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We investigated the effects of epigenetic modifications on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) using a novel combination of herbal medicines from Panax ginseng, Astragalus membranaceus, Atractylodes macrocephala, and Glycyrrhiza uralensis. The herbal formula extract (HFE) (250 mg/kg) was administered orally once daily for 14 days to determine its effects on PTSD in mice by combining prolonged stress and foot shock. The open field and Y-maze tests determined the effect of HFE on PTSD-induced anxiety and cognition. Hippocampal neuronal plastic changes and molecular mechanism were verified. Treatment with HFE decreased anxiety-like behavior and enhanced cognition. Moreover, it reduced the number of PTSD-related hilar ectopic granule cells in the dentate gyrus (DG). PTSD mice showed reduced neuronal plasticity of doublecortin+ cells in the DG, which was restored by HFE treatment. HFE reversed PTSD-induced inhibition of the Reelin/Dab1 pathway, a critical signaling cascade involved in brain development, and regulated Reelin methylation. Furthermore, DNA methylation, methyl-CpG binding protein 2, and DNA methyltransferase 1, which were elevated in the hippocampus of PTSD mice, were restored following HFE treatment. HFE increased the expression of synaptic plasticity-related factors in the hippocampus of PTSD mice. Our findings suggest that HFE can facilitate PTSD treatment by alleviating behavioral abnormalities through the restoration of hippocampal dysfunction via regulation of the Reelin/Dab-1 pathway and DNA methylation in the hippocampus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Astragali radix (AR, namded Huangqi in Chinese) is the dried root of Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge. var. mongholicus (Bge.) Hsiao or Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge. As a widely used ethnomedicine, the biological activities of AR include immunomodulatory, anti-hyperglycemic, anti-oxidant, anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-tumor, cardioprotective, and anti-diabetic effects, with minimum side effects. Currently, it is known that polysaccharides, saponins, and flavonoids are the indispensable components of AR. In this review, we will elaborate the research advancements of AR on ethnobotany, ethnopharmacological practices, phytochemicals, pharmacological activities, clinical uses, quality control, production developments, and toxicology. The information is expected to assist clinicians and scientists in developing useful therapeutic medicines with minimal systemic side effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In recent years, global climate change in tandem with increased human activity has resulted in habitat degradation or the migration of rare medicinal plants, potentially impacting the quality of medicinal herbs. Astragalus membranaceus var. mongholicus is a valuable bulk medicinal material in Northwest China. As the demand for this medicinal herb continues to increase in both domestic and international markets, ensuring the sustainable development of high-quality Astragali Radix is important. In this study, the maximum entropy (Maxent) model was applied, thereby incorporating 136 distribution records, along with 39 environmental factors of A. membranaceus var. mongholicus, to assess the quality zonation and potential distribution of this species in China under climate change. Results: The results showed that the elevation, annual mean temperature, precipitation of wettest month, solar radiation in June, and mean temperature of warmest quarter were the critical environmental factors influencing the accumulation of astragaloside IV and Astragalus polysaccharide in A. membranaceus var. mongholicus. Among the twelve main environmental variables, annual mean temperature, elevation, precipitation of the wettest month, and solar radiation in November were the four most important factors influencing the distribution of A. membranaceus var. mongholicus. In addition, ecological niche modelling revealed that highly suitable habitats were mainly located in central and western Gansu, eastern Qinghai, northern Shaanxi, southern Ningxia, central Inner Mongolia, central Shanxi, and northern Hebei. However, the future projections under climate change suggested a contraction of these suitable areas, shifting towards northeastern high-latitude and high-elevation mountains. Conclusions: The findings provide essential insights for developing adaptive strategies for A. membranaceus var. mongholicus cultivation in response to climate change and can inform future research on this species. By considering the identified environmental factors and the potential impacts of the predicted climate changes, we can visualize the regional distribution of high-quality Radix Astragali and develop conservation strategies to protect and restore its suitable habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we obtained the water extracts of Dendrobium officinale Kimura et Migo, Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge, the leaves of Morus alba L., Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi, Panax notoginseng (Burk) F. H. Chen. Respectively. Then, we made a compound with these water extracts of Dendrobium officinale Kimura et Migo (13.33 %), Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge (29.17 %), the leaves of Morus alba L. (12.5 %), Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi (20.83 %), Panax notoginseng (Burk) F. H. Chen (6.95 %), accessory materials (17.22 %). Subsequently, we tested its in vivo hypoglycenic activity, and the results showed that this compound can reduce the blood sugar of the model mouse without toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The high concentration of trace elements in Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) is an important research topic for quality control. This study investigated the total concentration of trace elements in three herbs used as both medicine and supplementary food, including Astragalus membranaceus, Glycyrrhiza, and Isatidis. Further, the effects of different preparation ways, such as decoct, granule, and oral liquid, on the bioaccessibility of trace elements in CHM were disclosed. Results indicated that the total concentrations of trace elements in these three herbs were lower than the medical standards, but the concentrations of As and Pb in CHMs were higher than the standards for supplementary food. Different preparations ways affect bioaccessibility. Powder and oral liquid show a high bioaccessibility possibly because of the grinding process and the repeated extraction with ethanol. Among the three different CHMs, Isatidis showed higher bioaccessibility of As, which may be related to the sulfur fumigation process of this CHM. The three investigated CHMs were found to be safe as medicine but presented risks as supplementary food. The apparent influence of preparation procedures on the bioaccessibility of trace elements indicated that it is necessary to appropriately regulate preparation processes for CHMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gastric cancer is a common type of cancer that poses a serious threat to human health. Polysaccharides are important functional phytochemicals, and research shows that polysaccharides have good anti-gastric cancer effects. We collated all relevant literature published from 2000 to 2020 and found that more than 60 natural polysaccharides demonstrate anti-gastric cancer activity. At the present, the sources of these polysaccharides include fungi, algae, tea, Astragalus membranaceus, Caulis Dendrobii, and other foods and Chinese herbal medicines. By regulating various signaling pathways, including the PI3K/AKT, MAPK, Fas/FasL, Wnt/β-catenin, IGF-IR, and TGF-β signaling pathways, polysaccharides induce gastric cancer cell apoptosis, cause cell cycle arrest, and inhibit migration and invasion. In addition, polysaccharides can enhance the immune system and killing activity of immune cells in gastric cancer patients and rats. This comprehensive review covers the extraction, purification, structural characterization, and mechanism of plant and fungal polysaccharides against gastric cancer. We hope this review is helpful for researchers to design, research, and develop plant and fungal polysaccharides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Astragalus membranaceus has been used as a highly popular Chinese herbal medicine for centuries. Triterpenoids, namely astragalosides I, II, III, and IV, represent the main active compounds in this plant species. Transcription factors have a powerful effect on metabolite biosynthesis in plants. We investigated the effect of the Arabidopsis MYB12, production of anthocyanin pigment 1 (PAP1), and maize leaf color (LC) transcription factors in regulating the synthesis of astragaloside metabolites in A. membranaceus. Overexpression of these transcription factors in hairy roots differentially up-regulated these active compounds. Specifically, the overexpression of LC resulted in the accumulation of astragalosides I–IV. The content of astragalosides I and IV were, in particular, more highly accumulated. Overexpression of MYB12 increased the accumulation of astragaloside I in transgenic hairy roots, followed by astragaloside IV, and overexpression of PAP1 resulted in the increased synthesis of astragalosides I and IV. In addition, we found that overexpression of PAP1 together with LC increased astragaloside III levels. At the transcriptional level, several key genes of the mevalonate biosynthetic pathway, especially HMGR1, HMGR2, and HMGR3, were up-regulated differentially in response to these transcription factors, resulting in astragaloside synthesis in the hairy roots of A. membranaceus. Overall, our results indicated that heterologous expression of Arabidopsis MYB12, PAP1, and maize LC differentially affected triterpenoids biosynthesis, leading to the increased biosynthesis of active compounds in A. membranaceus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hereditary Hemolytic Anemias (HHAs) are a rare but heterogeneous group of erythrocytic diseases, characterized by intrinsic cellular defects due to inherited genetic mutations. We investigated the efficacy of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) in reducing the overall, diabetes-related, and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs)-related mortalities among patients with HHAs using a nationwide population database. In total, we identified 33,278 patients with HHAs and included 9,222 non-CHM and 9,222 CHM matched pairs after matching. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to compare the risk of mortality between non-CHM and CHM users. The Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test were used to compare the cumulative incidence mortality between non-CHM and CHM users. The CHM prescription patterns were presented by the association rules and network analyses, respectively. The CHM prescription patterns were presented by the association rules and network analyses, respectively. CHM users showed significant reduced risks for of overall (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]: 0.67, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.61–0.73, p < 0.001), diabetes-related (aHR: 0.57, 95% CI: 0.40–0.82, p < 0.001), and CVDs-related (aHR: 0.59, 95% CI: 0.49–0.72, p < 0.001) mortalities compared with non-CHM users. Two CHM clusters are frequently used to treat Taiwanese patients with HHAs. Cluster 1 is composed of six CHMs: Bei-Mu (BM; Fritillaria cirrhosa D.Don), Gan-Cao (GC; Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch.), Hai-Piao-Xiao (HPX; Endoconcha Sepiae), Jie-Geng (JG; Platycodon grandiflorus (Jacq.) A.DC.), Yu-Xing-Cao (YXC; Houttuynia cordata Thunb.), and Xin-Yi-Qing-Fei-Tang (XYQFT). Cluster 2 is composed of two CHMs, Dang-Gui (DG; Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels) and Huang-Qi (HQi; Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge). Further randomized clinical trials are essential to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of above CHM products and to eliminate potential biases in the current retrospective study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The decoction of Astragalus membranaceus (Huangqi) and Rhizoma curcumae (Ezhu) has been reported as a potential antitumor agent for colorectal cancer (CRC) in experimental and clinical studies, but its underlying mechanism is still unclear. Methods: The current research aims to explore the potential of Astragalus membranaceus (Huangqi) and Rhizoma curcumae (Ezhu) decoction (AR decoction) in the treatment of CRC and explore the underlying mechanism. SW620 cells were transient transfection to overexpress or knock down wnt 5 or β-Catenin. Astragalus membranaceus (Huangqi) and Rhizoma curcumae (Ezhu) -containing serum (AR-CS) was used to interfere with SW620 cells. Additional AR-CS, Wnt5 inhibitor (IWP-4), and β-Catenin inhibitor (JW55) were used to intervene in SW620 cells. Furthermore, subcutaneously injection of SW620 cells into the right flank of nude mice replicated xenograft mice, which were treated with AR decoction for 21 days. Results: AR-CS significantly reduced the mRNA and protein expression levels of Wnt5, β-Catenin, ARF6, and N-Cadherin in SW620 cells, while inhibiting the proliferation and migration of SW620 cells. In cells overexpressing Wnt5 or β-Catenin, these effects of AR-CS were significantly suppressed. On the contrary, the inhibitory effect of AR-CS on the mRNA and protein levels of ARF6 and N-Cadherin and cell proliferation and migration of SW620 was enhanced, when Wnt5 or β-Catenin were knocked down or suppressed by the inhibitors. Moreover, in the mouse model of xenograft tumors, AR decoction not only reduced the tumor volume and inhibited the mRNA levels and protein levels of Wnt5, β-Catenin, ARF6, and N-Cadherin in the tumor, but also inhibit the protein levels of LRP5, LRP6, TCF-4, and LEF1.The histopathology of mice also showed increased apoptosis in tumor tissues, and AR decoction treatment did not cause pathological damage to the kidney and liver. Conclusions: Our results provide evidence that AR decoction inhibits Wnt5/β-catenin signaling and inhibits the development of CRC, which is a promising traditional medicine in the clinical treatment of CRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most difficult problems that hinder the development and application of herbal medicine is how to illuminate the global effects of herbs on the human body. Currently, the chemo-centric network pharmacology methodology regards herbs as a mixture of chemical ingredients and constructs the 'herb-compound-target-disease' connections based on bioinformatics methods, to explore the pharmacological effects of herbal medicine. However, this approach is severely affected by the complexity of the herbal composition. Alternatively, gene-expression profiles induced by herbal treatment reflect the overall biological effects of herbs and are suitable for studying the global effects of herbal medicine. Here, we develop an online transcriptome-based multi-scale network pharmacology platform (TMNP) for exploring the global effects of herbal medicine. Firstly, we build specific functional gene signatures for different biological scales from molecular to higher tissue levels. Then, specific algorithms are designed to measure the correlations of transcriptional profiles and types of gene signatures. Finally, TMNP uses pharmacotranscriptomics of herbal medicine as input and builds associations between herbs and different biological scales to explore the multi-scale effects of herb medicine. We applied TMNP to a single herb Astragalus membranaceus and Xuesaitong injection to demonstrate the power to reveal the multi-scale effects of herbal medicine. TMNP integrating herbal medicine and multiple biological scales into the same framework, will greatly extend the conventional network pharmacology model centering on the chemical components, and provide a window for systematically observing the complex interactions between herbal medicine and the human body. TMNP is available at http://www.bcxnfz.top/TMNP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hexanal belongs to green leaf volatiles that function as signal molecules in plants. However, it remains elusive whether and how hexanal functions in herbal medicines besides imparting unique flavor. In this study, the effects of hexanal and Pantoea agglomerans KSC03 on plant growth and secondary metabolism were investigated in medicinal plant Astragalus membranaceus var. mongholicus by treating the seedlings with hexanal, KSC03, and their combination. Biomass yield and the contents of chlorophyll a and b in mature leaves were used as indexes as well as the contents of bioactive isoflavones in the roots. Meanwhile, lipoxygenase (LOX) inhibitor phenidone was applied 48 h before hexanal treatment to obtain the LOXlow seedlings to understand signal roles of LOX pathway in the accumulations of bioactive isoflavones in the roots under hexanal and KSC03 treatments. The results revealed that hexanal alone and its combination with KSC03 significantly increased the shoot and root yields, and hexanal + KSC03 showed stronger promotion on the shoot yield, which coincided with significantly enhanced accumulations of ononin and calycosin-7-O-β-d-glycoside in hexanal + KSC03 treatment. Hexanal + KSC03 also alleviated the detrimental chlorophylls cycle compared with hexanal alone. Except for the combined treatment, phenidone pretreatment greatly enhanced the concentrations of ononin and calycosin-7-O-β-d-glycoside in the roots of the control and the application of hexanal and KSC03 alone. In conclusion, hexanal + KSC03 treatment was more beneficial on plant growth and accumulations of bioactive isoflavones in the roots of A. membranaceus var. mongholicus, partially due to the attenuated inhibition of LOX signaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a complex disease characterized by motor neuron loss and muscle atrophy. There is no prominent treatment for ALS as the pathogenic process in the skeletal muscle and spinal cord is complex and multifactorial. Therefore, we investigated the effects of a herbal formula on the multi-target effects in the skeletal muscle and spinal cord in hSOD1G93A transgenic mice. We prepared a herbal extract (HE) from Glycyrrhiza uralensis , Atractylodes macrocephala Koidzumi , Panax ginseng , and Astragalus membranaceus. Control and HE-treated mice underwent rotarod and footprint tests. We also performed immunohistochemical and Western blotting analyses to assess expression of inflammation-related and oxidative stress-related proteins in the muscle and spinal cord tissues. We found that the HE increased motor activity and reduced motor neuron loss in hSOD1G93A mice. In addition, the HE significantly reduced the levels of inflammatory proteins and oxidative stress-related proteins in the skeletal muscles and spinal cord of hSOD1G93A mice. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the HE regulated autophagy function and augmented neuromuscular junction in the muscle of hSOD1G93A mice. Based on these results, we propose that the HE formula may be a potential therapeutic strategy for multi-target treatment in complex and multifactorial pathological diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has special advantages in relieving HCC, while Astragalus membranaceus is commonly used in TCM treatment. However, its underlying mechanisms for treatment of HCC are unclear. Methods: Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of Astragalus membranaceus treatment in HepG2 cells were identified, and Astragalus membranaceus-gene network was constructed. The hub genes were then obtained via protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), Gene Ontology (GO), and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) were subsequently performed. Furthermore, prognosis genes related to HCC from The Cancer Genome Atlas Program (TCGA) was identified to explore the correlation between Astragalus membranaceus treatment and prognosis of HCC. Finally, Astragalus membranaceus-component-target network was established through SymMap. Results: Twenty five DEGs (15 up-regulated and 10 down-regulated) of Astragalus membranaceus treatment in HepG2 cells were identified. Among the 25 genes, MT1F, MT1G, MT1X and HMOX1 may play essential roles. Astragalus membranaceus mainly affects the Mineral absorption pathway in HCC. A total of 256 genes (p < 0.01) related to prognosis of HCC were identified, and MT1G is a common gene between prognosis genes and DEGs. Furthermore, Astragalus membranaceus may directly down-regulate MT1G through daidzein to promote ferroptosis of HCC cells and improve prognosis for HCC. Conclusion: Our study provided new understandings of the pharmacological mechanisms by which Astragalus membranaceus improves the prognosis of HCC, and showed that the combination of transcriptomics and network pharmacology is helpful to explore mechanisms of TCM and traditional medicines from other nations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aplastic Anemia (AA) is a rare but fatal hematologic disease that may occur at any age and especially higher in Asia. We investigated whether Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) is beneficial to AA patients as a complementary therapy using a nationwide population-based database in Taiwan between 2000–2016. Patient survival was estimated by Kaplan‒Meier survival analyses and Cox proportional-hazard model. CHM-users presented lower risks of overall and anemia-related mortalities when compared to non-users. The risk of overall mortality for CHM-users in AA patients was 0.70-fold [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR): 0.70, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.66-0.74, p < 0.001). The risk of anemia-related mortality was lower in CHM-users when compared to non-users (aHR: 0.46, 95% CI: 0.32-0.67, p < 0.001). The association rule analysis revealed that CHM pairs were Ban-Zhi-Lian (BZL; Scutellaria barbata D. Don)→Bai-Hua-She-She-Cao (BHSSC; Oldenlandia diffusa (Willd.) Roxb.), followed by Dang-Gui (DG; Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels)→Huang-Qi (HQi; Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge), and Xian-He-Cao (XHC; Agrimonia pilosa f. borealis (Kitag.) Chu)→Gui-Pi-Tang (GPT). Network analysis showed that BZL, BHSSC, DG, HQi, XHC, GPT, and Dan-Shen (DanS; Salvia miltiorrhiza var. charbonnelii (H.Lév.) C.Y.Wu) were commonly used CHMs for AA patients. Therefore, further studies for these commonly prescribed herbs are needed in functional investigations in hematopoiesis-stimulating effect and large-scale randomized controlled trials (RCT) in bone marrow failure related diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Huang‐Qi (Astragali Radix) is an herbal tonic widely used in China and many other countries. It is derived from the roots of Astragalus membranaceus and A. membranaceus var. mongholicus and shows potent cardiovascular protective effects. In this article, we comprehensively reviewed 189 small molecules isolated from the two Astragalus species and discussed the interspecies chemical differences. Moreover, we summarized the pharmacological activities and mechanisms of action of Huang‐Qi and its major bioactive compounds for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. This review covers 171 references published between February 1983 and March 2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

T cells in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients display multiple features of impairment and exhaustion. Here, we hypothesize that Astragalus membranaceus , a herbal medicine commonly used to accompany chemotherapy, might have adjuvating effects on T cells from RCC patients. To investigate this, circulating T cells from healthy individuals and RCC patients were cocultured ex vivo with aqueous extract from Astragalus. Functional characteristics of T cells in the absence and presence of Astragalus extract were then compared. We first identified a downregulation of IL-21 expression in RCC patients in association with a functional dysregulation of CXCR5+ Tfh-like cells. Astragalus extract could significantly increase IL-21 expression in a dose-dependent manner. This Astragalus -mediated effect depended on the presence of antigen-presenting cells (APCs), as purified CXCR5+ Tfh-like cells presented little IL-21 upregulation following Astragalus stimulation. APCs primed by Astragalus extract also promoted IL-21 expression from Tfh-like cells. Interestingly, Astragalus -stimulated Tfh-like cells presented enhanced helper function and resulted in higher humoral responses and better CD8 T cell survival. This effect was dependent on the presence of IL-21. Overall, these data indicated that Astragalus could enhance IL-21 production and effector function from CXCR5+ Tfh-like cells in a manner that depended on the presence of APCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drying of the roots is a typical postharvest process in the production of the widely used Traditional Chinese Medicinal herb Astragalus membranaceus but there is limited understanding of its effect on quality. This study investigated drying and steaming treatments to address how quality is affected by postharvest processing. It was found that the total content of bioactive components in A. membranaceus decreased by 46 % when dried at 40 °C; 78 %−82 % when dried at 40 °C, then steamed and dried again at 40 °C, 60 °C or 80 °C; and 67 % when steamed and dried at 40 °C. Steaming prior to drying resulted in a chemical profile less different from drying alone or double drying when compared with fresh, having the highest level of calycosin-7-O-β-D-glucoside and lower levels of its metabolites. Drying and double drying resulted in deglycosylation of calycosin-7-O-β-D-glucoside into calycosin and formononetin. Despite significant decrease in bioactive content, the least altered composition of samples steamed prior to drying may indicate inactivation of enzymes and present an alternative postharvest process depending on the desired chemical profile of the A. membranaceus product. [Display omitted] • Steaming before drying preserves the composition of fresh Astragalus membranaceus. • Calycosin glucoside was abundant in fresh and steamed relative to dried samples. • Steaming may optimise the medicinal properties of Astragalus membranaceus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Chemotherapy-induced gastrointestinal (CIGI) toxicity affects the quality of life of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) and the clinical application of treatment drugs. This review aims to evaluate the efficacy of traditional herbal medicines (HMs) in alleviating symptoms of CIGI toxicity (including nausea and vomiting, anorexia, diarrhea, constipation, oral mucositis, abdominal pain, and abdominal distension), and to explore further individual herb or herbal combinations in alleviating the CIGI toxicity. Methods: Nine electronic databases were screened from 2010 to 2020. Twenty-two randomized controlled trials with a total of 1,995 patients evaluating the complementary efficacy of HMs with chemotherapy compared with chemotherapy-alone were included. Further, sensitivity analyses of orally administered multi-ingredient HM interventions were explored based on the composition of HM interventions. Results: The meta-analysis showed that HM treatment combined with chemotherapy significantly alleviated the overall CIGI toxicity (RR = 0.78 [0.72, 0.84], p < 0.001, I 2 = 44%), nausea and vomiting (RR = 0.74 [0.66, 0.82], p < 0.001, I 2 = 35%), diarrhea (P = 0.02, RR = 0.64, 95% CI = 0.44–0.93, I 2 = 50%), oral mucositis (RR = 0.65 [0.48, 