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The article focuses on the results of a trace evidence and technical-technological examination of the collection of bone artifacts of the Late Bronze Age Olo Khaz settlement of the Bashkir Trans-Urals. The authors dwell on all categories of bone artifacts found at the settlement; they draw on analogies from the materials of the Late Bronze Age sites in different territories. Probably, in the processing of bones at the Olo Khaz settlement, there is some industrial specialization on the processing of a hollow horn.

Astragalus is a traditional herb which has been used in China for a long time. It regulates blood circulation (vital energy), invigorates body fluid circulation, protects the flow of blood to fight against the attack of pathogens, and strengthens “blood deficiencies” according to Bencao Congxin. Astragalus was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2009 as a dietary supplement for upper respiratory infections, allergic rhinitis (hay fever), asthma, chronic fatigue syndrome, and chronic kidney disease. Thirty journals published in the past ten years were reviewed by using library search engines such as SCI/SCIE, PubMed, and Scopus. In this mini-review, we focus on the anti-inflammatory of Astragalus features, discuss the background of Astragalus and its function in various diseases from water-extracted Astragalus membranaceus, Astragalus saponins, and Astragalus polysaccharides. Based on the traditional Chinese medicine theory, Astragalus is a potential candidate to treat and prevent COVID-19.

Objective: To determine the efficacy and safety of Astragalus combined with renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) blockers in treating stage III diabetic nephropathy (DN) by meta-analysis., Methods: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Wiley, and Web of Science databases were searched for articles published between August 2007 and August 2022. Clinical studies on Astragalus combined with RAAS blockers for the treatment of stage III DN were included. Meta-analysis was performed by RevMan 5.1 and Stata 14.3 software., Results: A total of 32 papers were included in this meta-analysis, containing 2462 patients from randomized controlled trials, with 1244 receiving the combination treatment and 1218 solely receiving RAAS blockers. Astragalus combined with RAAS blockers yielded a significantly higher total effective rate (TER) (mean difference [MD] 3.63, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.59-5.09) and significantly reduced urinary protein excretion rate (UPER), serum creatinine (Scr), blood urine nitrogen (BUN) and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbAlc) levels. In subgroup analysis, combining astragalus and angiotensin receptor blocker significantly lowered fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and 24 h urinary protein (24hUTP) levels, compared with the combined astragalus and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor treatment. Meanwhile, the latter significantly decreased the urinary microprotein (β 2 -MG). Importantly, the sensitivity analysis confirmed the study's stability, and publication bias was not detected for UPER, BUN, HbAlc, FPG, or β 2 -MG. However, the TER, SCr, and 24hUTP results suggested possible publication bias., Conclusions: The astragalus-RAAS blocker combination treatment is safe and improves outcomes; however, rigorous randomized, large-scale, multi-center, double-blind trials are needed to evaluate its efficacy and safety in stage III DN.

The anatomical, palynological and leaflet and fruit micromorphological properties of two Astragalus L. species, namely A. falcatus Lam. and A. odoratus Lam. attributed to the section Uliginosi Gray (Fabaceae) from Turkey were considered via light (LM) and scanning electron microscopies (SEM) in order to determine their these characteristics and to assess the diagnostic value of these properties as taxonomic evidence. The leaflets type in terms of the anatomy, the type of stomata and trichomes, the shape and aperture of pollen grains and also the surface ornamentation of the fruits and trichomes are similar in these two species. Anatomical features such as the shape of the stem and petiole, the absence or presence of pith cavity in the stem and the number of vascular bundles in the petiole possess a systematic importance. Bifurcate trichomes are present on both surfaces of the leaflets. The ornamentation of trichomes is verrucate. The surface pattern of fruits is reticulate. The pollen grains are isopolar, radially symmetrical, trizonocolporate and prolate-spheroidal. Exine sculpturing is found to be a valuable characteristic for separating these species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Astragalus nurhakdagensis, a new species from the south of Turkey was described, illustrated, and compared to the closest taxa Astragalus hirsutus, A. dumanii and A. cataonicus from which it is set apart by a longer calyx length (13-14 mm) and calyx teeth (7-9 mm, longer than tube), white corolla colour, longer bracts (13-15 mm) and black hairy stripes below the stem nodes. In A. hirsutus, the calyx length (6-10 mm) and calyx teeth are much smaller (2-3 mm long, shorter than tube), with yellow corolla colour and without black hairy stripes. It also differs from A. dumanii with its longer stipules 9-13 mm (not 5-8 mm), bracts 13-15 mm (not 4-6 mm), calyx length 13-14 mm (not 7-10 mm) and calyx teeth 7-9 mm (not 2-4 mm), and also with spreading hairs (not adpressed) on the calyx and 7-9 pairs of leaflets (not 3-7 pairs). It is also differentiated from A. cataonicus with a white corolla colour (not lilac to pink), longer stipule 9-13 mm (not 5-7 mm), bracts 13-15 mm (not 6-12 mm), and longer calyx teeth 7-9 mm (not 5-7 mm). Prolate (A. nurhakdagensis, A. hirsutus and A. cataonicus) and subprolate (A. dumanii) shapes were determined in the tricolporate pollen grains. Perforate, granulate, and reticulate ornamentation types were observed in the pollen grains in SEM. The seed shapes were reniform-globose in A. nurhakdagensis and A. dumanii, whereas they were reniform in A. hirsutus and A. cataonicus. Surface ornamentation of the seeds differed slightly: rugulate in A. nurhakdagensis and A. hirsutus, reticulate-rugulate in A. dumanii and reticulate-striate in A. cataonicus. Taxonomic description, micrographs of seeds and pollen surfaces and geographical distribution of the new species were provided. Conservation status was discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The present study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanism of the Astragalus–Scorpion drug pair in the treatment of prostate cancer (PCa). We employed network pharmacology and molecular docking technology to retrieving the active ingredients and corresponding targets of Astragalus–Scorpion by using TCMSP, BATMAN‐TCM, TCMID and Swiss Target Prediction Databases. The targets related to PCa were retrieved through GeneCards. Cytoscape software was used to construct the 'active ingredient–target disease' network, and GO and KEGG enrichment analyses were performed on the common targets. Autodock software was used for molecular docking verification. In total, 26 active ingredients, 340 potential targets related to active ingredients and 122 common targets were screened from Astragalus–Scorpion drug pair. The core targets of the protein–protein interaction (PPI) network were JUN, AKT1, IL6, MAPK1 and RELA, whereas the core active ingredients were quercetin, kaempferol, formononetin, 7‐o‐methylisomucronulatol and calycosin. Nearly 762 GO entries and 154 pathways were obtained by using the pathway enrichment analysis. Molecular docking results revealed that quercetin and kaempferol bind to AKT1 and formononetin binds to RELA, all of which were found to be stable bounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Modern Food Science & Technology is the property of Editorial Office of Modern Food Science & Technology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Astragalus hamosus contains valuable biologically active compounds, incl. flavonoids. The possibility for in vitro cultivation of the species as a source of important flavonoids was studied. Shoot and callus cultures were established and successfully cultivated on different nutrition media, complemented or not with growth regulators. An ultra-high performance liquid chromatography – high-resolution electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRESIMS) qualitative and quantitative analysis of non-purified methanol extracts of these cultures was performed. It was found that the cultures produced rutin in comparable quantity. Interestingly, both shoots and callus cultures accumulated the rare triglycosides alcesefoliside and mauritianin. The quantity of mauritianin, biosynthesized in shoots, was significantly higher to that in callus cultures. Alcesefoliside, was in lower quantity, compared to mauritianin. In addition, callus cultures produced alcesefoliside trice as the shoots, besides their lower level of differentiation. These findings could serve as initial research to establish the value of in vitro cultures from A. hamosus as an alternative mean of production of pharmaceutically important flavonol glycosides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Some species of Astragalus are used for the treatment of various types of cancer. The present study was designed to evaluate the anticancer potential of Astragalus ovinus extract (AOE) against DMBA-induced breast carcinoma in rats. Materials and Methods: The anti-tumor and antioxidant effects of AOE were evaluated against DMBA-induced breast carcinoma in rats using DPPH, FRAP and ABTS technique, respectively. Forty adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups including the control group received a single dose of DMBA solvent orally, and groups II, III and IV received a single dose of DMBA (40 mg/kg) dissolved in olive oil. Groups I and II received normal saline and groups III and IV were treated with AOE orally (120 and 240 mg/kg respectively) for 60 consecutive days. Chemopreventive effects were assessed in terms of diameter and volume of tumors, expression levels of PCNA, and serum levels of CA15.3, p53, MDA, CAT, and calcium, and histopathological features Results: AOE contained a noticeable amount of phenolic and flavonoids compounds. This extract showed a potent antioxidant activity both in vitro and in vivo. AOE significantly decreased the diameter and volume of tumors (p Conclusion: According to the data, AOE produced a significant chemopreventive activity in DMBA-induced breast tumors in rats, probably due to its antioxidant and its inhibitory effect on some tumorigenicity markers such as CA15.3, p53 and PCNA activity.

