The potential application of Huangqi(Astragali Radix)in the treatment of diabetes mellitus(DM)has garnered increasing attention.β-cell dysfunction is one of the core mechanisms in the pathogenesis of DM and effective...The potential application of Huangqi(Astragali Radix)in the treatment of diabetes mellitus(DM)has garnered increasing attention.β-cell dysfunction is one of the core mechanisms in the pathogenesis of DM and effectively protecting and restoring pancreaticβ-cell function remains a key challenge in DM prevention and treatment.Studies have shown that the active components of Huangqi(Astragali Radix)can alleviate glucolipotoxicity-inducedβ-cell damage by promoting glucose uptake mediated by glucose transporter 4(GLUT-4),inhibiting the Wnt1/β-catenin signaling pathway to reduce lipid deposition in liver and pancreatic tissues and upregulating peroxisome proliferator-activated receptorα(PPARα)gene expression.Additionally,Huangqi(Astragali Radix)can reduce cell apoptosis by mitigating endoplasmic reticulum stress,suppress pyroptosis via the NF-κB/NLRP3/TXNIP signaling pathway,and inhibit ferroptosis and autophagy to decreaseβ-cell death.Furthermore,Huangqi(Astragali Radix)can promoteβ-cell proliferation by modulating dedifferentiation and transdifferentiation,improve the islet microenvironment by regulating immune function and reducing M1 macrophage polarization,and may delayβ-cell senescence.This review summarizes the research progress of active ingredients in Huangqi(Astragali Radix)in protecting pancreaticβ-cell,which provides new insights and a scientific basis for its future application in DM prevention and treatment.展开更多
OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the effects of Huangqi(Radix Astragali Mongolici)-Ezhu(Rhizoma Curcumae Phaeocaulis)(HQEZ)on colorectal cancer therapies and to elucidate the potential mechanisms of HQEZ,especially in combinatio...OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the effects of Huangqi(Radix Astragali Mongolici)-Ezhu(Rhizoma Curcumae Phaeocaulis)(HQEZ)on colorectal cancer therapies and to elucidate the potential mechanisms of HQEZ,especially in combination with 5-Fluorouracil(5-FU).METHODS:The anti-tumor effects of HQEZ were evaluated in colorectal cancer models both in vivo and in vitro.The network pharmacological assay was used to investigate potential mechanisms of HQEZ.Potential target genes were selected by Gene Ontology(GO)enrichment analysis,Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)enrichment analysis,protein-protein interaction network(PPI)and molecular docking.Within key targets,potential targets related to drug sensitivity,especially the sensitivity to 5-FU,were evaluated in HCT116 in vitro by immunofluorescence,quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(qPCR)and Western-blot.Then,changes in potential targets were assessed in tumors from tumor-bearing mice and the expression of these targets was also evaluated in colorectal cancer(COAD)patients from the Cancer Genome Atlas Program(TCGA)database.RESULTS:HQEZ significantly enhanced the anti-tumor activity of 5-FU in vivo and inhibit the growth of HCT116 in vitro.By network pharmacological analysis,key targets,such as protein kinase B(AKT1),epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR),adenosine triphosphate(ATP)binding cassette subfamily B member 1(ABCB1,also named multidrug resistance protein 1,MDR1),ATP binding cassette subfamily G member 2(ABCG2),thymidylate synthetase(TYMS,also named TS),prostaglandinendoperoxide synthase 2(PTGS2),matrix metallopeptidase 2(MMP2),MMP9,toll like receptor 4(TLR4),TLR9 and dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase(DPYD),were identified.Additionally,4 potential core active ingredients(Folate,Curcumin,quercetin and kaempferol)were identified to be important for the treatment of colorectal cancer with HQEZ.In key targets,chemoresistance related targets were validated to be affected by HQEZ.Furthermore,5-FU sensitivity related targets,including MDR1,TS,EGFR,ribonucleotide reductase catalytic subunit M1,Breast and Ovarian Cancer Susceptibility Protein 1(BRCA1)and mutl homolog 1 were also significantly reduced by HQEZ both in vitro and in vivo.Finally,these validated key targets and 5-FU sensitivity related targets were demonstrated to be up-regulated in COAD patients based on TCGA database.CONCLUSION:HQEZ has synergistic effects on the antitumor activity of 5-FU in the treatment of colorectal cancer both in vivo and in vitro.The beneficial effect of HQEZ results from the inhibition of the drug sensitivity targets associated with 5-FU.The combination therapy of HQEZ with 5-FU or other chemotherapeutic drugs will also improve the anti-tumor efficacy of chemotherapy.展开更多
Astragali Radix(AR) and Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma(NR) are frequently employed in cardiovascular disease treatment. However, the efficacy of the AR-NR medicine pair(AN) in improving cardiac remodeling and its underl...Astragali Radix(AR) and Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma(NR) are frequently employed in cardiovascular disease treatment. However, the efficacy of the AR-NR medicine pair(AN) in improving cardiac remodeling and its underlying mechanism remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate AN's cardioprotective effect and potential mechanism on cardiac remodeling using transverse aortic constriction(TAC) in mice and angiotensin II(Ang II)-induced neonatal rat cardiomyocytes(NRCMs) and fibroblasts in vitro. High-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time of flight tandem mass spectrometry(HPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS) characterized 23 main components of AN. AN significantly improved cardiac function in the TAC-induced mice. Furthermore, AN considerably reduced the serum levels of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide(NT-pro BNP), cardiac troponin T(CTn-T), and interleukin-6(IL-6) and mitigated inflammatory cell infiltration. Post-AN treatment, TAC-induced heart size approached normal. AN