is widely distributed throughout the temperate regions of the world.The major bioactive constituents of RA are triterpene glycosides,flavonoids,saponins,and alkaloids,and these compounds mostly exert pharmacological activities on the cardiovascular,immune,respiratory,and hepatic systems.This review summarizes the recent studies on RA and provides a comprehensive summary regarding the status of resources,ethnopharmacology,phytochemistry,pharmacology,toxicology,clinical application,and patent release of RA.We hope this review can provide a guidance for further development of therapeutic agents from RA.展开更多
AIM: To reveal the profile of astragalosides for better quality evaluation of Radix Astragali, this study was aimed to investigate the transformation of astragalosides under different conditions. METHOD: Seven major a...AIM: To reveal the profile of astragalosides for better quality evaluation of Radix Astragali, this study was aimed to investigate the transformation of astragalosides under different conditions. METHOD: Seven major astragalosides were selected for evaluation under acidic, neutral and alkaline conditions. The transformation in real plant samples was also examined and the products were characterized by LC-ESI-TOF/MS. RESULTS: In weak acidic solution, all of the astragalosides are stable. In addition, the transformation ratios of the astragalosides under neutral and alkaline conditions were also obtained. CONCLUSION: In neutral solution, malonylastragaloside I was transformed to astragaloside I; and in alkaline solution, substituent group(s) in the xylose moiety of all the astragalosides were eliminated. Since astragalosdie IV is the basic skeleton structure of the astrgalosides, it is a common transformation product of other astragalosides.展开更多
Objective:The objective of this study was to study the mechanism of Radix Astragali on colon cancer by integrated pharmacology and molecular docking technique.Methods:Integrative pharmacology-based research platform o...Objective:The objective of this study was to study the mechanism of Radix Astragali on colon cancer by integrated pharmacology and molecular docking technique.Methods:Integrative pharmacology-based research platform of traditional Chinese medicine(TCMIP)V2.0 was used to obtain the chemical components and corresponding targets of Radix Astragali and the target information of colon cancer to create the main target network of drugs and diseases.Gene Ontology(GO),Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)enrichment analysis was carried out using Hiplot website,and the interaction network of“Traditional Chinese Medicine-component-target-pathway”was established,and molecular docking with main targets was carried out for the key components.Results:Twenty-seven chemical constituents of Radix Astragali,their 254 corresponding targets,and 44 colon cancer-related targets were obtained.Through proteins interacting,70 nodes were obtained as core targets.GO analysis showed that it mainly acts on lipid metabolism,nuclear receptor activity,phagocytic cup,etc.KEGG pathway analysis showed that it was mainly enriched in the estrogen signaling pathway,C-type lectin receptor signaling pathway,PI3K-Akt signaling pathway,etc.The multidimensional network,quantitative estimate of the drug,and molecular docking showed that the main targets are AKT1,BCL2,and CDK6,and the key components involved are kumatakenin,astragaloside VIII,and choline.Conclusion:Kumatakenin,AstragalosideⅧ,Choline and other compounds of Radix Astragali may affect colon cancer by acting on AKT1,BCL2 and other targets,thereby regulating estrogen signaling pathway,C-type lectin receptor signaling pathway,PI3K-Akt signaling pathway and so on.Those will provide theoretical reference for future research on the material basis and mechanism of its pharmacodynamics.展开更多
Based on variable nuclear and/or organellar DNA sequences among vastly divergent species as well as morphologically indistinguishable species, DNA barcoding is widely applicable in species identification, biodiversity...Based on variable nuclear and/or organellar DNA sequences among vastly divergent species as well as morphologically indistinguishable species, DNA barcoding is widely applicable in species identification, biodiversity studies, forensic analyses, and authentication of medicinal plants. The roots of Astragalus membranaceus and A. membranaceus var. mongholica are commonly used as Radix Astragali in several Asian countries, including China, Japan, and Korea. However, in addition to the two species recorded in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, there are twenty-three species from different genera including Astragalus, Oxytropis, Hedysarum, and Glycyrrhiza, which have been used as adulterants not only in trading markets but also by the herbal medicine industry. Therefore, a simple, reliable, and accurate classification method is important for distinguishing authentic Radix Astragali from its adulterants. In this study, we acquired data for 37 samples from four related genera within the family Fabaceae. Then we compared four candidate DNA barcoding markers using ITS, matK, rbcL, and coxI sequences from nuclear, chloroplast, and mitochondrial genomes, all commonly used for plants to identify genetic variations among genera, intraspecies, and interspecies. We observed higher divergences among genera and interspecies for ITS, which have the average Kimura 2-parameter distances of 4.5% and 14.1%, respectively, whereas matK was found to have sufficient divergence at the intraspecific level. Moreover, two indels detected in the matK sequence are useful for PCR studies in distinguishing Radix Astragali from its adulterants. This study suggests that the combined barcoding regions of ITS and matK are superior barcodes for Radix Astragali and further studies should focus on evaluating the applicability and accuracy of such combined markers for a wide range of traditional Chinese herbs.展开更多