Notoungulates represent the most taxonomically diverse and temporally and geographically widespread group among South American native ungulates. Here, we analyze anatomical and systematic aspects of proximal tarsal bones recovered from the Lower and Upper Lumbrera formations (middle and late middle Eocene) in northwestern Argentina. We provide detailed descriptions, comparisons, and infer foot stances and range of movements for the taxa implicated. Material studied includes astragali belonging to the oldfieldthomasiid Colbertia lumbrerense (Lower Lumbrera Formation), a set of proximal tarsals referred as Typotheria indet. (Lower Lumbrera Formation), and tarsals (also including navicular and cuboid) of the informal taxon “Campanorco inauguralis” (Upper Lumbrera Formation). The comparison of the tarsals of Colbertia lumbrerense (middle Eocene of Argentina) with Colbertia magellanica (early Eocene of Brazil) reveals several differences including variations on the development and arrangement of articular facets, and the size of the dorsal astragalar foramen in the Argentinean species. The specimen of Typotheria indet. shows morphological affinities with basal interatheriid taxa. However, its larger size contrasting with the overall small body sizes of Eocene interatheriids precludes an indisputable taxonomic assignment. Concerning “Campanorco inauguralis”, our observations indicate that there is no morphological evidence for a close phylogenetic relationship with Mesotheriidae. It presents a “reversed alternating tarsus” condition, which is also observed in Leontiniidae, “Notohippidae”, Toxodontidae, and some typotherians. However, the spectrum of singularities exhibited by this form precludes the assessment of its relationships in the context of the Paleogene radiation of Typotheria and it is necessary to extend the comparison to Eocene notoungulates. Finally, in a morphofunctional context a plantigrade foot posture is inferred for the specimens here reported. These observations have the potential to provide functional proxies for paleoecological reconstructions to be applied to the study of the early radiation of these notoungulate faunas.

Background. Recently, more and more attention has been paid to the study of plant phenology in the context of the global climate change. By now, the question of how climate factors affect the phenophases of plants has not yet been fully investigated. Accurate forecasts for biological responses of plant species to climate change require profound understanding of the impact produced by meteorological factors on plant phenology.Materials and methods. The research was targeted at Astragalus L. spp. introduced into the dry steppe areas of the Kulunda Plain. Meteorological indicators were selected for agrometeorological description of the plant introduction site to assess its hydrothermal conditions. The Pearson correlation coefficient was used to identify the level of correlations between the studied parameters.Results. High air temperature shortened the growing season of Astragalus cicer L., but lengthened its flowering and fruiting phases. An increase in relative air humidity shortened the flowering in A. cicer. Meteorological indicators did not significantly affect the duration of the phenophases in A. sulcatus L. For A. onobrychis L., an increase in the average relative humidity reduced the budding phase, while an increase in the average and maximum air temperature and an increase in the amount of precipitation increased the flowering period. A decrease in air temperature and average relative humidity, and an increase in the total precipitation lengthened the duration of fruiting in A. onobrychis. Increased average temperature and humidity reduced its fruiting phase.Conclusion. A. sulcatus is tolerant to the dry steppe environments. The phenophases of A. cicer and A. onobrychis are more responsive to changes in meteorological indicators. In A. onobrychis, the fruiting phase is susceptible to the combined impact of climate factors. The limiting factors for A. cicer are relative humidity, total precipitation and mean temperature during the growing season.