decreased cardiomyocyte cross-sectional area and attenuated the upregulation of cardiac hypertrophy marker genes(ANP, BNP, and MYH7) in vivo and in vitro.Concurrently, AN alleviated collagen deposition in TAC-induced mice. AN also reduced the expression of fibrosis-related indicators(COL1A1 and COL3A1) and inhibited the activation of the transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1)/mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 3(Smad3) pathway. Thus, AN improved TAC-induced cardiac remodeling. Moreover, AN downregulated p-dynamin-related protein(Drp1)(Ser616) expression and upregulated mitogen 2(MFN-2) and optic atrophy 1(OPA1) expression in vivo and in vitro, thereby restoring mitochondrial fusion and fission balance. In conclusion, AN improves cardiac remodeling by regulating mitochondrial dynamic balance, providing experimental data for the rational application of Chinese medicine prescriptions with AN as the main component in clinical practice.展开更多
This study delved into the mechanism by which the principal component of Astragali Radix regulated ferroptosis in the context of hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension,employing a combination of network pharmacology a...This study delved into the mechanism by which the principal component of Astragali Radix regulated ferroptosis in the context of hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension,employing a combination of network pharmacology and experimental validation techniques.Active constituents of Astragali Radix and their corresponding targets were identified using the TCMSP database,while therapeutic targets associated with hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension were sourced from the GeneCards database.The Venn online tool facilitated the identification of overlapping targets between the active constituents of Astragali Radix and hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension.Interaction network diagrams depicting the relationship between Astragali Radix’s active constituents and their targets were constructed using Cytoscape software,with core targets and sub-networks identified using the CytoHubba plug-in.Gene ontology(GO)and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)pathway enrichment analyses were conducted using the DAVID database.Additionally,the FerrDb database was consulted to analyze genes implicated in regulating ferroptosis.The investigation revealed 18 active constituents selected from Astragali Radix,with quercetin emerging as the key component.A total of 35 potential targets associated with Astragali Radix in regulating ferroptosis and addressing hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension were predicted.Experimental validation demonstrated that quercetin could inhibit the MAPK signaling pathway,resulting in reduced Fe2+and lipid peroxide levels,increased GPX4 expression,and the reversal of ferroptosis.In summary,this study elucidated the fundamental constituents and pivotal signaling pathways through which Astragali Radix modulated ferroptosis and mitigated hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension.Specifically,quercetin,a core constituent of Astragali Radix,was observed to inhibit ferroptosis in pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells via the MAPK pathway and alleviate hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension.展开更多
OBJECTIVE:To assess the long-term effectiveness of Huangqi(Radix Astragali Mongolici,HQ)-based Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM)in the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy(DPN).METHODS:Nine databases were searc...OBJECTIVE:To assess the long-term effectiveness of Huangqi(Radix Astragali Mongolici,HQ)-based Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM)in the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy(DPN).METHODS:Nine databases were searched to retrieve available randomized controlled trials that compared HQbased TCM and Western Medicines in the treatment of DPN.The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using the Cochrane bias risk tool,and RevMan 5.4 was used for data analysis.The effect estimates of interest were risk ratio(RR),mean difference(MD)or standardized mean difference(SMD)with 95%confidence interval(CI).RESULTS:The results from 48 available studies assessing 3759 patients demonstrated that cases administered HQ-based TCM[RR=1.30,95%CI(1.21,1.40),P<0.00001]or HQ-based TCM combined with Western Medicines[RR=1.25,95%CI(1.19,1.31),P<0.00001]exhibited higher total efficacy rates than individuals who received Western Medicine alone.The results showed that the HQ-based TCM group had decreased Toronto Clinical Scoring System scores[MD=-1.50,95%CI(-1.83,-1.17),P<0.00001],and reduced serum interleukin 6[SMD=-0.57,95%CI(-0.87,-0.27),P=0.0002]and tumor necrosis factors-αlevels[SMD=-0.60,95%CI(-0.95,-0.25),P=0.0009].In addition,both HQ-based TCM and HQbased TCM combined with Western Medicine increased nerve conduction velocity and decreased glycaemia compared with Western Medicine alone.In terms of blood lipids,oxidative stress and adverse drug reactions,there were no significant differences between the HQ-based TCM groups and the Western Medicine control group.CONCLUSION:The current Meta-analysis revealed that HQ-based TCM yields higher efficacy and safety than Western Medicine alone for the treatment of DPN,although further well-designed RCTs are required to validate these findings.展开更多
Radix Astragali （Huangqi） is one of the most valuable traditional Chinese medicinal herbs. It is used in the traditional Chinese medicine to reinforce ＇qi＇, and it has immunostimulant, tonic, and antioxidant activ...Radix Astragali （Huangqi） is one of the most valuable traditional Chinese medicinal herbs. It is used in the traditional Chinese medicine to reinforce ＇qi＇, and it has immunostimulant, tonic, and antioxidant activities. There are many different sources of Huangqi in the market. In this study, the quality of Huangqi was evaluated by the measurement of four flavonoids, calycosin-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, ononin, calycosin and formononetin with HPLC-UV, as well as astragaloside IV with HPLC-ELSD. Samples included different plant species, different places of cultivation, different ages of plants, different seasons of collection and different commercial specifications. The results showed that the contents of isoflavonoids and astragaloside IV varied significantly in different sources. Our study provided useful information for the quality evaluation of Radix Astragali.展开更多
