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Reinforcing imperiled plant populations with transplanted individuals is a conservation tool that is increasingly used to counter the negative effects of land use change and habitat fragmentation. A reinforcement project's success is dependent on the survival of planted individuals and the support of the extant population's growth; thus, demographic comparisons of planted and extant individuals within the same population are critical to quantify success. We assessed long‐term demographic data from planted (9 years) and extant (7 years) individuals of a rare perennial herb, Astragalus applegatei, to quantify the success of a reinforcement project. We compared cumulative survival among extant and planted cohorts and constructed generalized mixed‐effect models to understand how age affected survival, flowering, and plant size of both planted and extant individuals. Overall, 9.7% of planted individuals survived after 9–11 years. Although young planted individuals had higher flowering percentages than extant individuals, our models for survival, flowering, and plant size were similar in planted and extant individuals as they aged. Cumulative survival curves among planted cohorts varied while they were similar among extant cohorts. Furthermore, there was evidence of recruitment by planted individuals, an essential benchmark of successful translocation projects. Combined, these results suggest that reinforcement can be a successful conservation tool for A. applegatei under the right conditions and may be used to inform conservation strategies for other imperiled herbaceous perennials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: Astragaloside IV is a significant chemical component derived from the medicinal plant Astragalus membranaceus. Despite the characterization of several glycosyltransferases from A. membranaceus, the complete biosynthetic pathway of astragaloside IV has not been fully elucidated. In this study, we propose a biosynthetic pathway for astragaloside IV that involves a sequence of oxidation–reduction reactions. The biosynthesis pathway from cycloastragenol to astragaloside IV encompasses four key steps: C‐3 oxidation, 6‐O‐glucosylation, C‐3 reduction, and 3‐O‐xylosylation. We identified a hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase AmHSD1 from A. membranaceus. AmHSD1 catalyzes the C‐3 oxidation of cycloastragenol, yielding cycloastragenol‐3‐one, and the C‐3 reduction of cycloastragenol‐3‐one‐6‐O‐glucoside, resulting in cycloastragenol‐6‐O‐glucoside. Additionally, the glycosyltransferases AmGT8 and AmGT1, previously reported by our groups, were identified as catalyzing the 6‐O‐glucosylation and 3‐O‐xylosylation steps, respectively. Astragaloside IV was successfully synthesized in transient expression in Nicotiana benthamiana using the combination of AmHSD1, AmGT8 and AmGT1. These results support the proposed four‐step biosynthetic pathway and suggest that AmHSD1 probably plays a crucial role in the biosynthesis of astragaloside IV within A. membranaceus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Astragali radix (AR) is one of the most widely used traditional Chinese herbal medicines. It exhibits diverse biological activities, including immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties; however, some of its activities have only been demonstrated in vitro. Objective: To examine the effects of orally administered AR extract on immune cells and the intestine under physiological conditions, which bridges the gap between previously observed in vitro outcomes and in vivo results. Methods: AR extract was prepared by hot water extraction. Three separate animal experiments were conducted to isolate macrophages, splenocytes, and the small intestine epithelium. For the macrophage preparation experiment, an intraperitoneal injection of sterile thioglycolate was administered. The mice received oral AR extract at doses of 0.1, 0.5, or 2.5 g/kg for ten days. At the end of each experiment, cells or tissues were isolated. A portion of macrophages and splenocytes were analyzed for the phenotypic changes. The remaining cells were cultured and stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or mitogen ex vivo to assess activation status, proliferation, and cytokine production. Samples of the intestine were subjected to real-time RT-PCR. Results: Peritoneal macrophages from AR-treated mice exhibited increased expression of scavenger receptors, including SRA and CD36. Stimulation of these macrophages ex vivo with LPS selectively modulated the inflammatory response, including reduced expression of the costimulatory molecules CD40 and CD86, which are important for T cell responses, without affecting TNF-α and IL-6 production. Splenocytes from AR-treated mice exhibited a dose-dependent increase in CD4 and CD8 T cells; however, stimulation with mitogen decreased T cell proliferation and reduced IFN-γ production, which is essential for macrophage activation. An analysis of the small intestinal epithelium revealed an attenuated antimicrobial response, including reduced IgA content in the lumen and decreased expression of mucin-2 and polymeric Ig receptor genes. Conclusion: The response of immune cells following oral treatment with AR extract did not replicate the previously documented in vitro findings. Immune cells and intestinal