Objective: Astragalus L. (Fabaceae) is the largest genus of vascular plants in the world, that comprises an estimated number of 2900 annual and perennial species. The members of this genus have a broad spectrum of usages (e.g. medicine, food, fodder, fuel, ornamental plants, etc.). Here, we present a review of ethnobotanical applications of different species of Astragalus by various ethnic and cultural groupings worldwide, to provide an exhaustive database for future works. Materials and Methods: Literature survey was performed using Scopus, Google Scholar, PubMed, Medline, and Science Direct, and English and non-English reference books dealing with useful properties of the Astragalus species from 1937 to 2018. Consequently, we reviewed a total of 76 publications that supported lucrative information about various uses of this huge genus. Results: Several ethnobotanical uses of 90 Astragalus taxa were documented which were mainly originated from Asian and European countries. The two most frequently mentioned Astragalus treatments, were against urinary and respiratory diseases. The most commonly used part was gum and the most frequently used preparation method was decoction. Conclusion: This review highlights that various Astragalus species have great traditional uses in different ethnobotanical practices throughout the world. However, there is still lack of phytochemical and pharmacological researches on many species of Astragalus and further studies are required to substantiate the therapeutic potential of them which will develop new generation of plant-derived drugs in the near future.

Astragalus spinous is a native perennial shrubs from Leguminosae family that widely distributed in severely degraded lands at northern Kuwait. A restoration program was applied via levelling and refilling the quarries and rehabilitation of the natural vegetation and wildlife to their original outward appearance before degradation. The existence of Astragalus shrubs indicated that soil after depth 40 cm was very hard and compacted. Therefore, A. spinosus is considered as one of the efficient native plants in the rehabilitation process for highly degraded lands affected by soil compaction and sealing. The A. spinosus formed a maximum volume of nabkha deposits up to 1.12 m3 which makes it one of the effective plants in controlling mobile sand and dust. Every single plant has the capability to save the Kuwait economy by USD 3.6 via trapping mobile sand and saving the infrastructures from sand encroachment as a major challenge.

Objective: To optimize the ultrasonication method for efficient extraction of P-sitosterol and lupeol from the roots of Astragalus atropilosus using Box-Behnken design of response surface methodology (RSM), and its validation by high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) method. Methods: Ultrasonication method was used to extract β-sitosterol and lupeol from Astragalus atropilosus (roots). RSM was used to optimize the different extraction parameters viz. liquid to solid ratio (10-14 mL/g), temperature (60-80 °C) and time (40-60 min) to maximize the yield of β-sitosterol and lupeol. The quantitative estimation of β-sitosterol and lupeol was done in chloroform extract of Astragalus atropilosus by validated HPTLC method on 10 cm × 20 cm glass-backed silica gel 60F254 plate using hexane and ethyl acetate (8:2, v/v) as mobile phase. Results: A quadratic polynomial model was found to be most appropriate with regard to R1 (yield of total extraction; R2/% CV = 0.994 8/0.28), R2 (β-sitosterol yield; R2/% CV = 0.992 3/0.39) and R3 (lupeol yield; R2/% CV = 0.994 2/0.97). The values of adjusted R2/predicted R2/signal to noise ratio for R1, R2, and R 3 were 0.978 2/0.955 1/48.77, 0.990 4/0.911 0/31.33, and 0.992 7/0.940 1/36.08, respectively, indicating a high degree of correlation and adequate signal. The linear correlation plot between the predicted and experimental values for R1, R2, and R3 showed high values of R2 ranging from 0.990 5-0.997 3. β-sitosterol and lupeol in chloroform extract of Astragalus atropilosus were detected at Rf values of 0.22 and 0.34, respectively, at X max = 518 nm. The optimized ultrasonic extraction produced 8.462% w/w of Rl, 0.451% w/w of R2 and 0.172% w/w of R3 at 13.5 mL/g liquid to solid ratio, 78 C of temperature and 60 min of time. Conclusions: The experimental findings of RSM optimized extraction and HPTLC analysis can be further applied for the efficient extraction of β-sitosterol and lupeol in other species of Astragalus.

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.

Astragalosides have been shown to enhance endurance exercise capacity in vivo and promote muscular hypertrophy in vitro. However, it remains unknown whether astragalosides supplementation can alter inflammatory response and enhance muscle recovery after damage in humans. We therefore aimed to evaluate the effect of astragalosides supplementation on muscle’s intrinsic capacity to regenerate and repair itself after exercise-induced damage. Using a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled cross-over design, eleven male participants underwent 7 days of astragalosides supplementation (in total containing 4 mg of astragalosides per day) or a placebo control, following an eccentric exercise protocol. Serum blood samples and variables related to muscle function were collected prior to and immediately following the muscle damage protocol and also at 2 h, and 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7 days of the recovery period, to assess the pro-inflammatory cytokine response, the secretion of muscle regenerative factors, and muscular strength. Astragalosides supplementation reduced biomarkers of skeletal muscle damage (serum CK, LDH, and Mb), when compared to the placebo, at 1, 2, and 3 days following the muscle damage protocol. Astragalosides supplementation suppressed the secretion of IL-6 and TNF-α, whilst increasing the release of IGF-1 during the initial stages of muscle recovery. Furthermore, following astragaloside supplementation, muscular strength returned to baseline 2 days earlier than the placebo. Astragalosides supplementation shortens the duration of inflammation, enhances the regeneration process and restores muscle strength following eccentric exercise-induced injury.