0.88], P = 0.005, I 2 = 24%), and abdominal distension (RR = 0.36 [0.18, 0.73], P = 0.004, I 2 = 0%). However, no statistically significant effects of HMs were shown in studies with a double-blind design for CIGI toxicity. Based on the ingredients of the HMs, further sensitivity analyses identified five herbs [ Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch., Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz., Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge., Codonopsis pilosula (Franch.) Nannf., and the pericarp of Citrus reticulata Blanco.] that were associated with significant reductions in CIGI toxicity. Conclusion: A statistically significant effect of HMs combined with chemotherapy on alleviating the overall CIGI toxicity, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, oral mucositis, or abdominal distension is only shown in studies without a double-blind design. Further well-designed, double-blinded, large-scaled randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are warranted to comprehensively evaluate the treatment efficacy. Further clinical research that includes the five herbs with chemotherapy for patients, the safety of the combinations of these herbs, and the potential synergistic effects of these combinations of herbs should be conducted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is characterized by itching, skin inflammation, and allergic responses caused by release of immunoglobulin E and T helper 2-specific cytokines. The aim of this study is to investigate the ameliorative and synergic effects of herbal formula, Derma-H, containing Astragalus membranaceus Fisch. ex Bunge (AM) and Nepeta tenuifolia Benth (NT) which have been used as traditional medicinal herbs for the cure of dryness, edema, and pruritus. 2,4-Dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) was applied for ACD induction. AM, NT, and a mixture of AM and NT was topically applied to skin lesions for 11 days. Dermatitis score and number of scratches were significantly diminished in AM, NT, and AM + NT (Derma-H)-treated groups. Especially, Derma-H was more effective than single treatment of AM and NT on skin hyperplasia and mast cell infiltration. Also, NGF expression decreased by NT and a mixture of AM and NT. Additionally, series of TrkA, Raf-1, MEK, and ERK were significantly inhibited by topical AM and NT application. Those findings suggested AM and NT treatment has a synergic effect on DNCB-induced ACD in mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Critical care medicine is a medical specialty engaging the diagnosis and treatment of critically ill patients who have or are likely to have life-threatening organ failure. Sepsis, a life-threatening condition that arises when the body responds to infection, is currently the major cause of death in intensive care units (ICU). Although progress has been made in understanding the pathophysiology of sepsis, many drawbacks in sepsis treatment remains unresolved. For example, antimicrobial resistance, controversial of glucocorticoids use, prolonged duration of ICU care and the subsequent high cost of the treatment. Recent years have witnessed a growing trend of applying traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in sepsis management. The TCM application emphasizes use of herbal formulation to balance immune responses to infection, which include clearing heat and toxin, promoting blood circulation and removing its stasis, enhancing gastrointestinal function, and strengthening body resistance. In this paper, we will provide an overview of the current status of Chinese herbal formulations, single herbs, and isolated compounds, as an add-on therapy to the standard Western treatment in the sepsis management. With the current trajectory of worldwide pandemic eruption of newly identified Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19), the adjuvant TCM therapy can be used in the ICU to treat critically ill patients infected with the novel coronavirus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Post-stroke fatigue (PSF) is a common symptom after stroke and interferes with the rehabilitation. There are limited pharmacological therapies for managing PSF. Astragalus membranaceus (Huangqi) is a frequently used Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) in the treatment of fatigue in China. The aim of this review was to summarize the efficacy of adjuvant therapy with CHM Huangqi (CHM-HQ) in managing fatigue after stroke. We searched the databases in both English and Chinese for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on CHM-HQ for PSF till November 2016. The Cochrane risk of bias tool was used to assess the quality of included trials, and the Review Manager 5.3 software was used to conduct the data analysis. Sixteen RCTs with a total of 1222 participants were included. The evidence was poor in quality with unclear or high risks of bias. Compared to routine intervention, treatment with CHM-HQ decreased the fatigue severity based on the assessment of the Fatigue Severity Scale, Fugl-Meyer and Visual Analogue Scale, and improved the quality of life as measured by the Stroke Specific Quality of Life scale, the Barthel index, and the modified Barthel index, while the adverse effects were mild. In conclusions, adjuvant therapy with CHM-HQ may benefit in managing fatigue and quality of life in stroke patients. However, stronger evidence is needed for a promising conclusion and more rigorous designs of RCTs are merited in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dried root of Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge (AM) is commonly used in herbal medicine in Korea, Japan and China. The traditional use of AM is to invigorate the Qi as a potential treatment for fatigue, loss of appetite, diarrhea, and anemia. Recent studies have expanded current understanding of AM as an antidiabetic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antihyperlipidemic and anticancer agent. Active compounds derived from AM, including polysaccharides, saponins and flavonoids, appear to act as potent chemosensitizers when combined with conventional anticancer agents. Chemosensitizers represent a promising approach for enhancing anticancer efficacy and reversing multidrug resistance. This review highlights the chemosensitizing activity and related molecular mechanisms of components isolated from AM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Astragalus is a common Traditional Chinese Medicinal plant and is a widely used herbal product in China and other countries. Saponins, polysaccharides, amino acids, flavonoids, organic acid, glycosides, alkaloid, and trace elements, are the major classes of chemical compounds occurring in the species of Astragalus genus. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Astragalus is considered to be effective in the treatment of diabetes, mellitus, nephritis, leukemia, uterine cancer, besides its tonic agent and diuretic effects. Some uses of Astragalus are in the treatment of kidney and urinary problems, digestion, liver problems, female reproductive system problems, muscular, skin problems, cardiovascular and blood related issues, immune and lymphatic system, nervous system, respiratory system, and for some specific diseases. It helps protect the body against various types of stress such as physical and emotional stress. Astragalus root has anti-aging properties, and also help in the prevention of bone loss. Astragali radix, the root of Astragalus membranaceus Bunge, has been reported to exert hepatoprotective effects, antioxidative effects, antiviral activity, anti-oxidative effects, anti-hypertensive effects, and immunostimulant properties; it has also been reported to strengthen superficial resistance, drainage action and new tissue growth. More clinical studies are necessary to discover the effects of Astraglaus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death and disability globally. A wide range of CVDs have been reported, each of which diverges significantly, exhibiting sophisticated types of pathogenesis (e.g., inflammatory, oxidative stress, and disorders in cardiomyocyte metabolism). Compared with conventional treatments in modern medicine, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) can exhibit comparative advantages in the treatment of CVDs. TCM can be utilized to develop effective strategies for addressing the challenges of CVD, with fewer side effects and higher therapeutic efficiency. Astragaloside IV (AS-IV) has been confirmed as one of the major active ingredients found in Astragalus membranaceus (a Chinese herbal medicine that has been extensively employed clinically for the treatments of CVDs). Since recent studies have shown that AS-IV in CVD treatments has achieved promising results, the substance has aroused great attention and further discussions in the field. The present review aims to summarize the recent pharmacological advances in employing AS-IV in the treatment of CVDs. [Display omitted] • Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) can be utilized to develop effective strategies for addressing the challenges of cardiovascular events. • Astragaloside IV, as a major active ingredient of TCM, can be a new candidate drug for treating cardiovascular events. • Astragaloside IV