Objective:To review the anticancer effects of Radix astragali(RA),one of the most commonly used herbs to manage cancer in East Asia,and its constituents and to provide evidence of clinical usage through previously per...Objective:To review the anticancer effects of Radix astragali(RA),one of the most commonly used herbs to manage cancer in East Asia,and its constituents and to provide evidence of clinical usage through previously performed clinical studies.Methods:Preclinical and clinical studies related to the anticancer effects of RA were searched from inception to November 2013 in electronic databases.Two reviewers independently investigated 92 eligible studies,extracted all the data of studies and appraised methodological quality of clinical trials.The studies were categorized into in vitro and in vivo experimental studies and clinical studies,and analyzed by saponins,polysaccharides,and flavonoids of RA constituents,RA fraction,and whole extract.Results:In preclinical studies,RA was reported to have tumor growth inhibitory effects,immunomodulatory effects,and attenuating adverse effects by cytotoxic agents as well as chemopreventive effects.Saponins seemed to be the main constituents,which directly contributed to suppression of tumor growth through the activation of both intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathway,modulation of intracellular signaling pathway,and inhibition of invasion and angiogenesis.Flavonoids suppressed tumor growth through the similar mechanisms with saponins.Polysaccharides showed immunomodulatory effects,contributing tumor shrinkages in animal models,despite the low cytotoxicity to cancer cells.Most of the clinical studies were performed with low evidence level of study designs because of various limitations.RA whole extracts and polysaccharides of RA were reported to improve the quality of life and ameliorate myelosuppression and other adverse events induced by cytotoxic therapies.Conclusion:The polysaccharides,saponins,and flavonoids of RA,and the whole extract of RA have been widely reported with their anticancer effects in preclinical studies and showed a potential application as a adjunctive cancer therapeutics with the activities of immunomodulation,anti-proliferation and attenuation of adverse effects induced by cytotoxic therapy.展开更多
OBJECTIVE: To study the anti-tumor effects of the extracts from Huangqi(Radix Astragali Mongolici)and Ezhu(Rhizoma Curcumae Phaeocaulis) on the growth of Lewis lung carcinoma(LLC) in a xenograft mouse model and to inv...OBJECTIVE: To study the anti-tumor effects of the extracts from Huangqi(Radix Astragali Mongolici)and Ezhu(Rhizoma Curcumae Phaeocaulis) on the growth of Lewis lung carcinoma(LLC) in a xenograft mouse model and to investigate the possible underlying mechanism.METHODS: LLC tumor-bearing C57 BL/6 mice were treated with normal saline, cisplatin(2 mg/kg intraperitoneally every other day), or Huangqi(Radix Astragali Mongolici) and Ezhu(Rhizoma Curcumae Phaeocaulis)(1∶1, 2∶1, or 3∶1 ratio;5, 8, or 11 g/kg crude drug intragastrically every day) for 15 d.Body weights and tumor volumes were measured every other day. Tumors were excised on day 15 and analyzed. Tumor microvessel density(MVD)was assessed by immunohistochemical staining of CD34;and expression of vascular endothelial cell growth factor(VEGF), the mitogen-activated protein kinases p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK), extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2(ERK1/2), and Jun N-terminal kinase(JNK)and their phosphorylated forms were assessed by Western blotting.RESULTS: Treatment with cisplatin caused a significant loss of body weight compared with controls,whereas Huangqi(Radix Astragali Mongolici) and Ezhu(Rhizoma Curcumae Phaeocaulis) extract combinations had no effect. Extracts from Huangqi(Radix Astragali Mongolici) and Ezhu(Rhizoma Curcumae Phaeocaulis) significantly decreased tumor weight and tumor MVD compared with controls,and at the 3∶1 treatment group had similar efficacy to cisplatin in reducing MVD. Tumors from Huangqi(Radix Astragali Mongolici) and Ezhu(Rhizoma Curcumae Phaeocaulis) treatments also showed decreased p38 MAPK, p-p38 MAPK, ERK1/2, p-ERK1/2,JNK, and p-JNK expression compared with the control group(all P < 0.01). VEGF protein expression was significantly reduced in the 2∶1 and 3∶1 treatment groups compared with the control group(P < 0.01).CONCLUSION: Extracts from Huangqi(Radix Astragali Mongolici) and Ezhu(Rhizoma Curcumae Phaeocaulis) hindered LLC growth in the xenograft mouse model, possibly via inhibition of the MAPK signaling pathway, VEGF production, and tumor angiogenesis.展开更多
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of optimal combination(E) of Huangqi(Radix Astragali Mongolici) and Ezhu(Rhizoma Curcumae Phaeocaulis) on proliferation and apoptosis of A549 lung cancer cells and the possible mec...OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of optimal combination(E) of Huangqi(Radix Astragali Mongolici) and Ezhu(Rhizoma Curcumae Phaeocaulis) on proliferation and apoptosis of A549 lung cancer cells and the possible mechanism underpinning the action.METHODS: A uniform design method was used to optimize the E of Huangqi(Radix Astragali Mongolici) and Ezhu(Rhizoma Curcumae Phaeocaulis) in A549 lung cancer cells. MTS assay was applied to analyze the effect of the component formula ofHuangqi(Radix Astragali Mongolici) and Ezhu(Rhizoma Curcumae Phaeocaulis) on A549 cells viability in various uniform design groups. A549 cells with exponential growth in routine culture were exposed to Co Cl_2(200 μmol/L) to mimic hypoxic conditions. Group 0 was treated with RPMI-1640, the group Co Cl_2 was treated with Co Cl_2(200 μmol/L),the group DDP + Co Cl_2 was treated with 4 mg/L Cisplatin injection(DDP) + Co Cl_2(200 μmol/L), and the drug group was treated with various dose of E(0.5 E, 1 E, 2 E) + Co Cl_2(200 μmol/L). All groups were cultured for 24 h. Cell apoptosis was measured by Annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide double staining and flow cytometry. Western blot assay and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(q RT-PCR) were employed to detect the protein and m RNA expression of B-celllymphoma-2(Bcl-2),Bcl-2-associated X protein(Bax) and cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-3(caspase-3).RESULTS: The E obtained by the uniform design was comprise of 200 mg/L Astragalus polysaccharide(X1) and 32 mg/L Curcumin(X3). Group DDP+Co Cl_2, group 1 E + Co Cl_2 and group 2 E + Co Cl_2 promoted the apoptosis of A549 cells(P < 0.05). Group1 E + Co Cl_2 and group 2 E + Co Cl_2 had no statistically significant differences compared with the group DDP + Co Cl_2(P > 0.05). Compared with group 0, various doses of E + Co Cl_2 could up-regulate the expression of Bax and caspase-3 and down-regulate the expression of Bcl-2 at protein and m RNA levels(P < 0.05).CONCLUSION: Astragalus polysaccharide and Curcumin was the optimal combination of Huangqi(Radix Astragali Mongolici) and Ezhu(Rhizoma Cur-cumae Phaeocaulis). E promoted the apoptosis of A549 cells. Combination of Astragalus polysaccharide and Curcumin increased the expression of Bax and caspase-3, and decreased the expression of Bcl-2 to initiate apoptosis in A549 cells under chemical-induced hypoxia.展开更多