epithelium from mice administered oral AR extract exhibited a selective anti-inflammatory phenotype. The overall findings indicate that the systemic effects after oral administration of AR extract include reduced sensitivity to inflammatory insults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Legumes are notorious for coevolutionary arms races where chemical defenses are employed to ward off herbivores—particularly insect seed predators. Locoweeds are legumes containing the toxic alkaloid swainsonine which can poison livestock, but its role as a deterrent for insects is unknown. Swainsonine is produced by the fungal endophyte Alternaria section Undifilum, and the chemical composition of the toxin has been well characterized. Despite this knowledge, the ecological roles and evolutionary drivers of swainsonine toxins in locoweeds remain uncertain. Here, we quantify swainsonine concentrations and herbivory levels in the hyper-diverse locoweed Astragalus lentiginosus to evaluate its role as an evolved chemical defense. We found that A. lentiginosus shows considerable variation in swainsonine concentrations according to variety, in particular showing presence/absence variation at both population and local geographic scales. Surprisingly, herbivory levels from presumed generalist insects emerging from fruits showed no correlation with swainsonine concentrations. Conversely, seed and fruit herbivory levels linked to specialist Acanthoscelides seed beetles increased with concentrations of swainsonine—suggesting a possible coevolutionary arms race. Our results highlight that variation in endophyte-produced toxin systems may not follow classical expectations for geographic variation and ecological roles of plant chemicals. We discuss the implications of these results on plant-endophytic toxin systems and coevolutionary dynamics more broadly, highlighting a considerable need for more research in these systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Brucellosis is an important zoonosis worldwide, affecting humans and animals. There are no specific medicines available to treat brucellosis. Astragalus polysaccharide (APS) is derived from Astragalus membranaceus and exhibits impressive bioactivity, including anti-aging, anti-tumor, and immunomodulatory functions. Methods: Mice were intraperitoneally inoculated with Brucella melitensis M5 and then treated with APS intraperitoneally injection daily for 7 d. Results: Compared to the M5-infected group, the lower bacteria loads in the APS-treated groups were proved, especially at the acute stage of infection. APS treatment relieved splenomegaly, excess expressions of several pro-inflammatory cytokines (including CXCL1, IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-12p70, and TNF-α). The raised level of IL-4 was observed in APS-treated mice. APS contributed to raising the ratio of M1 macrophage and reducing the ratio of M2 macrophage in the blood. Discussion: The present study provides some evidence on the potential application of APS in controlling and treating brucellosis and should be further explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Food Research & Development is the property of Food Research & Development Editorial Department 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.)

[Objectives] This paper aimed to clarify the change of nutrient content in Leguminous green manure crops and its impact on soil fertility with none extra chemical fertilizer. [Methods] The experiments were conducted to study the growth and development of four Leguminous green manure crops from October 2021 to May 2022 in field. They were Chinese milk vetch(Astragalus sinicus L.), hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth.), broad bean (Vicia faba L.) and common vetch (Vicia sativa L.), respectively. The nutrient contents of nitrogen(N), phosphorus(P)and potassium (K) in green manure crops as well as the soil nutrient content were measured. [Results] The changes in N, P, K nutrient content of different Leguminous green manure crops during the seedling stage and later growth stage were similar. Four Leguminous green manure crops had significantly higher nutrient content at the later growth stage than at the seedling stage, with biomass of dry weight of over 1800 kg·hm-2, making them suitable for flipping. In later growth period, the total N content (3.34%) and total P content (0.29%) of hairy vetch were significantly higher than the others, while the total K content of Chinese milk vetch (3.58%) was the highest and the difference displayed a significant level. The accumulation of N, P and K nutrients in Chinese milk vetch and hairy vetch was relatively high, while that in broad bean and common vetch was relatively low. The pH value of soil did not change with green manure application. After growing Leguminous green manure, the organic carbon content in soil as well as total N, available P and available K contents increased, with a range of 2.71%-29.50%. Among them, the application of Chinese milk vetch to the field could significantly improve soil fertility, and the organic carbon, total N, available P and available K contents increased by 4.04%, 3.40%, 29.50% and 8.22% compared to fallow cultivation, respectively. [Conclusions] Under the condition of disappeared application of chemical fertilizer, Chinese milk vetch was conducive to improving soil fertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Oxytropis DC is a perennial plant of Fabaceae family, which is widely distributed in the northern temperate zone. It is known as "locoweed" because of its toxic component swainsonine. However, it is widely used in Tibetan medicine and Mongolian medicine, mainly for the treatment of heat-clearing and detoxifying, pain-relieving, anti-inflammatory, hemostasis, and other diseases. To provide a basis for the further development and utilization of Oxytropis DC, the pieces of literature about the application, phytochemistry, pharmacological action, and toxicity of Oxytropis DC were reviewed and analyzed. Key findings: A total of 373 chemical constituents were found from Oxytropis DC, including flavonoids, alkaloids, steroids, terpenoids, and others. Pharmacological actions mainly include antitumor, antioxidation, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antibacterial, antifibrosis, and other pharmacological actions, among them, the antitumor effect is particularly prominent. Summary: At present, studies on its pharmacological effects are mainly concentrated on the extracts, some flavonoids, and alkaloids. In the follow-up studies, research on the pharmacological activities of the other chemical constituents in Oxytropis should be strengthened. It has the potential to pave the way for research and development of novel Oxytropis medicines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice is a staple food crop that feeds billions globally. Addressing Zn deficiency in rice is crucial for improving nutrition and food security. Zn deficiency in rice is a widespread issue, especially in purple tidal mud substrates, which often exhibit low Zn availability. The objective of this two-year pot study was to explore the relationship between Zn content, yield components, and Zn absorption in rice grown in purple tidal mud substrate with varying amounts of Chinese milk vetch (Astragalus sinicus L.) incorporation. The experimental design consisted of seven treatments: an unfertilized control, a Chinese milk vetch control, a chemical fertilizer control, and four treatment variations incorporating Chinese milk vetch alongside chemical fertilizer applications. The results indicated that planting and applying Chinese milk vetch improved the grain yield of rice in purple tidal mud substrate, and the yield increased with higher levels of Chinese milk vetch applied. The increased grain yield resulted in higher Zn absorption in rice grains. The application of Chinese milk vetch, both solely and in combination with chemical fertilizers, had varying effects on zinc uptake and grain zinc formation efficiency in early and late rice, with the control and low-level Chinese milk vetch treatments generally exhibiting the highest performance across the two-year period. By introducing Chinese milkvetch following the use of chemical fertilizers, the Zn content in rice grains increased starting from the second year. The treatment with Chinese milkvetch applied at a rate of 2.25 t/hm2 showed the best results in increasing the Zn content in rice grains. The increase in Zn content and Zn uptake by the rice plants gave rise to a lowering of the DTPA-extractable Zn content in the purple tidal mud substrate. Sole Chinese milk vetch application and using Chinese milk vetch following chemical fertilizer application both increased Zn content extracted by DTPA in purple tidal mud substrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alternaria gansuensis, a seed-borne fungus of standing milkvetch (Astragalus adsurgens), is the most common pathogen of this plant species and causes yellow stunt and root rot. Although plant resistance to this disease has been identified, a better understanding of the nature of this resistance will help improve and optimize its implementation in standing milkvetch. The effects of A. gansuensis on the physiology of standing milkvetch were assessed in a 4-week study comparing a resistant plant variety, Shanxi, and a susceptible variety, Ningxia. In the first week, there was an obvious decrease in photosynthesis (P) in inoculated plants, especially in the susceptible variety, but there were no changes in stomatal conductance (Sc). From the second week on, P and Sc decreased progressively, and significant stem lesions were observed concomitantly. Water use efficiency (WUE) increased slightly in the second week but then decreased significantly from the third week. Physiological changes observed for the resistant variety of standing milkvetch were less dramatic than those of the susceptible variety. Hyphae were observed around inoculation lesions of the plants. Culture filtrate (CF) of A. gansuensis induced changes in extracellular pH and conductivity, especially in the susceptible variety samples. Tissue integrity changes in the plants correlated with the decrease in P. Secondary metabolite compounds were extracted from the plants and 21 types of compounds were identified. The composition and proportion of secondary metabolites were markedly altered by the pathogen, and these differences may indicate potential mechanisms of disease resistance to A. gansuensis in standing milkvetch. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antimony (Sb) toxicity is a serious concern across the globe due to its hazardous impacts on plants and living organisms. The co-application of Chinese milk vetch (CMV) and biochar (BC) is a common agricultural practice, however, the effects of combined CMV and BC in mitigating Sb toxicity and bio-availability remain unclear. Therefore, this study investigated the impacts of CMV, rape straw biochar (RBC), and iron-modified biochar (FMB) and their combinations on rice productivity, physiological, and biochemical functioning of rice and Sb availability. Antimony toxicity caused a marked reduction in rice growth and productivity by decreasing chlorophyll, and anthocyanin synthesis, leaf water contents, osmolyte synthesis and antioxidant activities while, increasing hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), electrolyte leakage (EL), and malondialdehyde (MDA) production and Sb accumulation. Co-application of CMV and FMB increased biomass (29.50%) and grain yield (51.07%) of rice by increasing chlorophyll, and anthocyanin synthesis, leaf water contents, osmolyte synthesis, antioxidant activities, and decreasing production of H2O2, EL, and MDA and Sb accumulation in roots (90.41%) and shoots (96.38%). Furthermore, the combined addition of CMV and FMB also reduced the soil available Sb by 75.57% which resulted in less accumulation of Sb in plant parts and improved growth and yield. Given these facts, these findings indicate that co-application of CMV and FMB is a promising approach to remediate Sb-polluted soils and improve sustainable and safer rice productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herpesviral hematopoietic necrosis disease caused by cyprinid herpesvirus 2 (CyHV-2) results in huge economic losses for the gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio) aquaculture industry. A vaccination strategy is a feasible method to prevent CyHV-2 infection and the resulting economic losses. In this study, inactivators (including β-propiolactone, formaldehyde and binary ethylenimine) were used to prepare an inactivated vaccine. The optimal inactivated CyHV-2 vaccine (0.2% β-propiolactone inactivates CyHV-2 for 48 h) mixed with β-glucan, anisodamine, chitosan, and astragalus polysaccharide (APS) adjuvants were injected into gibel carp. The β-glucan and APS combined with inactivated vaccine significantly improved the relative immune protection rate of gibel carp against CyHV-2 infection. The highest specific antibody levels in β-glucan and APS groups were found in serum by ELISA assay and antibody neutralization titer. Furthermore, adjuvant addition groups produced better results for lysozyme, total superoxide dismutase, and complement C3 in serum. β-glucan and APS combined with vaccine treatment effectively enhanced mRNA expressions of important immune genes (IL-1β, IgM, IL-2 and IFN-γ2). Minimal tissue lesions (gill, spleen, and head kidney) and virus replication were seen in the β-glucan and APS groups by histopathological examination and expression analysis of CyHV-2 TK gene. These results indicated that the combination of inactivated vaccine and adjuvant β-glucan or APS is an effective method against CyHV-2 infection and provided a case study reference for prevention of fish viral diseases using inactivated vaccines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Science & Technology of Food Industry is the property of Science & Technology of Food Industry Editorial Office 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.)

The third largest angiosperm family, Leguminosae, displays a broad range of reproductive strategies and has an exceptional practical value. Whereas annual legume species are mostly planted as crops, there is a significant interest in breeding and cultivating perennials. It is therefore of importance to compare reproductive traits, their interactions and the resulting productivity between related annual and perennial species. Two highly variable taxa were chosen for this purpose, the Fabeae tribe, including numerous temperate crops, and the largest angiosperm 'megagenus' Astragalus. A dataset of quantitative reproductive traits was composed of both originally obtained and previously published data. As a result of statistical analysis, we found that perennials in both groups tend to produce more flowers per axillary racemose inflorescence as well as more ovules per carpel. Perennial Astragalus also have larger flowers. Only a part of the developing flowers and ovules gives rise to mature pods and seeds. This difference is especially pronounced in small populations of rare and threatened perennials. Numerous reasons underlie the gap between potential and real productivity, which may be potentially bridged in optimal growing conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mine pollution causes a serious impact on the ecological environment surrounding the mine site. It provides great theoretical value to explore the effects of planting different plants on soil characteristics and bacterial community structure around the mine site for vegetation restoration. In this study, we mainly assessed the rhizosphere bacterial community structure and diversity of wheat and Chinese milk vetch seedlings in copper tailings by 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing and also soil properties. The results showed that planting wheat and Chinese milk vetch seedlings led to a decrease in soil pH, but both could increase the content of total nitrogen, organic matter, and available nitrogen in the