protects cardiovascular via several effects, including anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation, anti-apoptosis, and anti-fibrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease of CNS. Astragalus polysaccharides (APS), the main active extract from astragalus membranaceus which is a kind of traditional Chinese medicinal herb, is associated with a variety of immunomodulatory activities. We have evaluated the therapeutic effects of APS in the animal model of MS, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). It was found that APS could effectively alleviate EAE through inhibiting MOG 35–55 -specific T cell proliferation and reducing the expression of proinflammatory cytokines, which is mediated by up-regulating the expression of PD-1/PD-Ls signaling pathway. Our results demonstrated that EAE could be suppressed significantly by APS administration. It indicated that APS might be a potential of developing innovative drug for the therapy of MS. Unlabelled Image • APS effectively alleviates EAE through inhibiting MOG 35–55 -specific T cell proliferation. • APS down-regulates expression of proinflammatory cytokine IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-2 and IL-17 in EAE. • Suppression of EAE treated by APS is mediated via up-regulating PD-1/PD-Ls signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Astragalus membranaceus (AM) is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, whose cytoprotective effects remain largely unknown. Here, the bacterial endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was applied to a human pulmonary type II-like epithelial lung adenocarcinoma cell line, a human umbilical vein endothelial cell line, and a human bladder carcinoma cell line to construct in vitro models of intracellular oxidative stress. The authors assayed the cellular and mitochondrial cytoprotective effects of varying doses of AM root extract upon these cell lines. The cell lines were cultured as follows: LPS-only group, four LPS+AM groups treated with various AM concentrations plus LPS, and an untreated control group. Flow cytometry was used to assess apoptosis and cell cycle progression. A 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein-diacetate assay was used to quantitate reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψmit) was analyzed by Rhodamine 123 assay. Western blotting was performed to detect cleaved caspase-3, p53, and B cell lymphoma (Bcl)-2 levels. Across all cell lines, LPS significantly elevated apoptosis rates, shifted cells to S/G2 phase, increased ROS production, reduced Δψmit, upregulated cleaved caspase-3, upregulated p53, and downregulated Bcl-2 relative to controls (all P<0.05). As a general trend, increasing AM concentrations produced progressively greater reductions in the apoptosis rate, greater reductions in S/G2 phase %, greater reductions in ROS production, greater increases in Δψmit, greater reductions in cleaved caspase-3 and p53 expression, and greater increases in Bcl-2 expression. AM treatment protects human pulmonary and bladder epithelial cells, in addition to human endothelial cells, from LPS-induced apoptosis, in a dose-dependent manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge. (AM), a member of restoratives for invigoration qi (補氣藥), has been used to treat patients with skin diseases in the framework of traditional medicine. The major efficacies of AM related to skin diseases are tonifying defensive qi and securing the exterior (益衛固表), expelling toxins and pus (托毒排膿), and promoting tissue regeneration and wound healing (生肌斂瘡). Materials and Methods: We investigated the traditional usages of AM described in the textbook and encyclopedia, and we also investigated scientific research using PubMed and the National Digital Library of Korea. Results: In our opinion, tonifying defensive qi and securing the exterior effect of AM is related to the photoprotective, antiaging, and protecting effects on normal skin tissue. Expelling toxins and pus and promoting tissue regeneration and wound healing effects are closely related to the anti-inflammatory effects and promoting healing of wounds or ulcers on the body surface, respectively. In addition, astragaloside IV, formononetin, calycosin, cycloastragenol (TA-65), and gamma-aminobutyric acid were the major components related to therapeutic effects of AM on skin diseases. Conclusion: The therapeutic effects of AM on skin diseases were divided into three categories according to the theory of traditional medicine, and its effects in each category can be explained by scientific experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was designed to investigate the precancerous lesions of gastric carcinoma (PLGC)-reversing mechanisms of astragaloside IV (ASIV) in N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG)-induced PLGC rats. All rats were sacrificed after 10-week treatment. Gastric tissue was analyzed by using histopathology and electron microscope. To be fully evidenced, LDHA, p53, TIGAR, MCT1, MCT4, HIF-1α, CD147, and miRNA-34a were detected by Western blotting and Real-time Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). As histopathology and electron microscope showed, it can be clearly observed that the area of dysplasia was reduced in ASIV groups, indicating that MNNG-induced PLGC was markedly reversed by ASIV. Moreover, compared with model group, a significant decrease in gene expressions of LDHA, MCT1, MCT4, HIF-1α, CD147, and TIGAR was observed whereas miRNA-34a level was increased in ASIV groups. A significant up-regulation induced by MNNG in protein levels of LDHA, MCT1, MCT4, HIF-1α, and CD147 was attenuated in rats treated with ASIV. In contrast, the decreased expression of TIGAR was restored by ASIV. Interestingly, up-regulation of p53 expression induced by MNNG was further increased in ASIV groups. In brief, these results implied that abnormal glycolysis was relieved by ASIV via regulation of the expressions of LDHA, p53, TIGAR, MCT1, MCT4, HIF-1α, CD147, and miRNA-34a. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives To explore the various pharmacological actions and the molecular mechanisms behind them by which Chinese herbs tend to lower the risk of developing microvascular diabetic complications in retina and prevent its further progression. Key findings Several Chinese herbs, indeed, elicit potent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-angiogenic, anti-apoptotic, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma receptor agonistic, platelet-activating factor antagonistic, aldose reductase inhibitory and various other beneficial pharmacological activities, required to counteract the pathological conditions prevalent in retina during diabetes. Summary Chinese herbs can potentially be used for the treatment/prevention of diabetic retinopathy owing to the virtue of numerous properties by which they alleviate several hyperglycaemia-induced pathological occurrences in retina. This would provide a natural and safe therapy for diabetic retinopathy, which currently is clinically limited to destructive techniques like laser photocoagulation and vitrectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the effects of exogenous C6-volatiles on Astragalus membranaceus var. mongholicus growth and secondary metabolism were explored. Five-week old seedlings of A. membranaceus var. mongholicus were exposed to different concentrations of soil-borne hexanal (10, 50, 100 µM) twice/week for 4 weeks. Non-treated plants serve as control. Growth, bioactive compounds and gene expression were measured by conventional and "omic" approaches. The results demonstrated: (1) all doses of hexanal significantly decreased chlorophyll a/b contents; (2) 10 and 100 µM hexanal significantly decreased the shoot length while 50 µM hexanal kept the value at the same level as it was in the control; (3) 50 µM hexanal effectively enhanced the contents of bioactive compounds in roots and the others had no obvious effect; (4) 50 µM hexanal induced more dysregulated metabolites in leaves than in roots, especially those associated with lipid metabolism; (5) expression of unigenes annotaed as "plant-pathogen interaction", "secondary metabolism" and "lipid metabolism" were largely induced as well as those classified into multiple growth and defense signaling pathways. Taken together, C6-volatiles can serve as potential elicitors for quality formation of herbal medicines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Astragalus membranaceus Bge. var. mongholicus (Bge.) Hsiao ( A. mongholicus, family Leguminosae) is one of the most important traditional Chinese herbs because it contains lots of bioactive metabolites, which have beneficial and pharmacological effects on health. Simultaneously, it has been proved to be a salt-tolerant plant-one of the potential species to control the soil salinization. Therefore, a sensitive and specific ultra-pressure liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometric (UPLC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of six main bioactive metabolites, astragaloside IV, cycloastragenol, calycosin-7- O-β- d-glucoside, calycosin, ononin and formononetin in different organs of A. mongholicus. The detection was accomplished by multiple-reaction monitoring (MRM) scanning via