Astragalus has the advantages of naturalness, versatility, safety, friendliness to breeding environment and no residue. Astragalus has both immune and antibacterial effect, which is widely used in livestock and poultry breeding industry. In the livestock and poultry breeding industry, using Astragalus as a feed additive can improve the growth performance of breeding animals, regulate immune performance and increase breeding income. The article introduces the biological function and effect of Astragalus, and expounds the application status of Astragalus feed additive in ruminant, poultry and pig breeding, to provide reference for further study of Astragalus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Astragalus is the largest genus in Leguminosae. Several molecular studies have investigated the potential adulterants of the species within this genus; nonetheless, the evolutionary relationships among these species remain unclear. Herein, we sequenced and annotated the complete chloroplast genomes of three Astragalus species— Astragalus adsurgens , Astragalus mongholicus var. dahuricus , and Astragalus melilotoides using next-generation sequencing technology and plastid genome annotator (PGA) tool. All species belonged to the inverted repeat lacking clade (IRLC) and had similar sequences concerning gene contents and characteristics. Abundant simple sequence repeat (SSR) loci were detected, with single-nucleotide repeats accounting for the highest proportion of SSRs, most of which were A/T homopolymers. Using Astragalus membranaceus var. membranaceus as reference, the divergence was evident in most non-coding regions of the complete chloroplast genomes of these species. Seven genes (atpB , psbD , rpoB , rpoC1 , trnV , rrn16 , and rrn23) showed high nucleotide variability (Pi), and could be used as DNA barcodes for Astragalus sp. cemA and rpl33 were found undergoing positive selection by the section patterns in the coded protein. Phylogenetic analysis showed that Astragalus is a monophyletic group closely related to the genus Oxytropis within the tribe Galegeae. The newly sequenced chloroplast genomes provide insight into the unresolved evolutionary relationships within Astragalus spp. and are expected to contribute to species identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Astragalus -containing traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is widely used as adjunctive treatment to platinum-based chemotherapy (PBC) in patients with advanced gastric cancer (AGC) in China. However, evidence regarding its efficacy remains limited. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Astragalus -containing TCM combined with PBC in AGC treatment. Methods: We searched for literature (up to July 19, 2020) in eight electronic databases. The included studies were reviewed by two researchers. The main outcomes were the objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), survival rate, quality of life (QOL), adverse drug reactions (ADRs), and peripheral blood lymphocyte levels. The effect estimate of interest was the risk ratio (RR) or mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Trial sequential analysis (TSA) was used to detect the robustness of the primary outcome and to calculate the required information size (RIS). Certainty of the evidence was assessed using the GRADE profiler. Results: Results based on available literature showed that, compared with patients treated with PBC alone, those treated with Astragalus -containing TCM had a better ORR (RR: 1.24, 95% CI: 1.15–1.34, P < 0.00001), DCR (RR: 1.10, 95% CI: 1.06–1.14, P < 0.00001), 1-year survival rate (RR: 1.41, 95% CI: 1.09–1.82, P = 0.009), 2-year survival rate (RR: 3.13, 95% CI: 1.80–5.46, P < 0.0001), and QOL (RR: 2.03, 95% CI: 1.70–2.43, P < 0.00001 and MD: 12.39, 95% CI: 5.48–19.30, P = 0.0004); higher proportions of CD3+ T cells and CD3+ CD4+ T cells; higher ratio of CD4+/CD8+ T cells; nature killer cells; and lower incidence of ADRs. Subgroup analysis showed that both oral and injection administration of Astragalus -containing TCM increased tumor response. Whether treatment duration was ≥8 weeks or <8 weeks, Astragalus -containing TCM could increase tumor response in AGC patients. Furthermore, Astragalus -containing TCM combined with oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy could increase the ORR and DCR; when with cisplatin, it could only increase the ORR. Conclusion: Current low to moderate evidence revealed that Astragalus -containing TCM combined with PBC had better efficacy and less side effects in the treatment of AGC; however, more high-quality randomized studies are warranted. Systematic Review Registration: PROSPERO, identifier CRD42020203486. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cervical cancer is the fourth most common malignant tumor among women worldwide. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Astragalus-containing Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) combined with chemotherapy (CT) for the treatment of cervical cancer. Methods: Ten electronic databases including PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Korean databases, and Chinese medical databases, were systematically searched up to July 2020. All randomized controlled trials using Astragalus-containing CHM combined with CT to treat cervical cancer were included. Results: A total of 19 trials were included in the analysis. Compared with the control group, the Astragalus-containing CHM combined with CT group showed a significantly increased tumor response (complete and partial response (CR and PR)) (risk ratio [RR] = 1.25, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.17–1.33, p < 0.00001) and Karnofsky performance score (KPS) (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 1.81, 95% CI: 1.46–2.17, p < 0.00001). This group also displayed remarkably reduced CT toxicity. Conclusion: Our study suggests that Astragalus-containing CHM might be a potential option for cervical cancer to enhance the curative efficacy and reduce CT toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As known from the literature, machine learning (ML) is one of the popular researches have been used variable areas. In this work, a novel exemplar pyramid method is presented to accurately classify Astragalus L. taxa by using their chromosome images. To implement ML to biological images, the proposed exemplar pyramid method is used. Histogram of Oriented Gradients (HOG) is utilized as feature generator. The proposed exemplar pyramid method consists of preprocessing, feature generation and concatenation, feature selection and classification phase. 10 classifiers are chosen to train and test the extracted features. According to results, the proposed exemplar pyramid generates discriminative features. because five of the used 10 classifiers achieved 100.0% classification rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Astragali radix (AR), the root of Astragalus, is an important medical herb widely used in traditional Chinese medicine. Bioactive components include isoflavones and a unique class of triterpenoid saponins (named astragalosides). Objectives: Accurate measurement of bioactive components, especially astragaloside IV, is necessary for confirming AR authenticity, quality control and future medical research. Methodology: Liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) is a suitable technique but suffers from ion suppression effects due to sample matrix. This can be corrected by using isotopic labelled internal standards, but these are not available for many phytochemicals. We explored the use of standard addition to circumvent this issue. Results: LC–MS/MS and liquid chromatography coupled with ultraviolet (LC‐UV) detection provided linear calibration curves (R2 > 0.99). LC–MS/MS provided superior selectivity and detection limits below 10 ng/mL, which was 2–3 magnitudes lower than LC‐UV detection. Precision and accuracy were overall improved by using LC–MS/MS with diluted sample extracts, resulting in an inter series coefficient of variation (CV) of 12% or less and mean recovery estimates in the 85–115% range. LC–MS/MS quantification by standard addition resulted in significantly higher concentrations of astragaloside IV measured in the samples. Concentrations calculated by standard addition were unaffected by large variation in signal response caused by matrix effects, independent of variation in slope of the standard addition curves. Conclusion: Sample dilution was helpful but not sufficient for reducing effects of ion suppression. We have shown that LC–MS/MS quantification by standard addition can be a powerful approach for accurate measurement of phytochemicals in the absence of isotopic labelled internal standards. Astragali radix is an important herb used in traditional Chinese medicine. Liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry can be used for quantification of astragaloside IV and isoflavones in the herb. In the absence of isotopic labelled internal standards, we applied quantification by standard addition for measurement of these phytochemicals. Calculated concentrations were then unaffected by large variation in signal response caused by matrix effects, independent of variation in slope of the standard addition curve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the effect of the Sufivand-manganese mine (located in Harsin city of Kermanshah province) on soil characteristics, plant growth, and some physiological traits of yellow milk-vetch (Astragalus parrowianus). Soil and plant samples of natural rangeland were taken in May around Sufivand mine at different distances in the 100,500.1000,1500 and 2000 meters far from the mine, respectively. The statistical design of this project was based on a systematic random methodology in the five concentric circles around the Manganese mine. Six samples of soil and Astragalus plant outside of manganese mine boundary (was not affected by mine) with the same edaphic and topographic conditions were sampled as a control treatment. The results of this project indicated that measured physiological properties and plant growth were significantly affected by the distance from the Manganese mine. Hence, the maximum rate of root weight to canopy weight (0.85), transfer factor (1.9), root density factor (4), and proline content (0.8 ol / g) was significantly observed at (p 0.05) compared to the control treatment at a distance of 100 meters from the mine. The minimum stem length (12 cm), total nitrogen content (3%), essential oil content (0.2%), catalase activity (0.45 Units/mg) and peroxidase activity (0.2 Units/mg) at 100 meters distance from the mine were significantly different from the control at (p 0.05). It is concluded that the closest distance to the mine, the higher hazard of manganese to the Rangeland plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundAstragalus-containing traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is widely used as adjunctive treatment to platinum-based chemotherapy (PBC) in patients with advanced gastric cancer (AGC) in China. However, evidence regarding its efficacy remains limited. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Astragalus-containing TCM combined with PBC in AGC treatment.MethodsWe searched for literature (up to July 19, 2020) in eight electronic databases. The included studies were reviewed by two researchers. The main outcomes were the objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), survival rate, quality of life (QOL), adverse drug reactions (ADRs), and peripheral blood lymphocyte levels. The effect estimate of interest was the risk ratio (RR) or mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Trial sequential analysis (TSA) was used to detect the robustness of the primary outcome and to calculate the required information size (RIS). Certainty of the evidence was assessed using the GRADE profiler.ResultsResults based on available literature showed that, compared with patients treated with PBC alone, those treated with Astragalus-containing TCM had a better ORR (RR: 1.24, 95% CI: 1.15–1.34, P < 0.00001), DCR (RR: 1.10, 95% CI: 1.06–1.14, P < 0.00001), 1-year survival rate (RR: 1.41, 95% CI: 1.09–1.82, P = 0.009), 2-year survival rate (RR: 3.13, 95% CI: 1.80–5.46, P < 0.0001), and QOL (RR: 2.03, 95% CI: 1.70–2.43, P < 0.00001 and MD: 12.39, 95% CI: 5.48–19.30, P = 0.0004); higher proportions of CD3+ T cells and CD3+ CD4+ T cells; higher ratio of CD4+/CD8+ T cells; nature killer cells; and lower incidence of ADRs. Subgroup analysis showed that both oral and injection administration of Astragalus-containing TCM increased tumor response. Whether treatment duration was ≥8 weeks or