Objective: To investigate the protective effects and mechanisms of Radix Astragali Injection on multiple organs of rats with obstructive jaundice(OJ). Methods: A total of 180 rats were randomly divided into the sham-o...Objective: To investigate the protective effects and mechanisms of Radix Astragali Injection on multiple organs of rats with obstructive jaundice(OJ). Methods: A total of 180 rats were randomly divided into the sham-operated, model control and treated groups(60 in each group). On 7, 14, 21 and 28 days after operation, the serum contents of alanine aminotransferase(ALT), aspartate aminotransferase(AST), r-glutamyl transpeptidase(r-GT), total bilirubin(TBil), direct bilirubin(DBil), blood urine nitrogen(BUN), and creatinine(CREA) were determined. And the pathological changes of livers, kidneys and lungs, and protein expressions of toll-like receptor-4(TLR-4) of livers, intercellular adhesion molecule-1(ICAM-1) of lungs, Bax and nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-κB), as well as apoptotic indexes of multiple organs were observed, respectively. Results: The pathological severity scores of multiple organs(including livers on 7, 14, 21 and 28 days, kidneys on 14 and 28 days, and lungs on 14 days), serum contents of ALT(14 and 21 days), AST(14 days), TBil(7, 14, 21 and 28 days), DBil(14 and 21 days), BUN(28 days), protein expressions of TLR-4(in livers, 28 days), Bax(in livers and kidneys, 21 days), and apoptotic indexes in livers(7 and 21 days) in the treated group were significantly lower than those in the model control group(P<0.05 or P<0.01). Conclusion: Radix Astragali Injection exerts protective effects on multiple organs of OJ rats by improving the pathological changes of lung, liver and kidney, decreasing the serum index of hepatic and renal function as well as inhibiting the protein expression of TLR-4 and Bax in the livers and Bax in the kidneys.展开更多
Astragali radix(AR,the dried root of Astragalus)is a popular herbal remedy in both China and the United States.The commercially available AR is commonly classified into premium graded(PG)and ungraded(UG)ones only acco...Astragali radix(AR,the dried root of Astragalus)is a popular herbal remedy in both China and the United States.The commercially available AR is commonly classified into premium graded(PG)and ungraded(UG)ones only according to the appearance.To uncover novel sensitive and specific markers for AR grading,we took the integrated mass spectrometry-based untargeted and targeted metabolomics approaches to characterize chemical features of PG and UG samples in a discovery set(n=16 batches).A series of five differential compounds were screened out by univariate statistical analysis,including arginine,calycosin,ononin,formononetin,and astragalosideⅣ,most of which were observed to be accumulated in PG samples except for astragalosideⅣ.Then,we performed machine learning on the quantification data of five compounds and constructed a logistic regression prediction model.Finally,the external validation in an independent validation set of AR(n=20 batches)verified that the five compounds,as well as the model,had strong capability to distinguish the two grades of AR,with the prediction accuracy>90%.Our findings present a panel of meaningful candidate markers that would significantly catalyze the innovation in AR grading.展开更多
A simple, reliable and rapid isocratic liquid chromatography(LC)-mass spectrometric detection(MS) coupled with electrospray ionization(ESI) method for simultaneous separation and determination of calycosin-7-O-β-D-gl...A simple, reliable and rapid isocratic liquid chromatography(LC)-mass spectrometric detection(MS) coupled with electrospray ionization(ESI) method for simultaneous separation and determination of calycosin-7-O-β-D-glucoside, ononin, calycosin and formonometin in Astragali Radix was developed. After the samples were extracted with ethanol, the optimum separation conditions for these analytes were achieved using water and acetonitrile(70:30, v/v) containing 0.2%(v/v) acetic acid as a mobile phase and a 2.0 mm×150 mm Hypersil-Keystone C18 column. Selective ion monitoring(SIM) mode and [M+H]+ ions at m/z 447, 431, 285 and 269 were used for quantitative analysis of four main active components above mentioned. The calibration curves were linear in the range of 0.4-175.0 μg/mL for calycosin-7-O-β-D-glucoside, 0.2-146.0 μg/m L for ononin, 0.4-210.0 μg/mL for calycosin and 0.5-217.0 μg/mL for formonetion, respectively. The limits of quantification(LOQ) and detection(LOD) were 0.4 μg/mL and 0.08 μg/m L for calycosin-7-O-β-D-glucoside, 0.2 μg/mL and 0.06 μg/m L for ononin, 0.4 μg/mL and 0.1 μg/mL for calycosin, 0.5 μg/m L and 0.1 μg/m L formonetion, respectively. The standard recoveries were in the range of 96.5%-104.7%. The developed method has successfully been used for the determination of four main flavonoids in Astragali Radix from various sources and can be used for identification, differentiation and quality evaluation of Astragali Radix.展开更多