Two major isoflavone glycosides [calycosin 7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside （1） and ononin （2）] and their aglycones [calycosin （3） and formononetin （4）] were simultaneously quantified with HPLC/DAD method. Two unknown...Two major isoflavone glycosides [calycosin 7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside （1） and ononin （2）] and their aglycones [calycosin （3） and formononetin （4）] were simultaneously quantified with HPLC/DAD method. Two unknown compounds were identified as calycosin 7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside-6＇＂-O-malonate （U1） and formononetin 7-O-β-D-glucopymnoside-6＇＂-O-malonate （U2）, respectively, with LC/MS^n. Raw Radix astragli were shown to have higher contents of isoflavone glycosides （1, 2）, but lower contents of aglycones （3, 4） than the processed herbal materials. After being moistened with water and stored up for 24 h at 35 ℃, the glycosides and their m_alonates were almost completely transformed to their corresponding aglycones. The different contents of the isoflavone glycosides and their aglycones in raw and processed Radix astragali materials might be due to enzymolysis of the glycosides during processing.展开更多
Aim To reveal the main active components and the action mechanisms of Radix astragali on insulin sensitivity improvement, we have investigated the effects of polysaccharide portion and saponin portion of Radix astraga...Aim To reveal the main active components and the action mechanisms of Radix astragali on insulin sensitivity improvement, we have investigated the effects of polysaccharide portion and saponin portion of Radix astragali extracts on blood biochemical indices and related gene expression of dexamethasone-induced SD rats. Methods SD rats （6 per group） received 2 μg/day subcutaneous dexamethasone for 4 weeks plus same dose （10 g material/kg） of polysaccharide or saponin extracts of Radix astragali. Blood samples, kidney tissues and epididymal fat pads were taken at the end of the experiment. Serum triglyceride （TG）, total cholesterol （TC）, low density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDLC）, high density lipoprotein cholesterol （HDLC）, glucose （GLU） and insulin （INS） levels were measured, respectively, mRNA levels of angiotensinogen in kidney, adiponectin and leptin as well as TNF-α in epididymal fats were determined by RT-PCR assay using GAPDH gene as an internal control. Results Both of polysaccharide and saponin extracts of Radix astragali exhibited positive effects in reducing serum triglycerides, glucose, and insulin levels of dexamethasone-induced SD rats. The saponin group showed more improvements on quantitive insulin sensitivity check index （QUICKI） than the polysaccharide group did. Both of the extracts down-regulated kidney angiotensinogen and fat TNF-α mRNA levels while they were simultaneously up-regulating fat adiponectin and leptin mRNA levels. No significant difference was found between actions of the two extracts. Conclusion Both of polysaccharide and saponin extracts of Radix astragali can improve insulin sensitivity. This action might be closely related to down-regulation of angiotensinogen, TNF-α and up-regulation of adiponectin and leptin expression. The results partly explained the improvement of type Ⅱ diabetes and diabetic nephropathy by Radix astragali. The similar actions of the two crude extracts suggest that unknown key active compounds might exist in both and remain to be discovered.展开更多
Astragali Radix, the root of Astragalus membranaceus(Fisch.) Bge. var. mongholicus(Bge.) Hsiao or Astragalus membranaceus(Fisch.) Bge., is widely used as a tonic decoction pieces in the clinic of traditional Chinese m...Astragali Radix, the root of Astragalus membranaceus(Fisch.) Bge. var. mongholicus(Bge.) Hsiao or Astragalus membranaceus(Fisch.) Bge., is widely used as a tonic decoction pieces in the clinic of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM). Astragali Radix has various processed products with varying pharmacological actions. There is no modern scientific evidence to explain the differences in pharmacological activities and related mechanisms. In the present study, we explore the changes in chemical components in Astragali Radix after processing, by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry(UPLC-QTOF-MS) combined with novel informatics UNIFI platform and multivariate statistical analysis. Our results showed that the crude and various processed products could be clearly separated in PCA scores plot and 15 significant markers could be used to distinguish crude and various processed products by OPLS-DA in UNIFI platform. In conclusion, the present study provided a basis of chemical components for revealing connotation of different processing techniques on Astragali Radix.展开更多