Astragalus is the largest genus in Leguminosae. Several molecular studies have investigated the potential adulterants of the species within this genus; nonetheless, the evolutionary relationships among these species remain unclear. Herein, we sequenced and annotated the complete chloroplast genomes of three Astragalus species—Astragalus adsurgens, Astragalus mongholicus var. dahuricus, and Astragalus melilotoides using next-generation sequencing technology and plastid genome annotator (PGA) tool. All species belonged to the inverted repeat lacking clade (IRLC) and had similar sequences concerning gene contents and characteristics. Abundant simple sequence repeat (SSR) loci were detected, with single-nucleotide repeats accounting for the highest proportion of SSRs, most of which were A/T homopolymers. Using Astragalus membranaceus var. membranaceus as reference, the divergence was evident in most non-coding regions of the complete chloroplast genomes of these species. Seven genes (atpB, psbD, rpoB, rpoC1, trnV, rrn16, and rrn23) showed high nucleotide variability (Pi), and could be used as DNA barcodes for Astragalus sp. cemA and rpl33 were found undergoing positive selection by the section patterns in the coded protein. Phylogenetic analysis showed that Astragalus is a monophyletic group closely related to the genus Oxytropis within the tribe Galegeae. The newly sequenced chloroplast genomes provide insight into the unresolved evolutionary relationships within Astragalus spp. and are expected to contribute to species identification.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation of compound polysaccharides derived from Astragalus and Glycyrrhiza on growth performance, meat quality, antioxidant function, cecal microbiota and serum metabolomics of broilers. A total of 480 one-day-old male Arbor Acres (AA) broilers were randomly divided into four treatments with six replicates comprising 20 broilers each. Treatments: CON group was the basal diet; ANT group was supplemented with Terramycin calcium; LAG group was supplemented with 150 mg/kg Astragalus polysaccharides and 75 mg/kg Glycyrrhiza polysaccharides; HAG group was supplemented with 300 mg/kg Astragalus polysaccharides and 150 mg/kg Glycyrrhiza polysaccharides. The results showed that LAG and HAG supplementation increased growth performance, antioxidant function and meat quality compared with the CON group and ANT group and, especially, the effect of LAG treatment was better than HAG. Analysis of cecal microbiota showed that LAG and HAG supplementation altered cecal microbial diversity and composition in broilers. Serum metabolomics analysis showed that a total of 193 differential metabolites were identified in CON and LAG groups, which were mainly enriched in linoleic acid metabolism and glutathione metabolism pathways. Moreover, there was a close correlation between serum metabolites, cecal microbiota and phenotypic indicators. Conclusion: Dietary supplementation of 150 mg/kg Astragalus polysaccharides and 75 mg/kg Glycyrrhiza polysaccharides could improve the growth performance, antioxidant function and meat quality of broilers by changing the serum metabolites and cecal microbiota composition.