Objective: To investigate the preventive effect of Radix Astragali on tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α). induced insulin resistance. Methods: Rats were treated orally with Radix Astragali before TNF-α intravenous inje...Objective: To investigate the preventive effect of Radix Astragali on tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α). induced insulin resistance. Methods: Rats were treated orally with Radix Astragali before TNF-α intravenous injection. The changes of K value in glucose-insulin tolerance test, the concentrations of glucagon(GC), ACTH and lipids in serum and the contents of glycogen, triglyceride (TG) in liver and red quadricepswere tested 4 hours after the injection and compared with the control. Results: Exogenous TNF-α can inducehyperinsulinemia in normal rats, and the K value decreased, the concentration of serum ACTH, GC and lipidsall increased, the glycogen contents in liver and red quadriceps muscle decreased, and the liver TG depots increased. Radix Astragali can improve all the parameters significantly except the serum lipids level and livertriglyceride dePOts. Conclusions: Radix Astragali has preventive effect on insulin resistance induced by TNF-αand is useful in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. The mechanism may be due to the decrease of insulin-antagonistic hormones and the increase of tissue glycogen contents.展开更多
文摘Radix Astragali has been an important traditional Chinese herbal medicine for over 2000 years. It is derived from two plant species, namely, Astragalus mongholicus [Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge. var. mongholicus (Bge.) Hsiao] and Astragalus membranaceus [Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge.] (Leguminosae ), according to the Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China. In this study, the genetic diversity and genetic relationships of Radix Astragali in China were analyzed by Inter-Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) markers. A total of 25 highly polymorphic ISSR primers were selected to amplify 95 Radix Astragali samples. Among 273 DNA bands amplified, 213 are polymorphic (percentage of polymorphic bands: 78%). The average value of the amplified bands was 10.9 for each primer, and the number varied from 4 to 20. The genetic diversity of the 95 Radix Astragali samples was analyzed by using POPGENE 1.32 software. The Nei’s genetic diversity index (h) and Shannon’s information index (I ) were 0.3590 and 0.5308, respectively, which indicated the abundant genetic diversity of Radix Astragali . The level of genetic diversity in A. membranaceus (h: 0.3109, I : 0.4657) was slightly lower than that in A. mongholicus (h: 0.3364, I : 0.4969). Considering the average genetic similarity coefficient by NTSYS analysis to cluster the A. membranaceus of nine habitats and A. mongholicus of five habitats, Radix Astragali samples were clustered into two groups according to place of origin. This clustering is different from traditional clustering, which divides groups according to species. Results obtained from this study will provide a theoretical basis for the molecular study on germplasm resources of Radix Astragali .
基金Jiangyin Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine(202014 to YF Zhang)Grants from the Wuxi Health Commission’s Scientific Research Project(M202154 to YF Zhang)。
文摘Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis(IPF)is a chronic,progressive,fibrotic interstitial lung disease.Current treatment options for IPF are limited.Radix Astragali(RA)and Radix Angelicae Sinensis(RAS),according to 5:1 ratio composed of Danggui Buxue decoction(DGBXD),which have played an essential role in the treatment of IPF.This article reviewed the experimental research,clinical research,and progress of RA and RAS(DGBXD)treating IPF to provide a deeper scientific basis for the future experimental research and clinical research.
基金This research was supported by the Shaanxi Famous Traditional Chinese Medicine Genping Lei Inheritance Studio Construction Project(Shaanxi Traditional Chinese Medicine Letter[2019]No.82,Studio Number:2019012,Principal:Lei Genping).
文摘Radix Astragali seu Hedysari is warm in nature and slightly sweet in taste.It belongs to the lung,spleen,and kidney meridians.It passes through a waterway,dredges the triple energizer,and has a significant effect on edema due to renal diseases.Ancient doctors believed that Radix Astragali seu Hedysari is excellent in tonifying the middle,supplementing Qi,and dredging through the triple energizer.In modem times,many doctors have found that whether it is used as a single drug or in combination with other drugs,it is widely used in clinical practice and has a good effect in inducing diuresis.
基金Supported by Technological Foundation Project of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Zhejiang Province, No. 2003C130, No. 2004C142Foundation Project for Medical Science and Technology of Zhejiang Province, No. 2003B134+3 种基金Grave foundation project for Technology and Development of Hangzhou, No. 2003123B19Intensive Foundation Project for Technology of Hangzhou, No. 2004Z006Foundation Project for Medical Science and Technology of Hangzhou, No. 2003A004Foundation Project for Technology of Hangzhou, No. 2005224
文摘AIM: To observe the protective effect of Radix Astragali injection on immune organs (lymph nodes, spleen and thymus) of rats with obstructive jaundice (OJ) and its mechanism. METHODS: SD rats were randomly divided into sham-operation group, model control group and Radix Astragali treatment group. On days 7, 14, 21 and 28 after operation, mortality rate of rats, pathological changes in immune organs, expression levels of Bax and nuclear factor (NF)-κB p65 proteins, apoptosis indexes and serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α level in spleen and thymus were observed, respectively.RESULTS: Compared to model control group, the number of dead OJ rats in Radix Astragali treatment group decreased (P > 0.05). The TNF-α level (27.62 ± 12.61 vs 29.55 ± 18.02, 24.61 ± 9.09 vs 31.52 ± 10.95) on days 7 and 21, the pathological severity score for spleen [0.0 (0.0) vs 0.0 (2.0) on days 7 and 14 and for lymph nodes [0.0 (1.0) vs 1.0 (2.0), 1.0 (0.0) vs 2.0 (1.0)] on days 21 and 28, the product staining intensity and positive rate of Bax protein in spleen [0.0 (0.0) vs 1.0 (2.0), 0.0 (1.0) vs 2.0 (1.5) and thymus [0.0 (0.0) vs 1.0 (2.0), 0.0 (1.0) vs 2.0 (1.5)] on days 14 and 28, the apoptotic indexes [0.0 (0.0) vs 0.0 (0.01)] in spleen and thymus [0.0 (0.0) vs 0.0 (0.01) on days 14 and 21 were significantly lower in Radix Astragali treatment group than in model control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Radix Astragali has protective effects on immune organs of OJ rats by relieving the pathological changes in immune organs, reducing TNF-α level and inhibiting Bax expression and apoptosis in spleen and thymus.
