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PubMed2005

Amelioration of experimental colitis by Astragalus membranaceus through anti-oxidation and inhibition of adhesion molecule synthesis.

AIM: To investigate the protective effects of Astragalus membranaceus (Am) against hapten-induced colitis in male Sprague-Dawley rats as well as its underlying mechanism. METHODS: Experimental colitis was induced in rats by enema administration of 2,4-dinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (DNBS). Rats were either pretreated with Am extract (2 or 4 g/kg, p.o. once daily) starting from 10 d before DNBS enema, or received Am post-treatment (2 or 4 g/kg, p.o. twice daily) on the three consecutive days following DNBS administration. Colonic lesion area and histological damage were determined, while the activities of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and xanthine oxidase, as well as reduced glutathione (GSH) content were measured in the excised colonic tissues. Besides, protein expression of inducible nitrite oxide synthase (iNOS), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and P-selectin was also detected by Western blot analysis. RESULTS: Our findings had shown that both macroscopic lesion area and histological colonic damage induced by DNBS were significantly reduced by both Am pre- and post-treatments. These were accompanied by attenuation of the elevated colonic MPO activity and downregulation of the iNOS, P-selectin, and ICAM-1 protein expression. Besides, deprivation of colonic GSH level under colitis condition was also preserved. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that Am possesses both preventive and therapeutic potential in experimental colitis. The anti-inflammatory actions involve anti-oxidation along with inhibition of adhesion molecule synthesis in the colonic tissues.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

[Relaxant effect of Astragalus membranaceus on smooth muscle cells of rat thoracic aorta].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Astragalus membranaceus(AM) on vascular circles and the underlying mechanisms. METHODS: The study was performed with the model of isolate rat thoracic aorta rings in organ bath. When the endothelium of rat thoracic aorta was removed,the effect of accumulated AM on aorta rings in resting tension, or pre-constricted with KCl, or pre-constricted with phenylephrine (PE) was observed. And to explove the mechanism, the aorta rings were incubated with Ca(2+)-free medium alone, or Ca(2+)-free medium plus heparin, or propranolol alone before pre-contraction with PE. RESULTS: AM had no significant effects on aorta rings in resting tension or pre-constricted with KCl. When the concentration of AM was cumulated to 10(-1), 3 x 10(-1),10(0), 3 x 10(0) g/L, it caused concentration-dependent relaxation while aorta rings were pre-constricted with PE(3 x 10(-7)mol/L), compared with the control [(90.4 +/-4.2)% compared with (94.7 +/-2.4)%,(86.1 +/-5.0)% compared with (92.6 +/-3.2)%, (82.3 +/-5.9)% compared with (90.4 +/-3.6) %, (78.3 +/-6.0)% compared with (88.1 +/-4.0)%]. This effect was not inhibited by Ca(2+)-free medium or propranolol alone. However, the effect was attenuated by the co-incubation with heparin and Ca(2+)-free medium [without heparin:(76.2+/-4.3)% compared with (92.3 +/-5.9)%, with heparin: (95.3+/-0.5)% compared with (95.1+/-0.6)%]. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that AM can relax the rat thoracic aorta rings without endothelium. The mechanism may include the inhibition of intracellular calcium ions release by the 1,4,5-triphosphate inositol-receptor-dependent pathway in vascular smooth muscle cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Studies on chemical constituents and immunological function activity of hairy root of Astragalus membranaceus.

Using a large-scale culture technique, the hairy roots of Astragalus membranaceus were produced with a yield reaching 10 g/L. The results from RP-HPLC detection showed that the contents of crude saponin and astragaloside i.v. in the hairy roots were 5.81% and 0.14%, respectively. Six isoflavonoid compounds were also determined. Polysaccharide analysis showed that the total polysaccharide content in the hairy roots was 22.97%; of this content, acidic 8.29% and soluble 14.88%. In comparison with the dry roots, the hairy roots contained higher crude saponin and soluble polysaccharide contents, similar astragaloside i.v. content and lower contents of 6 isoflavonoids, total and acidic polysaccharides, showing that the quality of both types of roots was similar. Regaining the immunity function of rats with low immunity after feeding the aqueous extract of the hairy roots produced by large-scale culture showed that its capacity was similar to the dry roots of A. membranaceus in increasing the immunity function. The results in this paper give evidence that the hairy roots may be a new source of A. membranaceus.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Antidotal effect of glucoside extracted from Astragalus membranaceus on dimethoate intoxication in guinea pigs.