rhizosphere soil, as well as enhance the activities of urease and alkaline protease. In addition, a total of 1,133,919 active sequences and 13,199 operational taxonomic units were obtained. The microorganisms in the substrate samples belong to 34 phyla and 81 classes, Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria and Actinobacteria were the top three dominant group. In general, Chinese milk vetch or wheat enriched the diversity of bacterial community in rhizosphere soil, the results showed that the number of rhizosphere bacteria in Chinese milk vetch was higher than that in wheat. The structure of the rhizosphere bacterial community of wheat and Chinese milk vetch seedling was similar, but the bacterial abundance was different. Mantel tests showed that Chao index significantly correlated with ammonium nitrogen. These results not only expand our understanding of rhizosphere bacteriomes but also provide theoretical basis for improving the soil quality of industrial and crop yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study utilizes a lab-developed pneumatic-extrusion condensing 3D food printer to prepare astragalus–starch mixed gels by blending different ratios of astragalus polysaccharide and wheat starch and applies these gels to 3D printing experiments. The aim of this paper is to investigate the impacts of mixed-gel concentrations on printing outcomes in order to identify the optimal blending ratio. Under this rationale, the effects of printing layer height and nozzle diameter on print quality were studied. Single-factor analysis and response surface methodology were employed to optimize the experiments and determine the optimal printing process parameters for the astragalus–starch mixed gels. The results indicate that an increase in astragalus polysaccharide content leads to a decrease in the sedimentation rate of the mixed gels and a tendency towards a more fluid consistency. After storage of samples in a sealed space for equal durations, it was found that an increase in astragalus polysaccharide content enhances the textural properties of the mixed gels, with optimal printing effects achieved at a 2% polysaccharide content. The optimal print quality is achieved when the ratio of nozzle diameter to layer height is between 0.5 and 0.55. The influence order of printing process parameters on the overall completion rate of the samples is nozzle diameter > printing speed > fill rate. The predicted optimal printing parameters are a nozzle diameter of 0.6 mm, a printing speed of 767 mm/min, and a fill rate of 83%, with a predicted overall completion rate of the printed samples at 99.45%. Experimental validation revealed an actual overall completion rate of the printed samples at 99.52%, slightly higher than the predicted value. This discrepancy was attributed to the precision of the measurement methods and the variability in the printing process. The study demonstrates that the addition of astragalus polysaccharide significantly improves the 3D printing molding effect of wheat starch, and the printing parameter settings obtained by response surface optimization effectively enhance printing accuracy. This research provides experimental evidence and parameter optimization references for the application of non-starch polysaccharides in starch-based 3D food printing. [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: Astragalus cicer L. is a perennial rhizomatous legume forage known for its quality, high biomass yield, and strong tolerance to saline-alkaline soils. Soil salinization is a widespread environmental pressure. To use A. cicer L. more scientifically and environmentally in agriculture and ecosystems, it is highly important to study the molecular response mechanism of A. cicer L. to salt stress. Results: In this study, we used RNA-seq technology and weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) were performed. The results showed 4 key modules were closely related to the physiological response of A. cicer. L. to salt stress. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of key modules were mapped into the KEGG database, and found that the most abundant pathways were the plant hormone signal transduction pathway and carbon metabolism pathway. The potential regulatory networks of the cytokinin signal transduction pathway, the ethylene signal transduction pathway, and carbon metabolism related pathways were constructed according to the expression pathways of the DEGs. Seven hub genes in the key modules were selected and distributed among these pathways. They may involved in the positive regulation of cytokinin signaling and carbon metabolism in plant leaves, but limited the positive expression of ethylene signaling. Thus endowing the plant with salt tolerance in the early stage of salt stress. Conclusions: Based on the phenotypic and physiological responses of A. cicer L. to salt stress, this study constructed the gene coexpression network of potential regulation to salt stress in key modules, which provided a new reference for exploring the response mechanism of legumes to abiotic stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: cultivated and wild plants are used to treat different ailments. The Astragalus genus is found in temperate and dry climates; thus, it is found in Egypt and the arab world. Astragalus caprinus has a good amount of bioactive chemicals, which may