文摘To study the protective effects of radix astragali against anoxic damages to in vitro cultured neurons in rats, NaCN was used to develop a hypoxic model of in vitro cultured neurons from newborn rat cerebral cortex. The cellular morphology, A value (cell survival number) and effluxes of lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) and K+ from cells were measured in the radix astragali group and the control group respectively. After 48 h of anoxia, A value was decreased from 0. 325± 0. 031 before anoxia to 0. 145± 0. 011, the effluxes of LDH and K+ were increased from 65. 80± 2. 90 U/L and 5. 23 ± 0. 11mmol/L before anoxia to 148. 80± 8. 40 U/L and 7. 31 ± 0. 18 mmol/L, respectively. It was found that in the anoxic circumstance in the Radix astragali group, the mophological changes were mild, the effluxes of LDH and K+ were decreased and A value increased as compared with those in the control group. It was suggested that Radix astragali could protect the cultured rat neurons against anoxic damages in the anoxic circumstance.
文摘Objective:This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of Astragalus on diabetic foot,as well as the effects on the levels of serum VEGF,bFGF,MMP-2,and inflammatory factors in patients,and to provide a scientific basis for the treatment of diabetic foot with the traditional Chinese medicine Astragalus.Methods:By taking 100 cases of diabetic foot patients who were admitted to the metabolic internal medicine division of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and met the criteria of natriuresis during April 2021-April 2023 as the study subjects,and according to the random number method,all patients were divided into the control group and the observation group,with 50 cases in each group.In the control group,only basic treatment was carried out,while in the observation group,Astragalus injection was added based on the control group.After 8 weeks of treatment,the clinical efficacy,serum VEGF,bFGF,MMP-2,and inflammatory factor levels of the patients in the two groups were compared,respectively.Results:The total clinical efficiency of patients in the observation group was significantly better than that in the control group(χ^(2)=5.01,P<0.05).The inflammatory factor indexes decreased substantially in both groups.However,the decrease in the observation group was significantly higher than in the control group(P<0.05).Compared with the control group,serum VEGF and bFGF were considerably higher in the observation group,while MMP-2 was significantly lower(P<0.05).Conclusion:Astragali Radix is clinically effective in the diabetic foot,which can induce vascular endothelial repair and reduce the level of inflammatory factors,to improve the inflammatory state of patients and promote the restoration of ulcerated wound tissue,which is worth promoting in clinical practice.
基金funded by the Natural Science Foundation of China(No.81874416)Science,Technology Innovation Team Project of Hunan(No.2020RC4050).
文摘Background:Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)has been shown to be effective in treating ischemic stroke(IS),and the combination of Angelicae Sinensis Radix(ASR)and Astragali Radix(AR)is a core TCM prescription that is widely acknowledged for its efficacy in IS treatment.This study utilized network pharmacology methods to explore the molecular mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of Angelicae Sinensis Radix and Astragali Radix in IS treatment,with preliminary validation conducted through molecular docking.Methods:Information on the structure,targets,main biological functions,and pathways of the active components in Angelicae Sinensis Radix and Astragali Radix was collected using databases such as PubChem,PharmMapper,UniProt,and GeneCards.The results were visualized using software such as Cytoscape 3.6.1,Ledock,and pymol.Results:We retrieved 20 active components and 149 targets associated with the compatibility of Angelicae Sinensis Radix and Astragali Radix from various databases,and GeneCards database was used to search 3350 IS-related gene targets,including 78 key targets of Angelicae Sinensis Radix and Astragali Radix for the treatment of IS.Enrichment analysis of these 78 targets using gene ontology(GO)and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)revealed the involvement of 48 GO terms in the treatment of IS,mainly in biological processes such as metabolism,biological regulation,and stress response.The composition of biological devices such as supercavitary membrane,cell fluid,and extracellular space was also involved.The biological functions mainly included protein binding,ion binding,hydrolytic enzyme activity,and others.The identified pathways were estrogen signaling pathway,mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK)signaling pathway,PI3K-AKT signaling pathway,RAP1 signaling pathway,P53 signaling pathway,PPAR signaling pathway,FOXO signaling pathway,RAS signaling pathway,prolactin signaling pathway,HIF-1 signaling pathway,and TNF signaling pathway.Molecular docking analysis showed that the 17 key active components of Angelicae Sinensis Radix and Astragali Radix had strong binding activity with 13 IS key targets.Conclusion:Through the application of network pharmacology methods,it was found that the use of Angelicae Sinensis Radix and Astragali Radix for treating ischemic stroke mainly targets the MAPK and PI3K-AKT signaling pathways,involving several crucial compounds and genes.Nevertheless,additional in vitro and in vivo studies are needed to verify these findings.