electrospray ionization source operating in the positive ionization mode. Calibration curves offered linear ranges of two orders of magnitude with R > 0.99. The method was fully validated for the linearity, intra-day and inter day precisions, accuracy, recovery, matrix effect and stability. Then this method was successfully applied to detect the content of major bioactive metabolites in different plant organs of A. mongholicus under salt stress. Significant variations in the content of six bioactive metabolites were observed after been processed by different levels of salinity in different part of plant. The results support for further exploration of the salt-tolerant mechanisms in A. mongholicus and its possibility as the species that control the soil salinization. Meanwhile, we established a UPLC-MS/MS assay of the trace components in seedling of A. mongholicus in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Allergy is nearly always triggered by protein molecules and the majority of individuals with documented immunologic reaction to foods or plants IgE reactions. However, proteins derived from herbal medicine act as an allergen is unknown. In this study, we aimed to confirm if herbal medicine, Astragalus membranaceus, at proteomic level may contain to trigger the immunoreactivity of IgE. If it does, what components of protein molecules in herbal medicine, Astragalus membranaceus, is react to a binding IgE. In order to resolve this hypothesis, we performed proteomic tools, SDS-PAGE stained coomassie blue and identified protein by LC-MS/MS. Also, we tested plasma IgE reactivity on an isolated protein of Astragalus membranaceus using western blot of human IgE and enzyme immunoassay panel, Allergy-Q test in 400 patients. Through the described performances, we could select four sera of positive candidate and identify Astragalus membranaceus IgE binding proteins. Our data suggested that herbal medicine, Astragalus membranaceus was possible to act an allergen by identify IgE binding protein with isolated protein of Astragalus membranaceus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Astragalus membranaceus Bge. var. mongolicus (Bge.) Hsiao (A. mongolicus) is an important traditional Chinese herb that is cultivated on a large scale in northwestern China. Understanding plant responses to drought has important effects on ecological environment recovery and local economic development. Here, we combined transcriptomics (Illumina Hiseq 2000) and metabolomics (1H-NMR) to investigate how the roots of two-year-old A. mongolicus responded to 14 days of progressive drought stress. Results: The dried soil reduced the relative water content (RWC) of the leaves and biomass, induced the differential expression of a large fraction of the transcriptome and significantly altered the metabolic processes. PCA analysis demonstrated that the sucrose, proline, and malate metabolites contributed greatly to the separation. Strikingly, proline was increased by almost 60-fold under severe stress compared to the control. Some backbone pathways, including glycolysis, tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, glutamate-mediated proline biosynthesis, aspartate family metabolism and starch and sucrose metabolism, were significantly affected by drought. An integrated analysis of the interaction between key genes and the altered metabolites involved in these pathways was performed. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrated that the expression of drought-responsive genes showed a strong stress-dose dependency. Analysis of backbone pathways of the transcriptome and metabolome revealed specific genotypic responses to different levels of drought. The variation in molecular strategies to the drought may play an important role in how A. mongolicus and other legume crops adapt to drought stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Astragalus membranaceus is a major medicinal herb commonly used in many herbal formulations in the practice of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to treat a wide variety of diseases and body disorders. Among its diversified clinical applications, the potential use of this herb and its chemical constituents in treatments of inflammatory diseases and cancers has been actively investigated in recent years. Astragalus-based treatments have demonstrated significant amelioration of the toxicity induced by other concurrently administered orthodox drugs (e.g., immunosuppressants and cancer chemotherapeutics). The major components of Astragalus membranaceus are polysaccharides, flavonoids, and saponins. Contemporary use of Astragalus membranaceus mainly focuses on its immunomodulating, anti-oxidant, and anti-inflammatory, as well as anticancer effects. In this paper, we summarize the properties of Astragalus membranaceus and its major constituents in the biological system based on experimental and clinical studies. The antitumorigenic mechanisms of a novel Astragalus saponins extract called AST in treating various gastrointestinal cancers are highlighted. We discuss in detail how the Astragalus herb and AST influence the immune system, modulate various cancer signaling pathways, and interact with specific transcription molecules during protection against gastrointestinal inflammation and cancers. This information could help clinicians and scientists develop novel target-specific and effective therapeutic agents that are deprived of major systemic side effects, so as to establish a better treatment regimen in the battle against inflammatory diseases and cancers of the gut. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Astragalus membranaceus Bge. var. mongolicus (Bge.) Hsiao (A. mongolicus, family Leguminosae) is one of the most important traditional Chinese herbs. Among many secondary metabolites it produces, the effective bioactive constituents include isoflavonoids and triterpene saponins. The genomic resources regarding the biosynthesis of these metabolites in A. mongolicus are limited. Although roots are the primary material harvested for medical use, the biosynthesis of the bioactive compounds and its regulation in A. mongolicus are not well understood. Therefore, a global transcriptome analysis on A. mongolicus tissues was performed to identify the genes essential for the metabolism and to profile their expression patterns in greater details. Results: RNA-sequencing was performed for three different A. mongolicus tissues: leaf, stem, and root, using the Illumina Hiseq2000 platform. A total of 159.5 million raw sequence reads were generated, and assembled into 186,324 unigenes with an N50 of 1,524bp. Among them, 129,966 unigenes (~69.7%) were annotated using four public databases (Swiss-Prot, TrEMBL, CDD, Pfam), and 90,202, 63,946, and 78,326 unigenes were found to express in leaves, roots, and stems, respectively. A total of 8,025 transcription factors (TFs) were identified, in which the four largest families, bHLH, MYB, C3H, and WRKY, were implicated in regulation of tissue development, metabolisms, stress response, etc. Unigenes associated with secondary metabolism, especially those with isolavonoids and triterpene saponins biosynthesis were characterized and profiled. Most genes involved in the isoflavonoids biosynthesis had the lowest expression in the leaves, and the highest in the stems. For triterpene saponin biosynthesis, we found the genes in MVA and non-MVA pathways were differentially expressed among three examined tissues, indicating the parallel but compartmentally separated biosynthesis pathways of IPP and DMAPP in A. mongolicus. The first committed enzyme in triterpene saponin biosynthesis from A. mongolicus, cycloartenol synthase (AmCAS), which belongs to the oxidosqualene cyclase family, was cloned by us to study the astragalosides biosynthesis. Further co-expression analysis indicated the candidate CYP450s and glycosyltransferases (GTs) in the cascade of triterpene saponins biosynthesis. The presence of the large CYP450 families in A. mongolicus was further compared with those from Medicago truncatula and Arabidopsis thaliana, and the diversity and phylegenetic relationships of the CYP450 families were established. Conclusion: A transcriptome study was performed for A. mongolicus tissues to construct and profile their metabolic pathways, especially for the important bioactive molecules. The results revealed a comprehensive profile for metabolic activities among tissues, pointing to the equal importance of leaf, stem, and root in A. mongolicus for the production of bioactive compounds. This work provides valuable resources for bioengineering and in vitro synthesis of the natural compounds for medical research and for potential drug development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Astragalus membranaceus is a Chinese medicinal herb and has been shown to improve hapten-induced experimental colitis. One of its major components is polysaccharides. We investigated the effect of Astragalus polysaccharides (APS) on expression of TNF-α, IL-1β and NFATc4 in a rat model of experimental colitis. Methods The experimental colitis model was induced by TNBS. Forty five rats were divided into five groups ( n = 9): Normal control group, receiving ethanol vehicle with no TNBS during induction and IP saline injection during