Astragali Radix(AR) is one of the most popular herbal medicines in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM). Wild AR is believed to be of high quality, and substitution with cultivated AR is frequently encountered in the mar...Astragali Radix(AR) is one of the most popular herbal medicines in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM). Wild AR is believed to be of high quality, and substitution with cultivated AR is frequently encountered in the market. In the present study, two types of ARs(wild and cultivated) from Astragalus membranaceus(Fisch.) Bge. and A. membranaceus var. mongholicus(Bge.) Hsiao, growing in different regions of China, were analyzed by NMR profiling coupled with multivariate analysis. Results showed that both could be differentiated successfully and cultivation patterns or growing years might have greater impact on the metabolite compositions than the variety; the metabolites responsible for the separation were identified. In addition, three extraction methods were compared and the method(M1) was used for further analysis. In M1, the extraction solvent composed of water, methanol, and chloroform in the ratio of 1 : 1 : 2 was used to obtain the aqueous methanol(upper layer) and chloroform(lower layer) fractions, respectively, showing the best separation. The differential metabolites among different methods were also revealed. Moreover, the sucrose/glucose ratio could be used as a simple index to differentiate wild and cultivated AR. Meanwhile, the changes of correlation pattern among the differential metabolites of the two varieties were found. The work demonstrated that NMR-based non-targeted profiling approach, combined with multivariate statistical analysis, can be used as a powerful tool for differentiating AR of different cultivation types or growing years.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
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
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
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
The quality of Astragali Radix(AR) was closely related to the growth period. However, the current commodity grades of AR were only divided by diameter but not directly related to the growth period, which leads to the ...The quality of Astragali Radix(AR) was closely related to the growth period. However, the current commodity grades of AR were only divided by diameter but not directly related to the growth period, which leads to the contradiction between the grade standard and the quality evaluation index. Therefore, solving this problem will be the key for the quality evaluation of AR. The present study established a potential quality evaluation approach for the absolute growth years’ wild Astragali Radix(WAR) and transplanted Astragali Radix(TAR) based on the chemical components and anti-heart failure efficacy through adopting a bare-handed sections approach to rapidly identify the growth years of WAR. In this study, the absolute growth years of WAR were obtained by identifying the growth rings of 1–6 growth years root through the methods. The contents of flavonoids and saponins in 2–6 growth years’ WAR were determined by HPLC-UV-ELSD. The contents of 12 chemical components and the anti-fatigue failure effects of WAR(4-year-old)and TAR were compared on rat models of heart failure induced by doxorubicin. Meanwhile, NMR-based untargeted metabolomics studies were performed to investigate the regulative effects of WAR and TAR. The result shows that the numbers of growth rings were consistent with the actual growth periods of AR. The HPLC-UV-ELSD determination indicated that the content of total flavonoids in WAR was significantly higher than that in TAR. Pharmacodynamics analysis revealed that the effects of WAR on cardiac function parameters(EF, FS and LVIDs), contents of serum CK and BNP were superior to those of TAR. 13 metabolites of heart were identified that had a higher rate of change in WAR group than TAR. Overall, a rapid identification method for the growth years of WAR was established, and the fact that WAR were significantly better than TAR in the heart failure rats was first proved in the paper. This study provided a scientific basis for establishing a novel commodity specification and grade of AR for clinical rational drug use.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. ...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
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
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
<i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Astragali Radix </span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">(AR), the dried root of legumes, belongs to the Qi-invigorating<...<i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Astragali Radix </span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">(AR), the dried root of legumes, belongs to the Qi-invigorating</span><span style="font-family:""> <span style="font-family:Verdana;">herbs in traditional Chinese medicine and plays an important role in the</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> treatment of many diseases. In order to understand the mechanism of action of AR extract. We used AR extract to treat M-1, mouse kidney cells, and used transcriptome sequencing technology to detect the genomic transcription level of the cells under the action of AR at different concentrations and times. The results showed that after a low concentration of AR treatments on the cells, the expression of genes related to cell growth and cellular immune response changed significantly, among which multiple genes are related to mitochondrial function, while high concentrations of AR affected the expression of histones and disease-related genes. It showed that the low concentration of AR extract can achieve the effect of invigorating Qi by regulating the function of mitochondria. In addition, several important genes and pathways were identified as potential targets of AR activation. The research not only clarified the main molecular biological mechanism of AR invigorating Qi, but also provided experimental basis and cellular physiology reference for the further clinical application of AR.展开更多
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(81774304)Shaanxi Traditional Chinese Medicine Administration Research Project(SZYKJCYC-2025-JC-016)+1 种基金Qinchuangyuan Traditional Chinese Medicine Industrial Innovation Cluster Project(L2024-QCY-ZYYJJQ-X85)Xianyang Science and Technology Bureau Key R&D Program(L2022ZDYFSF003)。