基金the Science and Technology Innovation Guidance Project,Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region(No.KCBJ2018040)National Nonprofit Industry Research(No.201507002)+7 种基金the Fourth National Traditional Chinese Medicine Resources Survey Project(No.[2018]43)Science and Technology Planning Project of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region,China(No.201701040)Standardization Project of Mongolian Medicine in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region(No.2018-008)Baotou Science and Technology Project(No.CX-2016-17)Scientific Research Foundation Project of Baotou Medical College(No.BYJJ-DF 2017-01)the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region College Students Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program Project(No.201710127010)Science and Technology Planning Project of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region(No.201503020)China Agriculture Research System(No.CARS-21)。
文摘Radix Astragali(RA),a traditional Chinese medicine from the dried root of Astragalus species,is widely distributed throughout the temperate regions of the world.The major bioactive constituents of RA are triterpene glycosides,flavonoids,saponins,and alkaloids,and these compounds mostly exert pharmacological activities on the cardiovascular,immune,respiratory,and hepatic systems.This review summarizes the recent studies on RA and provides a comprehensive summary regarding the status of resources,ethnopharmacology,phytochemistry,pharmacology,toxicology,clinical application,and patent release of RA.We hope this review can provide a guidance for further development of therapeutic agents from RA.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.81222052)the Excellent Young Scientist Fund of Jiangsu(BK20130025)the Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University(NCET-11-0737)
文摘AIM: To reveal the profile of astragalosides for better quality evaluation of Radix Astragali, this study was aimed to investigate the transformation of astragalosides under different conditions. METHOD: Seven major astragalosides were selected for evaluation under acidic, neutral and alkaline conditions. The transformation in real plant samples was also examined and the products were characterized by LC-ESI-TOF/MS. RESULTS: In weak acidic solution, all of the astragalosides are stable. In addition, the transformation ratios of the astragalosides under neutral and alkaline conditions were also obtained. CONCLUSION: In neutral solution, malonylastragaloside I was transformed to astragaloside I; and in alkaline solution, substituent group(s) in the xylose moiety of all the astragalosides were eliminated. Since astragalosdie IV is the basic skeleton structure of the astrgalosides, it is a common transformation product of other astragalosides.
基金Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(81973439)Heilong-Jiang Touyan Innovation Team Program+4 种基金Chief Scientist of Qi-Huang Project of National Traditional Chinese Medicine Inheritance and Innovation“One Hundred Million”Talent Project(2021)Qi-Huang Scholar of National Traditional Chinese Medicine Leading Talents Support Program(2018)Heilongjiang Touyan Innovation Team Program(2019)Science Foundation of Heilongjiang Province(H2018056)the Postdoctoral Research Start-up Fund of Heilongjiang Province(LBH-Q16214)。
文摘Objective:The objective of this study was to study the mechanism of Radix Astragali on colon cancer by integrated pharmacology and molecular docking technique.Methods:Integrative pharmacology-based research platform of traditional Chinese medicine(TCMIP)V2.0 was used to obtain the chemical components and corresponding targets of Radix Astragali and the target information of colon cancer to create the main target network of drugs and diseases.Gene Ontology(GO),Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)enrichment analysis was carried out using Hiplot website,and the interaction network of“Traditional Chinese Medicine-component-target-pathway”was established,and molecular docking with main targets was carried out for the key components.Results:Twenty-seven chemical constituents of Radix Astragali,their 254 corresponding targets,and 44 colon cancer-related targets were obtained.Through proteins interacting,70 nodes were obtained as core targets.GO analysis showed that it mainly acts on lipid metabolism,nuclear receptor activity,phagocytic cup,etc.KEGG pathway analysis showed that it was mainly enriched in the estrogen signaling pathway,C-type lectin receptor signaling pathway,PI3K-Akt signaling pathway,etc.The multidimensional network,quantitative estimate of the drug,and molecular docking showed that the main targets are AKT1,BCL2,and CDK6,and the key components involved are kumatakenin,astragaloside VIII,and choline.Conclusion:Kumatakenin,AstragalosideⅧ,Choline and other compounds of Radix Astragali may affect colon cancer by acting on AKT1,BCL2 and other targets,thereby regulating estrogen signaling pathway,C-type lectin receptor signaling pathway,PI3K-Akt signaling pathway and so on.Those will provide theoretical reference for future research on the material basis and mechanism of its pharmacodynamics.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 30221004) awarded to Wang Weiweithe National High-Tech Research and Development Program of China (Grant No. 2009AA01A130) awarded to Jun Yu
文摘Based on variable nuclear and/or organellar DNA sequences among vastly divergent species as well as morphologically indistinguishable species, DNA barcoding is widely applicable in species identification, biodiversity studies, forensic analyses, and authentication of medicinal plants. The roots of Astragalus membranaceus and A. membranaceus var. mongholica are commonly used as Radix Astragali in several Asian countries, including China, Japan, and Korea. However, in addition to the two species recorded in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, there are twenty-three species from different genera including Astragalus, Oxytropis, Hedysarum, and Glycyrrhiza, which have been used as adulterants not only in trading markets but also by the herbal medicine industry. Therefore, a simple, reliable, and accurate classification method is important for distinguishing authentic Radix Astragali from its adulterants. In this study, we acquired data for 37 samples from four related genera within the family Fabaceae. Then we compared four candidate DNA barcoding markers using ITS, matK, rbcL, and coxI sequences from nuclear, chloroplast, and mitochondrial genomes, all commonly used for plants to identify genetic variations among genera, intraspecies, and interspecies. We observed higher divergences among genera and interspecies for ITS, which have the average Kimura 2-parameter distances of 4.5% and 14.1%, respectively, whereas matK was found to have sufficient divergence at the intraspecific level. Moreover, two indels detected in the matK sequence are useful for PCR studies in distinguishing Radix Astragali from its adulterants. This study suggests that the combined barcoding regions of ITS and matK are superior barcodes for Radix Astragali and further studies should focus on evaluating the applicability and accuracy of such combined markers for a wide range of traditional Chinese herbs.