treatment; TNBS colitis model group (TNBS + IP saline), receiving only IP saline vehicle treatment; APS low dose group (TNBS + L-APS), receiving APS 100 mg/kg; APS high dose group (TNBS + H-APS), receiving APS 200 mg/kg; and positive control group (TNBS + Dexm), receiving dexamethasone 0.3 mg/kg. The clinical features, macroscopic and microscopic scores were assessed. The expressions of TNF-α, IL-1β and NFATc4 were measured by real-time PCR and ELISA assays. Results Compared to normal control rats, TNBS + IP saline had significant weight loss, increased macroscopic and microscopic scores, higher disease activity index (DAI) up-regulation of TNF-α, IL-1β and NFATc4 mRNA expression and up-regulation of TNF-α and IL-1β protein expression. Compared to TNBS + IP saline, treatment with APS or dexamethasone significantly reduced DAI, partially but significantly prevented TNBS colitis-induced weight loss and improved both macroscopic and microscopic scores; high dose APS or dexamethasone significantly down-regulated TNF-α and IL-1β expressions (both mRNA and protein) and up-regulated NFATc4 mRNA and protein expression. The effect of high dose APS and dexamethasone is comparable. Conclusions APS significantly improved experimental TNBS-induced colitis in rats through regulation of TNF-α, IL-1β and NFATc4 expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the efficacy and safety of Astragalus membranaceus Injection combined with conventional therapy in the treatment of viral myocarditis. Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of A. membranaceus Injection combined with conventional treatment compared with conventional treatment alone were included. Study population characteristics and outcome results were extracted independently by two assessors. Meta-analysis was performed for data available. Results: Six RCTs, involving 639 participants, were included in this study. The methodological quality of the included trials was generally low, and there was high risk of publication bias in the included trials. The total effective rate of A. membranaceus Injection combined with conventional treatment was significantly higher than that of conventional treatment alone. Compared with conventional treatment, the cointervention treatment group showed significant recovery in myocardium enzyme levels and electrocardiography. Two RCTs reported there were no adverse effects from A. membranaceus Injection combined with conventional treatment. Conclusion: A. membranaceus Injection combined with conventional treatment appeared to be more efficacious compared with conventional treatment alone for treating viral myocarditis. However, this conclusion should be cautiously interpreted due to low methodological quality, small sample size, limited number of trials, and high risk of publication bias and other unidentified risks of bias. The safety of A. membranaceus Injection combined with conventional treatment remains uncertain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the role of nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidasedependent formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1)-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in rat peritoneal mesothelial cells (RPMCs), and the effect of Astragalus injection (AGI) intervention. Methods: Primary RPMCs were cultured to the second generation in vitro. After synchronization for 24 h, the cells were randomly assigned to the following groups: control (Group A), AGI (2 g/mL; Group B), TGF-β1 (10 ng/mL; Group C), TGF-β1 (10 ng/mL) + AGI (2 g/mL; Group D; pretreated for 1 h with AGI before TGF-β1 stimulation). Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot analysis were employed to evaluate the mRNA and protein expression of the NADPH oxidase subunit p67phox, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and E-cadherin. The dichlorofluorescein-sensitive cellular ROS levels were measured by a fluorometric assay and confocal microscopy. Results: TGF-β1 significantly induced NADPH oxidase subunit p67phox mRNA and protein expression in RPMCs, as well as inducing the production of intracellular ROS. AGI inhibited this TGF-β1-induced up-regulation by 39.3% and 47.8%, respectively ( P<0.05), as well as inhibiting the TGF-β1-induced ROS generation by 56.3% ( P<0.05). TGF-β1 also induced α-SMA mRNA and protein expression, and down-regulated E-cadherin mRNA and protein expression ( P<0.05). This effect was suppressed by AGI ( P<0.05). Conclusions: NADPH oxidase-dependent formation of ROS may mediate the TGF-β1-dependent EMT in RPMCs. AGI could inhibit this process, providing a theoretical basis for AGI in the prevention of peritoneal fibrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance Semen Astragali Complanati (SAC), the dried ripe seed of Flatstem Milkvetch (Astragalus complanatus Bunge) (Leguminosae), is commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for treating muscle, liver, kidney, blood, skin and reproductive system diseases. Materials and methods Relevant information about SAC was gathered via "Google Scholar", "ISI Web of Knowledge", "PubMed", "ScienceDirect", "Medline Plus", "ACS", "CNKI" and "Wiley Online Library" and from books in local libraries. Results The major contents of SAC include fatty acids, amino acids, polysaccharides, flavonoids, triterpene glycosides and trace elements. Previous scientific studies have reported that SAC exhibits a number of therapeutic effects on chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus and cancers. It has been found that flavonoids are the main bioactive component in SAC. However most of the previous studies have shown the effects brought by the total flavonoid fraction extracted from SAC only; further studies are warranted for the biological effects produced by individual components. There are only a few studies on the toxicity of SAC and the overall results show that its toxicity is quite low or even non-existent. Conclusions SAC is a valuable TCM herb with multiple pharmacological effects for treating some chronic diseases. More studies on SAC will help us to have a better understanding of its pharmacological mechanisms so as to provide more scientific evidence to explain its traditional uses, identify its therapeutic potential on other diseases and understand its possible harmful effects. Based on previous studies, it is easy to identify that antioxidant effect of SAC might play an important role on its pharmacological effects. Studying the effects of SAC on handling intracellular reactive oxygen species may be a potential direction to help understanding the molecular mechanisms of SAC on preventing and/or treating chronic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Astragalus membranaceus is one of the most important traditional Korean and Chinese medicinal herbs because it contains triterpenoid saponins (astragaloside I, II, III, and IV), which have beneficial and pharmacological effects on health. In this study, we analyzed 10 mevalonate pathway genes that are involved in astragaloside biosynthesis using the Illumina/Solexa HiSeq2000 platform. We determined the expression levels of the 10 genes using quantitative real-time PCR, and analyzed the accumulation of astragalosides in different organs using high-performance liquid chromatography. Genes related to the mevalonate pathway were expressed in different levels in different organs. Almost all genes showed high transcript levels in the stem and leaf, with the lowest transcript levels being recorded in the root. In contrast, most astragalosides accumulated in the root. In particular, the astragaloside IV content was distributed in the following order: root (0.58 mg/g DW) > flower (0.27 mg/g DW) > stem (0.23 mg/g DW) > leaf (0.04 mg/g DW). In the root, astragaloside II exhibited the highest content (2.09 mg/g DW) compared to astragaloside I, III, and IV. Notably, gene expression did not follow the same pattern as astragaloside accumulation. We suggest carefully that astragalosides are synthesized in the leaves and stem and then translocated to the root. This study contributes towards improving our understanding of astragaloside biosynthesis in A. membranaceus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetic foot ulcer is closely associated with peripheral vascular disease. Enhancement of tissue oxidative stress, reduction of nitric oxide (NO) and angiogenic growth factors, and abnormal matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity are pathophysiological factors in post-ischemic neovascularization and diabetic wound healing. Our previous study demonstrated that the Chinese 2-herb formula, NF3, showed significant wound healing effects on diabetic foot ulcer rats. A novel rat diabetic foot ulcer with hindlimb ischemia model was established in order to strengthen our claims on the diabetic wound healing and post-ischemic neovascularization effects of NF3. Our results demonstrate that NF3 can significantly reduce the wound area of the diabetic foot ulcer rat with hindlimb ischemia by 21.6% (p < 0.05) compared with the control group. In addition, flow cytometric analysis revealed that NF3 could boost circulating EPC levels for local wound vessel incorporation. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that NF3 could significantly augment blood vessel density, VEGF and eNOS expression, and attenuate tissue oxidative stress of ischemic muscles (p < 0.001). NF3 significantly stimulated MMP activity involved in angiogenesis. Our study shows, for the first time, the beneficial effects of NF3 in wound healing and post-ischemic neovascularization in diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the feasibility of serum pharmacology in evaluating the antitumor effect of Chinese medicine (CM) of Fuzheng Guben (扶正固本, supporting the healthy energy and strengthening the body's resistance to pathogens), the effects of Fuzheng Yiliu Decoction (扶正抑瘤方, FYD), a typical prescription of Fuzheng Guben, on proliferation and apoptosis of hepatoma cells in vitro were observed by two methods with serum pharmacology and traditional pharmacology, respectively. Methods: HepG2 cells were treated with FYD-containing serum or crude FYD extract in vitro. The proliferation rate was determined by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay. Cell cycle and apoptosis rate was performed by flow cytometry. And the levels of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) in FYD-containing serum were detected by radioimmunoassay. Results FYD-containing serum remarkably inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis of hepatoma cells at least by promoting the production of IL-2 and TNF-α in vivo. On the contrary, crude FYD extract promoted the proliferation and did not induce cell apoptosis: Conclusion: The results by serum pharmacology were accordant with those of our previous animal and clinical trials which indicates that serum pharmacology is a reasonable and feasible method for the evaluation of the antitumor effect of herbs of Fuzheng Guben. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obstructive jaundice (OJ) is classified as extrahepatic OJ or intrahepatic OJ. Extrahepatic OJ is attributed to a variety of intricate etiological factors. Research has begun with Chinese medicine (CM), which can be used as an adjunctive therapy for extrahepatic OJ. Particular attention has been paid to the therapeutic effects and their mechanisms of single CM herb and relevant extracts. The roles of single CM or their extracts during adjunctive therapy for extrahepatic OJ have been described briefly. This review focuses on the effects and their mechanisms of relevant herbal medicines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A rapid, sensitive and selective liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC–MS-MS) method has been developed for the rapid separation and structural identification of constituents in Astragali Radix (AR) The analysis was conducted on an ACQUITY HPLC chromatographic instrument and a mass spectrometer using positive electrospray ionization. Using a fast HPLC system with an ACQUITY HPLC BEH C18 column, the total analysis time for this complex herb was less than 30 min. The method used a column with 1.7 µm particle packing, which allowed a higher speed of analysis, peak capacity, greater resolution and increased sensitivity. With various fragmentor voltage levels in MS, accurate mass measurements (less than 5 ppm error) for molecular ions and characteristic fragment ions represented reliable identification criteria for these compounds. The constituents of AR were identified or tentatively characterized based on their retention times, mass fragmentation behavior, MS-MS fragment ions, literature reports and the establishment of an in-house molecular formula database. With this method, a total of 22 compounds of AR were tentatively identified based on MS data and comparison with available databases. In conclusion, fast HPLC with MS is a highly useful and efficient technique to separate and identify constituents in complex matrices of herbal medicines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Recently, a great deal of interest has been developed to isolate and investigate novel bioactive components with health benefit effects from natural resources. The dried root of Astragalus membranaceus, one of the most popular health-promoting herbal medicines, has been used historically as an immunomodulating agent for the treatment of common cold, diarrhea, fatigue and anorexia for more than 2000 years. Modern phytochemistry and pharmacological experiments have proved that polysaccharide is one of the major active ingredients in the root of A. membranaceus with various important bioactivities, such as immunomodulation, antioxidant, antitumor, anti-diabetes, antiviral, hepatoprotection, anti-inflammation, anti-atherosclerosis, hematopoiesis and neuroprotection. The aim of the present review is to summarize previous and current references and give a comprehensive summary regarding the structural features and biological activities of A. membranaceus polysaccharides in order to provide new insight for further development of these macromolecules. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Radix Astragali is a popular herb used in traditional Chinese medicine for its proimmune and antidiabetic properties. However, methods are needed to help distinguish Radix Astragali from its varied adulterants.DNA barcoding is a widely applicable molecular method used to identify medicinal plants. Yet, its use has been hampered by genetic distance, base variation, and limitations of the bio-NJ tree. Herein, we report the validation of an integrated analysis method for plant species identification using DNA barcoding that focuses on genetic distance, identification efficiency, inter- and intraspecific variation, and barcoding gap. We collected 478 sequences from six candidate DNA barcodes (ITS2, ITS, psbA-trnH, rbcL, matK, and COI) from 29 species of Radix Astragali and adulterants. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence was demonstrated as the optimal barcode for identifying Radix Astragali and its adulterants. This new analysis method is helpful in identifying Radix Astragali and expedites the utilization and data mining of DNA barcoding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Astragalus memebranaceus is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine used in treatment of common cold, diarrhea, fatigue, anorexia and cardiac diseases. Recently, there are growing evidences that Astragalus extract may be a potential anti-tumorigenic agent. Some research showed that the total saponins obtained from Astragalus membranaceus possess significant antitumorigenic activity. Gastric cancer is one of the most frequent cancers in the world, almost two-thirds of gastric cancer cases and deaths occur in less developed regions. But the effect of Astragalus membranaceus on proliferation, invasion and apoptosis of gastric cancer BGC-823 cells remains unclear. Methods Astragalus saponins were extracted. Cells proliferation was determined by CCK-8 assay. Cell cycle and apoptosis were detected by the flow cytometry. Boyden chamber was used to evaluate the invasion and metastasis capabilities of BGC-823 cells. Tumor growth was assessed by subcutaneous inoculation of cells into BALB/c nude mice. Results The results demonstrated that total Astragalus saponins could inhibit human gastric cancer cell growth both in vitro and in vivo, in additional, Astragalus saponins deceased the invasion ability and induced the apoptosis of gastric cancer BGC-823 cells. Conclusions Total Astragalus saponins inhibited human gastric cancer cell growth, decreased the invasion ability and induced the apoptosis. This suggested the possibility of further developing Astragalus as an alternative treatment option, or perhaps using it as adjuvant chemotherapeutic agent in gastric cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Astragalus memebranaceus is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine used in treatment of common cold, diarrhea, fatigue, anorexia and cardiac diseases. Recently, there are growing evidences that Astragalus extract may be a potential anti-tumorigenic agent. Some research showed that the total saponins obtained from Astragalus membranaceus possess significant antitumorigenic activity. Gastric cancer is one of the most frequent cancers in the world, almost two-thirds of gastric cancer cases and deaths occur in less developed regions. But the effect of Astragalus membranaceus on proliferation, invasion and apoptosis of gastric cancer BGC-823 cells remains unclear. Methods: Astragalus saponins were extracted. Cells proliferation was determined by CCK-8 assay. Cell cycle and apoptosis were detected by the flow cytometry. Boyden chamber was used to evaluate the invasion and metastasis capabilities of BGC-823 cells. Tumor growth was assessed by subcutaneous inoculation of cells into BALB/c nude mice. Results: The results demonstrated that total Astragalus saponins could inhibit human gastric cancer cell growth both in vitro and in vivo, in additional, Astragalus saponins deceased the invasion ability and induced the apoptosis of gastric cancer BGC-823 cells. Conclusions: Total Astragalus saponins inhibited human gastric cancer cell growth, decreased the invasion ability and induced the apoptosis. This suggested the possibility of further developing Astragalus as an alternative treatment option, or perhaps using it as adjuvant chemotherapeutic agent in gastric cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]