Therapeutic effect of the glucoside extracted from the root of Astragalus Membranaceus (AM) was studied in guinea pigs intoxicated with 600 mg/kg doses of Dimethoate (D). Four groups of guinea pigs, each consisting of two males and two females, were treated with (a) D, (b) D + Atropine, and (c) D + AM, (d) D + Atropine + AM. The survival time of the animals increased from an average of 70 minutes without AM to an average of 235 minutes with AM. Severe changes in ECG were observed prior to respiratory distress in groups without AM, and Atropine did not modify such changes. Differently, severe ECG disorders appeared only after respiratory distress in groups treated with AM. Prolongation of the Q-T interval and changing of the T wave configuration were significantly mitigated in the AM treated animals, while, arrhythmias were minimized and postponed. Moreover, muscular fasciculation and fibrillation, seizures and secretion in the respiratory tract were also significantly reduced by AM treatment. Results have shown that AM could be a promising drug to be used after cholinergic crisis in the treatment of cardiac complications with severe organophosphate intoxication.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

[Isolation of genes associated with renoprotective effects of astragalus and angelica by silver staining mRNA differential display].

OBJECTIVE: To isolate genes associated with chronic progression of renal diseases and renoprotective effects of Astragalus and Angelica(A & A). METHODS: Chronic puromycin nephropathy, which is characterized by massive proteinuria and progressive glomerular sclerosis and tubulointerstitial fibrosis, was induced in SD rats by repeated peritoneal injections of puromycin. Rats were randomly divided into three groups: (1) normal control (n = 7), (2) puromycin nephropathy without A&A treatment (n = 7), (3) puromycin nephropathy A & A treatment (3 ml/d, n = 7). After 12 weeks, serum, urine and renal tissue were collected for study. The technique of silver staining mRNA differential display (DD) was used to investigate the changes of gene expression in kidneys of normal and nephropathy with and without A&A treatment rats. Genes expressing differently during the progression of renal diseases were isolated and the progression could be normalized by A&A. RESULTS: Twenty-six candidate cDNA fragments were isolated with DD. Northern blot analysis of eight randomly chosen candidate cDNA fragments demonstrated one exhibiting reduced mRNA expression in the fibrogenic process but upregulated by A&A treatment. Besides kidney, the gene was also expressed in lung, heart, liver and spleen. Whether it takes part in fibrogenic processes of these organs needs further study. Homology analysis through BLAST revealed that this gene was a novel one. CONCLUSION: Silver staining mRNA differential display is a simple and quick technique for isolating differently expressed genes. The downregulated expression of the isolated new gene may contribute significantly to the fibrogenic process and be associated with A&A's protective effects.

Angelica sinensis↗
PubMed2001

Inhibition of glycosidases by Astragalus lusitanicus and correlation with toxicity.

This study determined whether Astragalus lusitanicus inhibits glycosidase enzymes other than alpha-mannosidase. Plasma collected from lambs given fresh A lusitanicus inhibited beta-glucosidase and beta-galactosidase, indicating the presence of inhibitors in their blood. The residual activity of these enzymes was also modified in tissues of dead animals. beta-glucosidase activity was reduced in liver and kidney specimens with pronounced effects in tissues of animal that presented with prominent clinical signs of poisoning; beta-galactosidase activity was decreased by 88.5 to 95% in kidney, while that of liver remained unchanged. Fractions of the plant butanol extract inhibited the gycosidase enzymes. Chemical analysis revealed the presence of hypaphorin in the extract of A lusitanicus. As a tryptophan derivative, this alkaloid may play a role in the toxicity of this legume.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

[Protective effect of Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge. and Hedysarum polybotrys Hand.-Mazz. on experimental model of cerebral ischemia in rats].