文摘Objective:To review the anticancer effects of Radix astragali(RA),one of the most commonly used herbs to manage cancer in East Asia,and its constituents and to provide evidence of clinical usage through previously performed clinical studies.Methods:Preclinical and clinical studies related to the anticancer effects of RA were searched from inception to November 2013 in electronic databases.Two reviewers independently investigated 92 eligible studies,extracted all the data of studies and appraised methodological quality of clinical trials.The studies were categorized into in vitro and in vivo experimental studies and clinical studies,and analyzed by saponins,polysaccharides,and flavonoids of RA constituents,RA fraction,and whole extract.Results:In preclinical studies,RA was reported to have tumor growth inhibitory effects,immunomodulatory effects,and attenuating adverse effects by cytotoxic agents as well as chemopreventive effects.Saponins seemed to be the main constituents,which directly contributed to suppression of tumor growth through the activation of both intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathway,modulation of intracellular signaling pathway,and inhibition of invasion and angiogenesis.Flavonoids suppressed tumor growth through the similar mechanisms with saponins.Polysaccharides showed immunomodulatory effects,contributing tumor shrinkages in animal models,despite the low cytotoxicity to cancer cells.Most of the clinical studies were performed with low evidence level of study designs because of various limitations.RA whole extracts and polysaccharides of RA were reported to improve the quality of life and ameliorate myelosuppression and other adverse events induced by cytotoxic therapies.Conclusion:The polysaccharides,saponins,and flavonoids of RA,and the whole extract of RA have been widely reported with their anticancer effects in preclinical studies and showed a potential application as a adjunctive cancer therapeutics with the activities of immunomodulation,anti-proliferation and attenuation of adverse effects induced by cytotoxic therapy.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.81673810)
文摘OBJECTIVE: To study the anti-tumor effects of the extracts from Huangqi(Radix Astragali Mongolici)and Ezhu(Rhizoma Curcumae Phaeocaulis) on the growth of Lewis lung carcinoma(LLC) in a xenograft mouse model and to investigate the possible underlying mechanism.METHODS: LLC tumor-bearing C57 BL/6 mice were treated with normal saline, cisplatin(2 mg/kg intraperitoneally every other day), or Huangqi(Radix Astragali Mongolici) and Ezhu(Rhizoma Curcumae Phaeocaulis)(1∶1, 2∶1, or 3∶1 ratio;5, 8, or 11 g/kg crude drug intragastrically every day) for 15 d.Body weights and tumor volumes were measured every other day. Tumors were excised on day 15 and analyzed. Tumor microvessel density(MVD)was assessed by immunohistochemical staining of CD34;and expression of vascular endothelial cell growth factor(VEGF), the mitogen-activated protein kinases p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK), extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2(ERK1/2), and Jun N-terminal kinase(JNK)and their phosphorylated forms were assessed by Western blotting.RESULTS: Treatment with cisplatin caused a significant loss of body weight compared with controls,whereas Huangqi(Radix Astragali Mongolici) and Ezhu(Rhizoma Curcumae Phaeocaulis) extract combinations had no effect. Extracts from Huangqi(Radix Astragali Mongolici) and Ezhu(Rhizoma Curcumae Phaeocaulis) significantly decreased tumor weight and tumor MVD compared with controls,and at the 3∶1 treatment group had similar efficacy to cisplatin in reducing MVD. Tumors from Huangqi(Radix Astragali Mongolici) and Ezhu(Rhizoma Curcumae Phaeocaulis) treatments also showed decreased p38 MAPK, p-p38 MAPK, ERK1/2, p-ERK1/2,JNK, and p-JNK expression compared with the control group(all P < 0.01). VEGF protein expression was significantly reduced in the 2∶1 and 3∶1 treatment groups compared with the control group(P < 0.01).CONCLUSION: Extracts from Huangqi(Radix Astragali Mongolici) and Ezhu(Rhizoma Curcumae Phaeocaulis) hindered LLC growth in the xenograft mouse model, possibly via inhibition of the MAPK signaling pathway, VEGF production, and tumor angiogenesis.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China:the Study on Molecular Mechanism of Anti-lung Cancer Angiogenesis of Astragalus-zedoariae in Experienced Prescriptions Based on TGF-β1/MAPK/HIF-1α Signaling Pathway(No.81673810)
文摘OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of optimal combination(E) of Huangqi(Radix Astragali Mongolici) and Ezhu(Rhizoma Curcumae Phaeocaulis) on proliferation and apoptosis of A549 lung cancer cells and the possible mechanism underpinning the action.METHODS: A uniform design method was used to optimize the E of Huangqi(Radix Astragali Mongolici) and Ezhu(Rhizoma Curcumae Phaeocaulis) in A549 lung cancer cells. MTS assay was applied to analyze the effect of the component formula ofHuangqi(Radix Astragali Mongolici) and Ezhu(Rhizoma Curcumae Phaeocaulis) on A549 cells viability in various uniform design groups. A549 cells with exponential growth in routine culture were exposed to Co Cl_2(200 μmol/L) to mimic hypoxic conditions. Group 0 was treated with RPMI-1640, the group Co Cl_2 was treated with Co Cl_2(200 μmol/L),the group DDP + Co Cl_2 was treated with 4 mg/L Cisplatin injection(DDP) + Co Cl_2(200 μmol/L), and the drug group was treated with various dose of E(0.5 E, 1 E, 2 E) + Co Cl_2(200 μmol/L). All groups were cultured for 24 h. Cell apoptosis was measured by Annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide double staining and flow cytometry. Western blot assay and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(q RT-PCR) were employed to detect the protein and m RNA expression of B-celllymphoma-2(Bcl-2),Bcl-2-associated X protein(Bax) and cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-3(caspase-3).RESULTS: The E obtained by the uniform design was comprise of 200 mg/L Astragalus polysaccharide(X1) and 32 mg/L Curcumin(X3). Group DDP+Co Cl_2, group 1 E + Co Cl_2 and group 2 E + Co Cl_2 promoted the apoptosis of A549 cells(P < 0.05). Group1 E + Co Cl_2 and group 2 E + Co Cl_2 had no statistically significant differences compared with the group DDP + Co Cl_2(P > 0.05). Compared with group 0, various doses of E + Co Cl_2 could up-regulate the expression of Bax and caspase-3 and down-regulate the expression of Bcl-2 at protein and m RNA levels(P < 0.05).CONCLUSION: Astragalus polysaccharide and Curcumin was the optimal combination of Huangqi(Radix Astragali Mongolici) and Ezhu(Rhizoma Cur-cumae Phaeocaulis). E promoted the apoptosis of A549 cells. Combination of Astragalus polysaccharide and Curcumin increased the expression of Bax and caspase-3, and decreased the expression of Bcl-2 to initiate apoptosis in A549 cells under chemical-induced hypoxia.