文摘The potential application of Huangqi(Astragali Radix)in the treatment of diabetes mellitus(DM)has garnered increasing attention.β-cell dysfunction is one of the core mechanisms in the pathogenesis of DM and effectively protecting and restoring pancreaticβ-cell function remains a key challenge in DM prevention and treatment.Studies have shown that the active components of Huangqi(Astragali Radix)can alleviate glucolipotoxicity-inducedβ-cell damage by promoting glucose uptake mediated by glucose transporter 4(GLUT-4),inhibiting the Wnt1/β-catenin signaling pathway to reduce lipid deposition in liver and pancreatic tissues and upregulating peroxisome proliferator-activated receptorα(PPARα)gene expression.Additionally,Huangqi(Astragali Radix)can reduce cell apoptosis by mitigating endoplasmic reticulum stress,suppress pyroptosis via the NF-κB/NLRP3/TXNIP signaling pathway,and inhibit ferroptosis and autophagy to decreaseβ-cell death.Furthermore,Huangqi(Astragali Radix)can promoteβ-cell proliferation by modulating dedifferentiation and transdifferentiation,improve the islet microenvironment by regulating immune function and reducing M1 macrophage polarization,and may delayβ-cell senescence.This review summarizes the research progress of active ingredients in Huangqi(Astragali Radix)in protecting pancreaticβ-cell,which provides new insights and a scientific basis for its future application in DM prevention and treatment.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China Youth Found Project:Anti-Colorectal Cancer Metastasis Mechanism of Huangqi(Radix Astragali Mongolici)-Ezhu(Rhizoma Curcumae Phaeocaulis)According to the Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 2 Alpha/β-Catenin Cross-Talk Which Influence the Colon Tumor Stem Cells in Hypoxia Microenvironment(No.82003961)National Natural Science Foundation of China Youth Found Project:the Mechanism of the Compatibility of Huangqi(Radix Astragali Mongolici)and Ezhu(Rhizoma Curcumae Phaeocaulis)on the Early Metastasis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Mediated by Cancer Associated Fibroblasts(82104408)+1 种基金Science Foundation of China Project:Involvement of Hypoxia Inducible Factor-1αSignal in Huangqi(Radix Astragali Mongolici)-Ezhu(Rhizoma Curcumae Phaeocaulis)Combination Induced Remolding of Tumor Hypoxic Microenvironment(No.82074035)Science and Technology Development Project of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Jiangsu Province:Mechanism of Huangqi(Radix Astragali Mongolici)-Ezhu(Rhizoma Curcumae Phaeocaulis)Herb Pair on the Inhibition of Colon Cancer Metastasis Through the Wnt/β-catenin Pathway(No.YB201921)。
文摘OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the effects of Huangqi(Radix Astragali Mongolici)-Ezhu(Rhizoma Curcumae Phaeocaulis)(HQEZ)on colorectal cancer therapies and to elucidate the potential mechanisms of HQEZ,especially in combination with 5-Fluorouracil(5-FU).METHODS:The anti-tumor effects of HQEZ were evaluated in colorectal cancer models both in vivo and in vitro.The network pharmacological assay was used to investigate potential mechanisms of HQEZ.Potential target genes were selected by Gene Ontology(GO)enrichment analysis,Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)enrichment analysis,protein-protein interaction network(PPI)and molecular docking.Within key targets,potential targets related to drug sensitivity,especially the sensitivity to 5-FU,were evaluated in HCT116 in vitro by immunofluorescence,quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(qPCR)and Western-blot.Then,changes in potential targets were assessed in tumors from tumor-bearing mice and the expression of these targets was also evaluated in colorectal cancer(COAD)patients from the Cancer Genome Atlas Program(TCGA)database.RESULTS:HQEZ significantly enhanced the anti-tumor activity of 5-FU in vivo and inhibit the growth of HCT116 in vitro.By network pharmacological analysis,key targets,such as protein kinase B(AKT1),epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR),adenosine triphosphate(ATP)binding cassette subfamily B member 1(ABCB1,also named multidrug resistance protein 1,MDR1),ATP binding cassette subfamily G member 2(ABCG2),thymidylate synthetase(TYMS,also named TS),prostaglandinendoperoxide synthase 2(PTGS2),matrix metallopeptidase 2(MMP2),MMP9,toll like receptor 4(TLR4),TLR9 and dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase(DPYD),were identified.Additionally,4 potential core active ingredients(Folate,Curcumin,quercetin and kaempferol)were identified to be important for the treatment of colorectal cancer with HQEZ.In key targets,chemoresistance related targets were validated to be affected by HQEZ.Furthermore,5-FU sensitivity related targets,including MDR1,TS,EGFR,ribonucleotide reductase catalytic subunit M1,Breast and Ovarian Cancer Susceptibility Protein 1(BRCA1)and mutl homolog 1 were also significantly reduced by HQEZ both in vitro and in vivo.Finally,these validated key targets and 5-FU sensitivity related targets were demonstrated to be up-regulated in COAD patients based on TCGA database.CONCLUSION:HQEZ has synergistic effects on the antitumor activity of 5-FU in the treatment of colorectal cancer both in vivo and in vitro.The beneficial effect of HQEZ results from the inhibition of the drug sensitivity targets associated with 5-FU.The combination therapy of HQEZ with 5-FU or other chemotherapeutic drugs will also improve the anti-tumor efficacy of chemotherapy.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 82274231 and 81973506)the State Key Laboratory for Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Medicinal Resources (Guangxi Normal University, No.CMEMR2023-B12)+2 种基金the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (No. 2632023TD06)the Young Talent Support Project of Jiangsu Association for Science and Technology(No. TJ-2022-025)the Qinglan Project of Jiangsu Province。