The experimental model of middle cerebral artery embolism in rats was made by inserting nylon thread. It was discovered that Astragalus membranaceus decoction(both 4.26 g.kg-1 and 7.1 g.kg-1) could reduce the capillary hyperpermeability and alleviate the dyskinesia caused by cerebral ischemia in rats. Purified Hedysarum polybotrys decoction (waste substances removed with alcohol after decocting with water) (12.5 g.kg-1) could reduce the water content in brain caused by occlusion of bilateral carotids in rats. Purified Hedysarum polybotrys decoction showed a tendency to reduce the water content in brain, but without statistical significance.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Messenger RNA expressions of vasopressin system and aquaporin-2 in adriamycin-induced nephrotic rats and effects of astragalus membranaceus.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expressions of hypothalamic arginine vasopressin (AVP) mRNA, renal AVP V2 receptor mRNA, and AVP-dependent aquaporin-2 (AQP2) mRNA in rats with adriamycin-induced nephrotic syndrome. Effects of Chinese herb Astragalus membranaceus (AM) were also tested. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats with four weeks of adriamycin-induced nephrotic syndrome (NS) were used in this study. Another group NS + AM was set to testify the effects of AM given 0.5 g/kg daily on NS. Hypothalamic AVP mRNA expression was examined by dot blot method. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was applied for detection of renal cortical and medullary V2 receptor and AQP2 mRNA. The results were normalized by mRNA of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase from the same sample. RESULTS: All rats receiving adriamycin presented typical nephrosis. No obvious difference in plasma osmolality was detected among NS, NS + AM, and normal control (NC) rats. Hypothalamic AVP mRNA expression was higher in NS rats than NC (53.59 +/- 5.49 vs 25.72 +/- 1.96, P < 0.01). AM completely reversed this up-regulated expression (21.88 +/- 1.25). In both cortex and medulla of the kidney, nephrotic rat had increased AVP V2 expressions by 169% and 55%, respectively, compared with normal control rat. The increment of expression of AQP2 mRNA was consistent with that of V2 receptor in NS rat. AM could partially however significantly correct these up-regulations of V2 and AQP2 mRNA expressions (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The up-regulated mRNA expressions of hypothalamic AVP, renal V2 receptor and AQP2 might play a role in edema formation in adriamycin-induced nephrotic rats. AM exerts its therapeutical effects on nephrosis partially through this mechanism.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of gold banded lily (Lilium auratum Lindl) or Chinese milk vetch (Astragalus sinicus L) on spontaneous mammary tumourigenesis in SHN mice.

Some guanidino compounds have been found to inhibit spontaneous mammary tumourigenesis in mice. In the present study, the effects of chronic treatment with Gold Banded Lily (Lilium auratum LindI) or Chinese Milk Vetch (Astragalus sinicus L), which contains L-arginine or L-canavanine, on spontaneous mammary tumourigenesis were examined in SHN mice. Free access to drinking water containing hot water extract of each natural product at a concentration of 0.5% significantly inhibited the development, but not growth, of mammary tumour. The mechanism of the protective role of each natural product in mammary tumours remains to be clarified; however, there were no significant long-term deleterious side-effects of chronic treatment with either product estimating from body weight change, food and water intakes and plasma component levels. Thus, the present findings suggest that these natural products containing guanidino compounds may act as prophylactic agents for mammary and other types of tumours.