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]

Astragalus L. is widely distributed throughout the temperate regions of Europe, Asia, and North America. The genus is widely used in folk medicine and in dietary supplements, as well as in cosmetics, teas, coffee, vegetable gums, and as forage for animals. The major phytoconstituents of Astragalus species with beneficial properties are saponins, flavonoids, and polysaccharides. Astragalus extracts and their isolated components exhibited promising in vitro and in vivo biological activities, including antiaging, antiinfective, cytoprotective, antiinflammatory, antioxidant, antitumor, antidiabesity, and immune‐enhancing properties. Considering their proven therapeutic potential, the aim of this work is to give a comprehensive summary of the Astragalus spp. and their active components, in an attempt to provide new insight for further clinical development of these xenobiotics. This is the first review that briefly describes their ethnopharmacology, composition, biological, and toxicological properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phylogenetic relationships within Astragalus sect. Acanthophace and several spiny Astragalus species were studied using nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (nrDNA ITS) and two plastid intergenic spacers (rpl32-trnL(UAG) and trnS(GCU)-trnG(UCC)). The strongly congruent expression using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference methods was the non-monophyly of sect. Acanthophace at the current status suggesting the exclusion of A. ovigerus and A. lamprocarpus as a single clade. This study also shed light on taxonomic controversies on the synonymy of A. lamprocarpus under A. ovigerus and indicated the non-monophyly of A. lycioides complex, since one accession of A. lycioides (sect. Acanthophace) united with members of A. sect. Aegacantha (resurrected as A. pseudoangustifolius). Another interesting finding was the unexpected placement of A. montis-parrowii (sect. Aegacantha) within the bulk of spiny Astragalus (Astracantha clade). The reconstructed plastid and nrDNA ITS trees showed considerable conflict in the position of several species. Biogeographical analyses indicated that sect. Acanthophace was most probably originated in western Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new tetranychine spider mites are described from Astragalus in Iran: Tetranychus neosalsolaesp. nov. and Augeriflechtmannia astragalussp. nov. The possible close relationship between the new species prompted us to review the genus AugeriflechtmanniaKoçak & Kemal, 2008—formerly DiplonychusAuger & Flechtmann, 2003. We refine the genus diagnosis and move Tetranychus armeniacaBagdasarian, 1951 and Tetranychus iraniensis Mahdavi & Ueckermann, 2013 to Augeriflechtmannia and discuss the possible synonymy of these species. The genus now comprises five species from Armenia, Iran and Tunisia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aims to explore the potential of astragalus polysaccharides (APS) in treating osteoarthritis. The primary component of APS extracted in this study was glucose, and noticeably it had a relatively high content of glucuronic acids. In vitro, APS reduced ROS levels, protected chondrocytes from apoptosis, and promoted collagen II expression by regulating ASK1 (apoptosis-signal-regulating kinase1)/p38 cell apoptosis pathway. Further co-immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence localization experiments demonstrated that the thioredoxin (TXN) antioxidant system was responsible for its bioactivity. Moreover, TXN silencing remarkably blocked the protective effects of APS, indicating that APS inhibited chondrocyte apoptosis by targeting TXN. In vivo, APS effectively mitigated cartilage loss and chondrocyte apoptosis and decreased expressions of p-ASK1 and p-p38. Collectively, this research first demonstrated that APS could ameliorate osteoarthritis by ASK1/p38 signaling pathway through regulating thioredoxin. In conclusion, APS holds promise as a nutraceutical supplement for osteoarthritis in future drug development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• 32 primary and secondary metabolites in 366 batches of AR samples were quantified. • The targeted UPLC-MS/MS analytical methods were developed and fully validated. • Classification models showed good performance (accuracy > 70 %) on independent validation set. • Fatty acids were indispensable for determining the growth mode of AR. • Amino acids were helpful in distinguishing the grade of AR. Astragali Radix (AR) is a widely used herbal medicine. The quality of AR is influenced by several key factors, including the production area, growth mode, species, and grade. However, the markers currently used to distinguish these factors primarily focus on secondary metabolites, and their validation on large-scale samples is lacking. This study aims to discover reliable markers and develop classification models for identifying the production area, growth mode, species, and grade of AR. A total of 366 batches of AR crude slices were collected from six provinces in China and divided into learning (n = 191) and validation (n = 175) sets. Three ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) methods were developed and validated for determining 22 primary and 10 secondary metabolites in AR methanol extract. Based on the quantification data, seven machine learning algorithms, such as Nearest Neighbors and Gradient Boosted Trees, were applied to screen the potential markers and build the classification models for identifying the four factors associated with AR quality. Our analysis revealed that secondary metabolites (e.g. , astragaloside IV, calycosin-7-O-β-D-glucoside, and ononin) played a crucial role in evaluating AR quality, particularly in identifying the production area and species. Additionally, fatty acids (e.g. , behenic acid and lignoceric acid) were vital in determining the growth mode of AR, while amino acids (e.g. , alanine and phenylalanine) were helpful in distinguishing different grades. With both primary and secondary metabolites, the Nearest Neighbors algorithm-based model was constructed for identifying each factor of AR, achieving good classification accuracy (>70%) on the validation set. Furthermore, a panel of four metabolites including ononin, astragaloside II, pentadecanoic acid, and alanine, allowed for simultaneous identification of all four factors of AR, offering an accuracy of 86.9%. Our findings highlight the potential of integrating large-scale targeted metabolomics and machine learning approaches to accurately identify the quality-associated factors of AR. This study opens up possibilities for enhancing the evaluation of other herbal medicines through similar methodologies, and further exploration in this area is warranted. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiment was to study the effect of Astragalus on growth performance and muscle nutritional components of I. punctatus. A total of 600 I. punctatus with the body weight of (56.40 ± 1.60) g were randomly divided into four groups (G0, G1, G2 and G3 groups), with three replicates in each group and 50 fish in each replicate. The fish were fed with different proportions of Astragalus (0, 1%, 2% and .3%), respectively. The experiment lasted for 48 d. The results showed that WGR and SGR of I. punctatus in test groups were significantly higher than those in control group (P<0.05), the fatness of I. punctatus in group G2, group G3 were significantly higher than that in control group (P<0.05). The muscle crude protein content in muscle of test groups adding Astragalus was significantly higher than that of control group (P<0.05), the crude fat content in muscle of group G2, G3 were significantly higher than that in control group (P<0.05). The experiment indicates that Astragalus can effectively improve the growth performance and muscle quality of fish by adding basic feed of I. punctatus, which is recommended to add 2% of Astragalus to achieve better results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The genus Astragalus L. has been revised in Isfahan province. In total, 202 taxa including 194 species and 8 subspecies of the genus were recognized in the province, of which 15 taxa were reported for the first time in this study for this province. These taxa were placed in 42 sections. Malacothrix with 30 species was the largest section in the province followed by Caprini with 21 species, Rhacophorus, Incani, and Microphysa with 10 species. Of the various taxa in the Isfahan province, 131 taxa were endemic for the Flora of Iran and 20 taxa were endemic for the province. In terms of life form, perennial species with simple basifixed hairs were in 25 sections and 142 taxa, perennial species with bifurcate hairs were in 9 sections and 40 taxa, and annual species were in 8 sections and 20 taxa. The genus Astragalus squarrosus from the sect. Ammodendron was officially reported for the Iranian flora as a forgotten species in related sources. Additionally, some taxonomic notes regarding some species were presented.