文摘Astragali Radix(AR) and Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma(NR) are frequently employed in cardiovascular disease treatment. However, the efficacy of the AR-NR medicine pair(AN) in improving cardiac remodeling and its underlying mechanism remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate AN's cardioprotective effect and potential mechanism on cardiac remodeling using transverse aortic constriction(TAC) in mice and angiotensin II(Ang II)-induced neonatal rat cardiomyocytes(NRCMs) and fibroblasts in vitro. High-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time of flight tandem mass spectrometry(HPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS) characterized 23 main components of AN. AN significantly improved cardiac function in the TAC-induced mice. Furthermore, AN considerably reduced the serum levels of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide(NT-pro BNP), cardiac troponin T(CTn-T), and interleukin-6(IL-6) and mitigated inflammatory cell infiltration. Post-AN treatment, TAC-induced heart size approached normal. AN decreased cardiomyocyte cross-sectional area and attenuated the upregulation of cardiac hypertrophy marker genes(ANP, BNP, and MYH7) in vivo and in vitro.Concurrently, AN alleviated collagen deposition in TAC-induced mice. AN also reduced the expression of fibrosis-related indicators(COL1A1 and COL3A1) and inhibited the activation of the transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1)/mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 3(Smad3) pathway. Thus, AN improved TAC-induced cardiac remodeling. Moreover, AN downregulated p-dynamin-related protein(Drp1)(Ser616) expression and upregulated mitogen 2(MFN-2) and optic atrophy 1(OPA1) expression in vivo and in vitro, thereby restoring mitochondrial fusion and fission balance. In conclusion, AN improves cardiac remodeling by regulating mitochondrial dynamic balance, providing experimental data for the rational application of Chinese medicine prescriptions with AN as the main component in clinical practice.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.82305214)Hunan Province’s Natural Science Fund(Grant No.2023JJ40401)+2 种基金Hunan Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine(Grant No.B2023024)Hunan Provincial Department of Education Outstanding Youth Project(Grant No.22B0394)State Key Laboratory Project of Chinese Medicine Powder and Innovative Drugs Project(Grant No.21PTKF1002).
文摘This study delved into the mechanism by which the principal component of Astragali Radix regulated ferroptosis in the context of hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension,employing a combination of network pharmacology and experimental validation techniques.Active constituents of Astragali Radix and their corresponding targets were identified using the TCMSP database,while therapeutic targets associated with hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension were sourced from the GeneCards database.The Venn online tool facilitated the identification of overlapping targets between the active constituents of Astragali Radix and hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension.Interaction network diagrams depicting the relationship between Astragali Radix’s active constituents and their targets were constructed using Cytoscape software,with core targets and sub-networks identified using the CytoHubba plug-in.Gene ontology(GO)and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)pathway enrichment analyses were conducted using the DAVID database.Additionally,the FerrDb database was consulted to analyze genes implicated in regulating ferroptosis.The investigation revealed 18 active constituents selected from Astragali Radix,with quercetin emerging as the key component.A total of 35 potential targets associated with Astragali Radix in regulating ferroptosis and addressing hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension were predicted.Experimental validation demonstrated that quercetin could inhibit the MAPK signaling pathway,resulting in reduced Fe2+and lipid peroxide levels,increased GPX4 expression,and the reversal of ferroptosis.In summary,this study elucidated the fundamental constituents and pivotal signaling pathways through which Astragali Radix modulated ferroptosis and mitigated hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension.Specifically,quercetin,a core constituent of Astragali Radix,was observed to inhibit ferroptosis in pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells via the MAPK pathway and alleviate hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension.
文摘OBJECTIVE:To assess the long-term effectiveness of Huangqi(Radix Astragali Mongolici,HQ)-based Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM)in the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy(DPN).METHODS:Nine databases were searched to retrieve available randomized controlled trials that compared HQbased TCM and Western Medicines in the treatment of DPN.The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using the Cochrane bias risk tool,and RevMan 5.4 was used for data analysis.The effect estimates of interest were risk ratio(RR),mean difference(MD)or standardized mean difference(SMD)with 95%confidence interval(CI).RESULTS:The results from 48 available studies assessing 3759 patients demonstrated that cases administered HQ-based TCM[RR=1.30,95%CI(1.21,1.40),P<0.00001]or HQ-based TCM combined with Western Medicines[RR=1.25,95%CI(1.19,1.31),P<0.00001]exhibited higher total efficacy rates than individuals who received Western Medicine alone.The results showed that the HQ-based TCM group had decreased Toronto Clinical Scoring System scores[MD=-1.50,95%CI(-1.83,-1.17),P<0.00001],and reduced serum interleukin 6[SMD=-0.57,95%CI(-0.87,-0.27),P=0.0002]and tumor necrosis factors-αlevels[SMD=-0.60,95%CI(-0.95,-0.25),P=0.0009].In addition,both HQ-based TCM and HQbased TCM combined with Western Medicine increased nerve conduction velocity and decreased glycaemia compared with Western Medicine alone.In terms of blood lipids,oxidative stress and adverse drug reactions,there were no significant differences between the HQ-based TCM groups and the Western Medicine control group.CONCLUSION:The current Meta-analysis revealed that HQ-based TCM yields higher efficacy and safety than Western Medicine alone for the treatment of DPN,although further well-designed RCTs are required to validate these findings.