Adrenal Glands↗
PubMed2000

Astragalus mongholicus and Angelica sinensis compound alleviates nephrotic hyperlipidemia in rats.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mechanism of lipid-lowering effect of the Astragalus mongholicus and Angelica sinensis compound (A&A) on nephrotic hyperlipidemia in rats. METHODS: Rats with nephrotic syndrome from accelerated nephrotoxic serum nephritis were used. They were divided into two groups: A&A treatment group and nephrotic control group. Normal rats were used as a normal control group. Serum lipids, serum lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) were assayed biochemically and enzymatically. mRNAs of hepatic hydroxy-methyl glutaryl-CoA reductase (HMG-CoA-R) and low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDL-R) were assessed by Northern blot. RESULTS: In nephrotic control group hyperlipidemia was found. The activities of serum LPL and LCAT were low. Hepatic HMG-CoA-R mRNA increased temporarily at the early stage while LDL-R mRNA decreased gradually. In A&A treatment group, serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL) were significantly lower than those in nephrotic control group. There was no change in the amount of hepatic HMG-CoA-R mRNA, but hepatic LDL-R mRNA and activities of serum LPL and LCAT increased significantly. CONCLUSIONS: A&A alleviates hyperlipidemia considerably in nephrotic rats. A&A improves disorders of lipid metabolism perhaps through up-regulating the expression of hepatic LDL-R gene and through increasing the activities of serum LPL and LCAT.

Angelica sinensis↗
PubMed1999

[Studies on pharmacological junctions of hairy root of Astragalus membranaceus].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of hairy root of Astragalus membranaceus(HRA). METHOD: HRA were given 10 g/kg per day for 50 days to aged mice treated with D-galactose, and the effect on memory and antioxidant functions were estimated. After administration of HRA 10 g/kg for four days, anti-ischemia-reperfusion kidney model of rat was prepared. The kidney function, activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and content of malondialdehyde(MDA) in kidney were examined. Mice with immunosuppression induced by cyclophosphamide were given orally HRA 10 g/kg for 12 days. The activity of natural killer (NK) cells was measured. RESULT: HRA improved the memory, raised SOD activity in brain and liver, decreased the MDA content in the liver of aged mice, reduced the MDA content in ischemia-reperfusion kidney, decreased the creatinine level in blood of rats, and promoted the activity of NK cells in immunosuppressed mice. CONCLUSION: Similar to the natural A. membranaceus, HRA has senility-preventing, antioxidizing and immunomodulating functions.

Aging↗
PubMed2000

[Effects of components isolated from Astragalus membranaceus Bunge on cardiac function injured by myocardial ischemia reperfusion in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of components isolated from Astragalus membranaceus on myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury. METHODS: The myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury model was created by the left anterior descending coronary artery occlusion from the oracotouated rats, and the total saponins, total flavonids and astragaloside i.v. isolated from A. membranaceus on hemodynamics during acute myocardial ischemia, Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity, cAMP and malondialdehyede (MDA) contents in the ischemic myocardium were observed. RESULTS: The total saponins, total flavonids and astragaloside i.v. attenuated the declines of the amplitudes of LVSP and +/- LVdp/dtmax in rat heart injured by ischemia reperfusion in vivo, and decreased Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity in the ischemic myocardium. Otherwise, the total saponins increased the cAMP content and the total flavonids decreased the level of MDA production in the ischemic myocardium. CONCLUSION: The effects of different components isolated from A. membranaceus on protecting the cardiac function in the process of ischemia reperfusion may be related to the mechanism of improving energy metabolism, scavenging the oxygen free radicals and inhibiting the production of free radicals in the ischemic myocardium.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

[Determination of organochlorine pesticide multi-residues in Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge. var. mongholicus (Bge.) Hsiao, Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F. H. Chen and P. quin quefolium L].

OBJECTIVE: To determine 15 organochlorine pesticide residues in Astragalus membranaceus, Panax notoginseng and P. quinquefolium. METHODS: The 15 organochlorine pesticides were extracted from samples with mixed solvents by ultrasonication, cleaned up by a column packed with Florisil, and then separated by capillary gas chromatography with electron capture detector(CGC-ECD). The capillary column was DB-5(15 m x 0.32 mm x 0.25 microns); injector temperature 240 degrees C; detector temperature 320 degrees C; the column temperature program initial 100 degrees C (hold 0.5 min), rate of 20 degrees C min-1 to 210 degrees C (hold 0.5 min), rate of 8 degrees C min-1 to 240 degrees C (hold 10 min). The column head-pressure was 58.84 kPa. The injection was splitless and the injection volume was 1 microliter. RESULT AND CONCLUSION: The average recoveries and RSD are in the range of 78.30%-130.1% and 0.75%-31.9% at two spiked mixed organochlorine pesticide levels, respectively. All the samples have organochlorine pesticide residues.