Background/Aims: The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of peritoneal mesothelial cells (PMCs) is a crucial event in the induction of peritoneal fibrosis (PF), in which canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling participates. Smads signaling is reported to interact with β-catenin and synergistically regulates EMT. This study was aimed to reveal the effect of Astragalus on β-catenin in EMT of PMCs. Methods: To obtain the role of β-catenin in EMT, gene transfer into HMrSV5 cell line and rats has been achieved. After Astragalus treatment, EMT markers and signaling pathway-related indicators were detected by western blotting, immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, immunoprecipitation and real time-PCR. Results: β-catenin knockdown suppressed EMT of HMrSV5 cells. Astragalus alleviated EMT of PMCs characterized by increased E-cadherin and decreased α-SMA and Vimentin. In rat model of peritoneal dialysis (PD), Astragalus attenuated peritoneal thickening and fibrosis. Astragalus down-regulated β-catenin by stabilizing the Glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β)/β-catenin complex and further inhibited the nuclear translocation of β-catenin. Meanwhile, Astragalus down-regulated β-catenin by enhancing Smad7 expression. Silencing Smad7 antagonized the EMT-inhibitory effect of Astragalus. Conclusion: Astragalus inhibits EMT of PMCs by down-regulating β-catenin. The modulation of β-catenin in peritoneum can be a novel tool to prevent PF.

The initiation pattern of the floral organs of the Astragalus species displays uniqueness at the initial stages of ontogeny. However, its most common way is unidirectional initiation, which occurs from the abaxial to the adaxial sides. The overlapping of organs and the emergence of common primordia shortens the time of development and is of an evolutionary advantage to the genus. Astragalus species are constantly evolving, and they are bestowed with unique floral ontogeny that offers various advantages to these plants to survive and adapt to changing environmental conditions. The morphological features of the floral organ production of four Astragalus species were identical in the early and middle stages of development. During the middle and the late stages, some unique features such as rolled petals, sticky keel tips, diadelphous androecium were observed. Semi-circular receptacular nectaries were found in Astragalus henryi. Comparison of the inflorescence development between A. henryi and A. membranaceus revealed that A. membranaceus formed one terminal inflorescence, which developed into a raceme while A. henryi formed a variety of terminal inflorescences, branched by racemes to form panicles. Development of common primordia and organ overlap was also observed in both Oxytropis ochrocephala and Astragalus species. However, the most significant difference was observed in the keel petals of O. ochrocephala, which developed a beak at the later stages of development. The study unravels interesting relationships between four species of Astragalus and one species of Oxytropis. Study of floral ontogeny through series of sections using various microscopic techniques provided insights into the understudied floral traits of the genera. Such studies also need to be corroborated with other empirical evidence and analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Phytochemical research was performed on Astragalus thracicus. • Five flavonoids from the Balkan Astragalu s species were obtained and identified. • A new flavonoid containing a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl group was identified. Five flavonol glycosides, including a new glutaryl-conjugated compound, were isolated from methanolic extract of the endemic Balkan species Astragalus thracicus Griseb. Based on NMR and MS spectra, one new compound was identified as kaempferol 3- O -[β-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-α-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→6)-(2"-3-hydroxy-3-methylgutaroyl)-β-galactopyranoside)] (1). The other compounds, all known, were identified as mauritianin (2), kaempferol-3- O -α- l -rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-galactopyranoside (3), kaempferol-3- O -β-apiofuranosyl-(1→2)-β-galactopyranoside (4), and quercetin-3- O -β-apiofuranosyl-(1→2)-β-galactopyranoside (5). All of them, except 2 , were found for the first time in a representative of genus Astragalus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immunostimulating plants contain substances capable of activating and enhancing the activity of the systemic and local immune system. The most important rule during natural immunostimulation is regular and longterm use of the selected preparation. The influence on the immune system is difficult and requires a sufficient amount of time. The selected preparation does not always bring the expected results. Some plants increase the body's resistance to infections, and at the same time inhibit the overactive immune system and pro-inflammatory processes. Ready-made, standardized plant preparations are available on the market, capable of increasing resistance to infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Astragalus hamosus and Astragalus corniculatus were examined for the presence of flavoalkaloids, acylated and highly glycosylated flavonoids. Non-purified extracts of the overground parts of the species were subjected to ultra-high performance liquid chromatography – high resolution electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRESIMS) analysis and the results were compared to authentic reference substances. A flavoalkaloid of kaempferol was newly identified in an extract of A. hamosus. In addition, three compounds – quercetin and kaempferol flavonoids, acylated with hydroxymethylglutaric acid and alcesefoliside, were found in extracts of A. hamosus and A. corniculatus for the first time [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five Astragalus species (A. cicer, A. falcatus, A. galegiformis, A. glycyphyllos, and A. ponticus) grown at the M.M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine were investigated. Plant raw material was collected at different ontogenetic stages, including budding, flowering, and fruiting. After that, the content of ash, calcium, phosphorus, nitrogen, and photosynthetic pigments was analyzed and statistically processed. The content of ash varied from 3.12 to 5.22 %, calcium – from 0.31 to 0.91 %, phosphorus – from 0.07 to 0.14 %, and nitrogen – from 1.93 to 2.48 % depending on the stage of growth. The content of chlorophyll a varied from 0.901 to 2.475 mg/g FW (fresh weight), chlorophyll b – from 0.190 to 0.676 mg/g FW, and carotenoids – from 0.496 to 1.129 mg/g FW. Thus, the accumulation of ash and its components in the raw material of the investigated species depended on the period of growth and certain species. Content of photosynthetic pigments correlated with the content of phosphorus (r = 0.887–0.999) and with plant increment (r = 0.756–0.998) for all investigated species. Obtained data can be applied to analyze productivity and during the cultivation of these plants.