基金Faculty Research Grant of Hong Kong Baptist University (FRG/06-07/II-24)
文摘Radix Astragali （Huangqi） is one of the most valuable traditional Chinese medicinal herbs. It is used in the traditional Chinese medicine to reinforce ＇qi＇, and it has immunostimulant, tonic, and antioxidant activities. There are many different sources of Huangqi in the market. In this study, the quality of Huangqi was evaluated by the measurement of four flavonoids, calycosin-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, ononin, calycosin and formononetin with HPLC-UV, as well as astragaloside IV with HPLC-ELSD. Samples included different plant species, different places of cultivation, different ages of plants, different seasons of collection and different commercial specifications. The results showed that the contents of isoflavonoids and astragaloside IV varied significantly in different sources. Our study provided useful information for the quality evaluation of Radix Astragali.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.20432030 and 20742005).
文摘Two major isoflavone glycosides [calycosin 7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside （1） and ononin （2）] and their aglycones [calycosin （3） and formononetin （4）] were simultaneously quantified with HPLC/DAD method. Two unknown compounds were identified as calycosin 7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside-6＇＂-O-malonate （U1） and formononetin 7-O-β-D-glucopymnoside-6＇＂-O-malonate （U2）, respectively, with LC/MS^n. Raw Radix astragli were shown to have higher contents of isoflavone glycosides （1, 2）, but lower contents of aglycones （3, 4） than the processed herbal materials. After being moistened with water and stored up for 24 h at 35 ℃, the glycosides and their m_alonates were almost completely transformed to their corresponding aglycones. The different contents of the isoflavone glycosides and their aglycones in raw and processed Radix astragali materials might be due to enzymolysis of the glycosides during processing.
文摘Aim To reveal the main active components and the action mechanisms of Radix astragali on insulin sensitivity improvement, we have investigated the effects of polysaccharide portion and saponin portion of Radix astragali extracts on blood biochemical indices and related gene expression of dexamethasone-induced SD rats. Methods SD rats （6 per group） received 2 μg/day subcutaneous dexamethasone for 4 weeks plus same dose （10 g material/kg） of polysaccharide or saponin extracts of Radix astragali. Blood samples, kidney tissues and epididymal fat pads were taken at the end of the experiment. Serum triglyceride （TG）, total cholesterol （TC）, low density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDLC）, high density lipoprotein cholesterol （HDLC）, glucose （GLU） and insulin （INS） levels were measured, respectively, mRNA levels of angiotensinogen in kidney, adiponectin and leptin as well as TNF-α in epididymal fats were determined by RT-PCR assay using GAPDH gene as an internal control. Results Both of polysaccharide and saponin extracts of Radix astragali exhibited positive effects in reducing serum triglycerides, glucose, and insulin levels of dexamethasone-induced SD rats. The saponin group showed more improvements on quantitive insulin sensitivity check index （QUICKI） than the polysaccharide group did. Both of the extracts down-regulated kidney angiotensinogen and fat TNF-α mRNA levels while they were simultaneously up-regulating fat adiponectin and leptin mRNA levels. No significant difference was found between actions of the two extracts. Conclusion Both of polysaccharide and saponin extracts of Radix astragali can improve insulin sensitivity. This action might be closely related to down-regulation of angiotensinogen, TNF-α and up-regulation of adiponectin and leptin expression. The results partly explained the improvement of type Ⅱ diabetes and diabetic nephropathy by Radix astragali. The similar actions of the two crude extracts suggest that unknown key active compounds might exist in both and remain to be discovered.
基金supported by the Construction Foundation of the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine to the Processing Technology Heritage Base of TCM,Special Fund of the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine to the Industry of TCM(No.20110700711)
文摘Astragali Radix, the root of Astragalus membranaceus(Fisch.) Bge. var. mongholicus(Bge.) Hsiao or Astragalus membranaceus(Fisch.) Bge., is widely used as a tonic decoction pieces in the clinic of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM). Astragali Radix has various processed products with varying pharmacological actions. There is no modern scientific evidence to explain the differences in pharmacological activities and related mechanisms. In the present study, we explore the changes in chemical components in Astragali Radix after processing, by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry(UPLC-QTOF-MS) combined with novel informatics UNIFI platform and multivariate statistical analysis. Our results showed that the crude and various processed products could be clearly separated in PCA scores plot and 15 significant markers could be used to distinguish crude and various processed products by OPLS-DA in UNIFI platform. In conclusion, the present study provided a basis of chemical components for revealing connotation of different processing techniques on Astragali Radix.