Astragalus propinquus↗
PubMed1999

Regeneration of Astragalus adsurgens via somatic embryogenesis from cell suspension protoplasts.

Protoplasts from 4-day-old embryogenic cell suspension cultures of Astragalus adsurgens, when cultured in KM8P medium which ammonium concentration was reduced to 2.5 mmol/L and supplemented with 0.5 mg/L NAA, 1.0 mg/L 2, 4-D, 0.7 mg/L BA and 0.4 mol/L glucose, underwent cell sustained divisions and formed cell colonies at a frequency of 16%-20%. Preplasmolysis or low temperature treatment of suspension cells prior to enzyme incubation enhanced colony formation. Following proliferation on MS medium containing 1.0 mg/L 2, 4-D and 0.5 mg/L BA, cell colonies were cultured on MS medium containing 0.1 mg/L NAA and 1.0 mg/L BA, where approximately 40% of colonies produced somatic embryos ranging in number from 20 to 40 per colony. No significant decrease was found in the potential of somatic embryogenesis when protoplast colonies were obtained from long-term cell suspensions. On hormone-free 1/2 MS medium, somatic embryos developed into intact plants, which showed normal morphology and stable chromosome number.

Astragalus Plant↗
PubMed2001

[Effect of Astragalus saponin on vascular endothelial cell and its function in burn patients].

OBJECTIVE: To study the protective effect of Astragalus saponin (AS) on vascular endothelial cell (VEC) in burn patients. METHODS: Eighty burn patients were divided randomly into 2 groups, the AS group and the burn control group. Blood level of circulatory endothelial cell (CEC), endothelin (ET), nitric oxide (NO), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and alanine transaminase (ALT) were determined before treatment and 1 day, 5, 10 and 21 days after treatment, and compared with those in 10 healthy persons as a normal control group. RESULTS: All the parameters determined in the AS group were significantly higher than those in the normal control group. But as compared with the burn control group, the parameters in the AS group after treatment were all lower significantly. CONCLUSION: AS has definite protective effect on VEC from injury by burn, it could also improve the function of myocardial and liver cell, alleviate the general inflammatory response simultaneously.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

[Extracorporeal experimental study on immuno-modulatory activity of Astragalus memhranaceus extract].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of Astragalus membranaceus extract (AME) in regulating the immune function of human peripheral blood immune cells (PBIC) in vitro. METHODS: Effects of AME on the proliferation activity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and the tumor cell phagocytosis of peripheral blood adherent monocytes (PBAM) were measured by using 3H-TdR incorporation. Effect of the tumor-killing activity of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) was determined by using 51Cr-releasing assay. Effects on production of IgG by peripheral blood B cells (PBBC) and IL-6 by PBAM were tested by means of ELISA, and effect on production of TNF-alpha by PBAM was studied by means of biological method. Besides, the protein elements of AME were analysed by SDS-PAGE. RESULTS: AME could promote the proliferation of human PBMC, elevate the tumor cell-killing activity of CTL, strengthen the tumor cell phagocytosis and cytokines (TNF-alpha and IL-6) production of PBAM, and promote the IgG production of PBBC. AME contained multiple protein elements. CONCLUSION: AME has effect in enhancing human immuno-function and anti-tumor activity, it could be applied in clinical practice for immuno-modulation and tumor treatment.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed2002

[Karyotype analysis of Astragalus complanatus chromosome].

Micrograph were used to analyse the number, karyotype and volume of chromosome of Astragalus complanatus. The normal diploid 2n = 16, karyotype formula based on Levean publication (1964) was K(2n) = 16 = 10 m + 6 sm. According to the method of S.R. Guo, the chromosome relative length was 2n = 16 = 6M2 + 10M1, which belonged to "2A" type according to the Stebbins' karyotype classification. The total length of chromosome groups was 33.05 microns, total length of long arms was 19.76 microns, from Arano's method the AS.K% was 59.79%. The total volume of chromosome was 50.6 micron 3.

Astragalus Plant↗