This study investigates Astragalus's efficacy as a novel therapeutic option for primary liver cancer (PLC), capitalizing on its anti-inflammatory and antiviral effects. We utilized network pharmacology to unveil Astragalus's potential targets against PLC, revealing significant gene expression alterations in treated samples-20 genes were up-regulated, and 20 were down-regulated compared to controls. Our analysis extended to single-cell resolution, where we processed scRNA-seq data to discern 15 unique cell clusters within the immune, malignant, and stromal compartments through advanced algorithms like UMAP and tSNE. To delve deeper into the functional implications of these gene expression changes, we conducted comprehensive gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analyses, alongside Gene Set Variation Analysis, to elucidate the biological processes and pathways involved. Further, we constructed protein-protein interaction networks to visualize the intricate molecular interplay, highlighting the down-regulation of MT1E in PLC cells, a finding corroborated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Molecular docking studies affirmed the potent interaction between Astragalus's active compounds and MT proteins, underscoring a targeted therapeutic mechanism. Our investigation also encompassed a detailed cellular landscape analysis, identifying nine cell subgroups related to MT1 expression and specifying five cell subsets through the SingleR package. Advanced trajectory and cell-cell interaction analyses offered deeper insights into the dynamics of MT1-associated cellular subpopulations. This comprehensive methodology not only underpins Astragalus's promising role in PLC treatment but also advances our understanding of its molecular and cellular mechanisms, paving the way for targeted therapeutic strategies., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Purpose: Astragalus-cultivated soils are enriched in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF); however, the community changes of AMF between years in stragalus-cultivated soils are still unclear., Methods: To illustrate this, using high-throughput amplicon sequencing and quantitative real-time PCR, we analyzed the AMF communities of the abandoned farmlands and interannual astragalus-cultivated soils for 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-years, including community composition, dominant, core, specific and significantly fluctuating AMF, co-occurrence network, alpha diversity, and beta diversity., Results: A total of 74 OTUs were classified into one phylum, Glomeromycota; one class, Glomeromycetes; four orders; four families; and six genera. The 2-year soil had the highest number of reads among the interannual soils. Only one OTU was shared among all interannual soils. The treatments significantly affected the Ace, Shannoneven, and Shannon estimators of the communities. The 2-year soil had the highest richness, evenness, and diversity among all interannual soils and was the closest to the abandoned farmland in terms of alpha diversity. Glomus of the family Glomeraceae was the dominant genus present in all treatments, and the composition of the dominant genus in interannual soils was different. Both Glomus and Diversispora were the core AMF in interannual soils, and specific AMF existed in different interannual soils. Glomus is a genus that exhibits significant interannual variation. The interannual time significantly affected the network connectivity. The results of the principal coordinate analysis showed that the community composition of the interannual soils was close to each other and separated from the abandoned farmland, and that the interannual time significantly affected the community composition., Conclusion: Among the interannual soils, the 2-year soil may be more suitable for A. sinensis seedling rotation., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 An, Shang, Cui, Huang, Wu and Li.)

Astragalus aybarsii H. Duman & Aytaç (Fabaceae) is described and illustrated as a new species from Kastamonu province (Turkey). The new species grows in open areas of Pinus brutia Ten. forests. Diagnostic and morphological charactersof the new species are compared with its close relatives, A. setulosus Boiss. & Balansa and A. eubrychioides Boiss. Also, some notes on the ecology, biogeography, conservation status and the pollen morphological and leaflet micromorphological features of the new species are presented. The geographical distribution of this new species and its allied species is mapped. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The composition and biological value of honey vary depending on its producing flora. The botanical, chemical and biological active properties of honey determine the geographical authenticity of the honey. In this study, geographic fingerprints of thirty Astragalus (Astragalus microcephalus Willd.) honeys from Erzincan region were investigated. The honey consists of Astragalus pollen more than 65% and others were Salix spp., Cistaceae, Trifolium spp., Thymus spp, Rosaceae, Papaveraceae, Onobrychis spp. etc. The characteristic color of the analyzed honeys was bright/light yellow, Hunter color values (L, a, b) were found to be as L: 72-78, a: 7-16 and b: 58-78, respectively. Total polyphenol content of the honeys was 38.20±4.60 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/100 g, it was found to be rich in some phenolics such as chrysin, caffeic acid phenyl ester, myricetin, pinocembrin, luteolin, and gallic acid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]