help explain its therapeutic effects in reducing the risk of consequences from disease. Method: The phytochemical investigation of the herb and roots of Astragalus caprinus L. included the analytical characterization for the petroleum ether components by GC/MS, unsaponifiable matter (unsap. fraction), and fatty acids (FAME) investigation by GLC analysis. Main flavonoids were chromatographically isolated from ethyl acetate and n-butanol extracts. In vitro antimicrobial activity has been tested against the Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus mutans for different plant extracts, the Gram-negative bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumonia, the fungus Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger, and the Escherichia coli bacterium. Metabolite cytotoxicity was examined using the MTT assay against HepG-2 (human liver carcinoma) and MCF-7 (breast carcinoma). Results: Identifying the important components of the herb and root petroleum ether extracts was achieved. Using column chromatography, luteolin, cosmosiin (apigenin-7-O-glucoside), and cynaroside (luteolin-7-O-glucoside) were separated and identified using UV, NMR, and Mass Spectroscopy. Root extracts displayed potential antimicrobial activity against most of the tested pathogens. Both extracts (herb and roots) were active against the MCF-7 cell line and HepG-2 cell line with IC50 62.5 ± 0.64 and 72.4 ± 2.3 µg/ml, and 75.9 ± 2.5 and 96.8 ± 4.2 µg/ml, respectively. Conclusion: Astragalus caprinus seems to be a promising source of bioactive compounds that could potentially aid in preventing disease complications and address common health issues in developing countries. Moreover, the various parts of this plant could be utilized as natural raw materials for producing health-boosting products that could address common health issues in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This comprehensive review was carried out to integrate all the data published in the electronic databases (Scopus, etc.) over the past two decades about the distribution, phytochemistry, ethnopharmacology, and pharmacology of Astragalus L. Although Astragalus is one of the largest genera of flowering plants in Iran, limited phytochemical screening of this genus has been reported. Cycloartane triterpene glycosides, labdane diterpenoids, flavonoids, and polysaccharides are the major identified compounds. Pharmacological studies revealed significant properties such as anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antidiabetic, etc. Moreover, ethnopharmacological studies of Astragalus sp. showed that this genus is used for gastrointestinal, fractures, joint pains, and skin problems in different localities of Iran. Tragacanth gum, as the main product of some Astragalus sp. with economic value, shows proper biological activities and uses as an emulsifier in food industries. This review might be helpful for researchers to find new chemical entities responsible for its claimed traditional uses and food supplements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Astragalus polysaccharide is one of the most extensively studied traditional Chinese medicinal polysaccharides because of its immunomodulatory activity and has attracted considerable attention. Existing evidence suggests that its potential immunomodulatory mechanism is related to the modulation of intestinal microbiota. However, current research methods on the gut microbiota mainly focus on 16S rRNA sequencing, providing limited evidence of specific changes in functional bacterial groups in the intestine. Butyrate is a class of short‐chain fatty acids among the microbial metabolites in the gut and is most closely associated with immunomodulatory activity. Thus, in this study, we extracted and purified a polysaccharide from astragalus composed of a main chain of →4)‐α‐D‐Glcp‐(1 → and →4,6)‐α‐D‐Glcp‐(1→, with side chains of →6)‐α‐D‐Glcp‐(1→ and aggregated arabinose, and investigated the changes in butyrate‐producing bacterial groups in mice during the immunomodulation process of astragalus polysaccharide, using two butyrate‐producing bacterial‐specific primers. The results showed that oral administration of astragalus polysaccharide significantly increased butyrate production in the mouse intestine, restoring the disrupted butyrate‐producing bacterial abundance and diversity caused by immunosuppression. In conclusion, our study provides the first evidence of the targeted modulation of the butyrate‐producing gut microbiota by astragalus polysaccharide, offering insights into its pharmacological activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Astragaloside IV (AS-IV), a natural triterpenoid isolated from Astragalus membranaceus, has been used traditionally in Chinese medicine. Previous studies have highlighted its benefits against carcinoma, but its interaction with the gut microbiota and effects on adenomatous polyps are not well understood. This present study investigates the effects of AS-IV on colonic adenomatous polyp (CAP) development in high-fat-diet (HFD) fed A p c Min ∕ + mice. A p c Min ∕ + mice were fed an HFD with or without AS-IV or Naringin for 8 weeks. The study assessed CAP proliferation and employed 16S DNA-sequencing and untargeted metabolomics to explore correlations between microbiome and metabolome in CAP development. AS-IV was more effective than Naringin