基金Supported by the Foundation Project for Technology of Hangzhou,China(No.2005224)
文摘Objective: To investigate the protective effects and mechanisms of Radix Astragali Injection on multiple organs of rats with obstructive jaundice(OJ). Methods: A total of 180 rats were randomly divided into the sham-operated, model control and treated groups(60 in each group). On 7, 14, 21 and 28 days after operation, the serum contents of alanine aminotransferase(ALT), aspartate aminotransferase(AST), r-glutamyl transpeptidase(r-GT), total bilirubin(TBil), direct bilirubin(DBil), blood urine nitrogen(BUN), and creatinine(CREA) were determined. And the pathological changes of livers, kidneys and lungs, and protein expressions of toll-like receptor-4(TLR-4) of livers, intercellular adhesion molecule-1(ICAM-1) of lungs, Bax and nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-κB), as well as apoptotic indexes of multiple organs were observed, respectively. Results: The pathological severity scores of multiple organs(including livers on 7, 14, 21 and 28 days, kidneys on 14 and 28 days, and lungs on 14 days), serum contents of ALT(14 and 21 days), AST(14 days), TBil(7, 14, 21 and 28 days), DBil(14 and 21 days), BUN(28 days), protein expressions of TLR-4(in livers, 28 days), Bax(in livers and kidneys, 21 days), and apoptotic indexes in livers(7 and 21 days) in the treated group were significantly lower than those in the model control group(P<0.05 or P<0.01). Conclusion: Radix Astragali Injection exerts protective effects on multiple organs of OJ rats by improving the pathological changes of lung, liver and kidney, decreasing the serum index of hepatic and renal function as well as inhibiting the protein expression of TLR-4 and Bax in the livers and Bax in the kidneys.
基金This work was supported by the National Science and Technology Major Project of China(Grant No.:2017ZX09101001)the Open Project Program of MOE Key Laboratory of Drug Quality Control and Pharmacovigilance(Grant No.:DQCP2017MS02),China.
文摘Astragali radix(AR,the dried root of Astragalus)is a popular herbal remedy in both China and the United States.The commercially available AR is commonly classified into premium graded(PG)and ungraded(UG)ones only according to the appearance.To uncover novel sensitive and specific markers for AR grading,we took the integrated mass spectrometry-based untargeted and targeted metabolomics approaches to characterize chemical features of PG and UG samples in a discovery set(n=16 batches).A series of five differential compounds were screened out by univariate statistical analysis,including arginine,calycosin,ononin,formononetin,and astragalosideⅣ,most of which were observed to be accumulated in PG samples except for astragalosideⅣ.Then,we performed machine learning on the quantification data of five compounds and constructed a logistic regression prediction model.Finally,the external validation in an independent validation set of AR(n=20 batches)verified that the five compounds,as well as the model,had strong capability to distinguish the two grades of AR,with the prediction accuracy>90%.Our findings present a panel of meaningful candidate markers that would significantly catalyze the innovation in AR grading.
基金Project(21472110)supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of ChinaProject(LY15B050008)supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province,ChinaProject(2013Y003)supported by Quzhou Technology Projects,China
文摘A simple, reliable and rapid isocratic liquid chromatography(LC)-mass spectrometric detection(MS) coupled with electrospray ionization(ESI) method for simultaneous separation and determination of calycosin-7-O-β-D-glucoside, ononin, calycosin and formonometin in Astragali Radix was developed. After the samples were extracted with ethanol, the optimum separation conditions for these analytes were achieved using water and acetonitrile(70:30, v/v) containing 0.2%(v/v) acetic acid as a mobile phase and a 2.0 mm×150 mm Hypersil-Keystone C18 column. Selective ion monitoring(SIM) mode and [M+H]+ ions at m/z 447, 431, 285 and 269 were used for quantitative analysis of four main active components above mentioned. The calibration curves were linear in the range of 0.4-175.0 μg/mL for calycosin-7-O-β-D-glucoside, 0.2-146.0 μg/m L for ononin, 0.4-210.0 μg/mL for calycosin and 0.5-217.0 μg/mL for formonetion, respectively. The limits of quantification(LOQ) and detection(LOD) were 0.4 μg/mL and 0.08 μg/m L for calycosin-7-O-β-D-glucoside, 0.2 μg/mL and 0.06 μg/m L for ononin, 0.4 μg/mL and 0.1 μg/mL for calycosin, 0.5 μg/m L and 0.1 μg/m L formonetion, respectively. The standard recoveries were in the range of 96.5%-104.7%. The developed method has successfully been used for the determination of four main flavonoids in Astragali Radix from various sources and can be used for identification, differentiation and quality evaluation of Astragali Radix.
文摘Objective: To investigate the preventive effect of Radix Astragali on tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α). induced insulin resistance. Methods: Rats were treated orally with Radix Astragali before TNF-α intravenous injection. The changes of K value in glucose-insulin tolerance test, the concentrations of glucagon(GC), ACTH and lipids in serum and the contents of glycogen, triglyceride (TG) in liver and red quadricepswere tested 4 hours after the injection and compared with the control. Results: Exogenous TNF-α can inducehyperinsulinemia in normal rats, and the K value decreased, the concentration of serum ACTH, GC and lipidsall increased, the glycogen contents in liver and red quadriceps muscle decreased, and the liver TG depots increased. Radix Astragali can improve all the parameters significantly except the serum lipids level and livertriglyceride dePOts. Conclusions: Radix Astragali has preventive effect on insulin resistance induced by TNF-αand is useful in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. The mechanism may be due to the decrease of insulin-antagonistic hormones and the increase of tissue glycogen contents.