基金supported by the Ministry of Agriculture for providing New Application for Herbal Research Grant Scheme(NRGS)(No.NH1014D040)the National 12th 5-Year Science and Technology Support Program(No.2011BA107B01)+1 种基金the Science and Technology Innovation Team of Shanxi Province(No.2013131015)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.31570346)
文摘Astragali Radix(AR) is one of the most popular herbal medicines in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM). Wild AR is believed to be of high quality, and substitution with cultivated AR is frequently encountered in the market. In the present study, two types of ARs(wild and cultivated) from Astragalus membranaceus(Fisch.) Bge. and A. membranaceus var. mongholicus(Bge.) Hsiao, growing in different regions of China, were analyzed by NMR profiling coupled with multivariate analysis. Results showed that both could be differentiated successfully and cultivation patterns or growing years might have greater impact on the metabolite compositions than the variety; the metabolites responsible for the separation were identified. In addition, three extraction methods were compared and the method(M1) was used for further analysis. In M1, the extraction solvent composed of water, methanol, and chloroform in the ratio of 1 : 1 : 2 was used to obtain the aqueous methanol(upper layer) and chloroform(lower layer) fractions, respectively, showing the best separation. The differential metabolites among different methods were also revealed. Moreover, the sucrose/glucose ratio could be used as a simple index to differentiate wild and cultivated AR. Meanwhile, the changes of correlation pattern among the differential metabolites of the two varieties were found. The work demonstrated that NMR-based non-targeted profiling approach, combined with multivariate statistical analysis, can be used as a powerful tool for differentiating AR of different cultivation types or growing years.
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 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.
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the National Key R&D Program of China(No.2019YFC1710800)China Postdoctoral Science Foundation Project(No.2019M650851)+3 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.81872962)Science and Technology Research Project of Shanxi Province(No.20150313004-5)Key Projects of Key Research and Development Plan in Shanxi(No.201603D311101)Shanxi Province Technology Innovation Project of Excellent Talent(Nos.201605D211030,201705D211020)。
文摘The quality of Astragali Radix(AR) was closely related to the growth period. However, the current commodity grades of AR were only divided by diameter but not directly related to the growth period, which leads to the contradiction between the grade standard and the quality evaluation index. Therefore, solving this problem will be the key for the quality evaluation of AR. The present study established a potential quality evaluation approach for the absolute growth years’ wild Astragali Radix(WAR) and transplanted Astragali Radix(TAR) based on the chemical components and anti-heart failure efficacy through adopting a bare-handed sections approach to rapidly identify the growth years of WAR. In this study, the absolute growth years of WAR were obtained by identifying the growth rings of 1–6 growth years root through the methods. The contents of flavonoids and saponins in 2–6 growth years’ WAR were determined by HPLC-UV-ELSD. The contents of 12 chemical components and the anti-fatigue failure effects of WAR(4-year-old)and TAR were compared on rat models of heart failure induced by doxorubicin. Meanwhile, NMR-based untargeted metabolomics studies were performed to investigate the regulative effects of WAR and TAR. The result shows that the numbers of growth rings were consistent with the actual growth periods of AR. The HPLC-UV-ELSD determination indicated that the content of total flavonoids in WAR was significantly higher than that in TAR. Pharmacodynamics analysis revealed that the effects of WAR on cardiac function parameters(EF, FS and LVIDs), contents of serum CK and BNP were superior to those of TAR. 13 metabolites of heart were identified that had a higher rate of change in WAR group than TAR. Overall, a rapid identification method for the growth years of WAR was established, and the fact that WAR were significantly better than TAR in the heart failure rats was first proved in the paper. This study provided a scientific basis for establishing a novel commodity specification and grade of AR for clinical rational drug use.
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.
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.
文摘<i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Astragali Radix </span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">(AR), the dried root of legumes, belongs to the Qi-invigorating</span><span style="font-family:""> <span style="font-family:Verdana;">herbs in traditional Chinese medicine and plays an important role in the</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> treatment of many diseases. In order to understand the mechanism of action of AR extract. We used AR extract to treat M-1, mouse kidney cells, and used transcriptome sequencing technology to detect the genomic transcription level of the cells under the action of AR at different concentrations and times. The results showed that after a low concentration of AR treatments on the cells, the expression of genes related to cell growth and cellular immune response changed significantly, among which multiple genes are related to mitochondrial function, while high concentrations of AR affected the expression of histones and disease-related genes. It showed that the low concentration of AR extract can achieve the effect of invigorating Qi by regulating the function of mitochondria. In addition, several important genes and pathways were identified as potential targets of AR activation. The research not only clarified the main molecular biological mechanism of AR invigorating Qi, but also provided experimental basis and cellular physiology reference for the further clinical application of AR.