in reducing CAP development, inhibiting colonic proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α), tumor associated biomarkers (c-Myc, Cyclin D1), and Wnt/β-catenin pathway proteins (Wnt3a, β-catenin). AS-IV also inhibited the proliferative capabilities of human colon cancer cells (HT29, HCT116, and SW620). Multiomics analysis revealed AS-IV increased the abundance of beneficial genera such as Bifidobacteriumpseudolongum and significantly modulated serum levels of certain metabolites including linoleate and 2-trans,6-trans-farnesal, which were significantly correlated with the number of CAP. Finally, the anti-adenoma efficacy of AS-IV alone was significantly suppressed post pseudoaseptic intervention in HFD-fed A p c Min ∕ + mice but could be reinstated following a combined with Bifidobacteriumpseudolongum transplant. AS-IV attenuates CAP development in HFD-fed A p c Min ∕ + mice by regulating gut microbiota and metabolomics, impacting the Wnt3a/β-catenin signaling pathway. This suggests a potential new strategy for the prevention of colorectal cancer, emphasizing the role of gut microbiota in AS-IV's antitumor effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Astragalus membranaceus Mongholicus (Astragalus) is one of the most widely used medicinal plants in the world. It is a traditional Chinese medicine plant that has been used to treat various human diseases and conditions, such as inflammation, gastrointestinal bacterial infections and malignant tumors. With the expansion of artificial planting areas, the demand for high-quality Astragalus seedlings is also increasing. The traditional seedling-raising methods of direct seeding and induced callus have problems such as a long growth period, unstable genetic traits, strict sampling and rooting difficulties. Therefore, it is very important to multiply the excellent germplasm by optimizing the tissue culture regeneration system. Methods: In this study, Astragalus field cultivated plants, which are easily available, were used as materials and the method of tissue culture cuttings was used to select the direct inoculation method of stem segments as explant materials to establish a plant regeneration system of Astragalus and the best sampling period, sampling site and optimal medium for regeneration of field cultivated plants were screened. Result: The best sampling period for plant regeneration of Astragalus in the field was about 40 d after the emergence of the 3-yearold Astragalus and the rooting rate of the regenerated plants was 100.00%. The best sampling site is the middle section of the stem and the regeneration system using the middle section of the stem as the explant is better than using the top and bottom of the stem as the explant and the rooting rate of the regenerated plants is 100.00%; the best medium for the regenerated plants is N22: 1/2MS+1 mg/L NAA and T28: 1/2MS+1 mg/L ABT, the rooting rates were 76.67% and 96.67%, respectively. The regenerated plants established with the stems of the field cultivated plants of Astragalus as explants were all able to induce seedlings after 1 week and the regenerated seedlings start to take root after 3 weeks of growth and can be transplanted and propagated after 6 weeks of culture. The regeneration system established in this study by direct cuttings from cultivated Astragalus stems is more rapid and efficient, breaking through the difficulties of limited access to material and long growth period of regenerated seedlings in the traditional regeneration system and providing technical support for the conservation and utilization of wild resources of Astragalus and rapid expansion of new varieties and germplasm conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have shown that astragalus may inhibit lung cancer, but its anticancer components and molecular mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to identify the primary active components and targets of astragalus against lung cancer through a comprehensive search in authoritative databases. Subsequently, protein--protein interaction, gene ontology, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses, and correlation analysis of key targets with lung cancer were performed, and their binding activity was evaluated by molecular docking simulation. The main active components of astragalus against lung cancer were identified as jaranol, quercetin, kaempferol, isomucronulatol, isorhamnetin, methylnissolin, 3,9-di-O-methylnissolin, and 7-O-methylisomucronulatol, which involved seven key targets (CYP19A1, EGFR, SRC, PIK3CA, ABL1, CDK4, and CDK6) and PI3K/AKT-signaling pathway. Further results showed that kaempferol and quercetin had a high binding activity with CDK6 and methylnissolin with PIK3CA. Also, the overexpression of CDK6 and PIK3CA was associated with poor prognosis in lung cancer patients. This study has systematically elucidated the correlation between "astragalus-targets-signaling pathway-lung cancer": kaempferol, methylkinisoline, and quercetin in astragalus may inhibit lung cancer through CDK6-PI3K/AKT-signaling pathway. These compounds are expected to be potential candidates for natural small-molecule anticancer drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Astragalus L. is one of the largest genera, including over 3000 taxa worldwide. In the present study, we found two new records of A. teskhemicus Sytin and Shaulo and A. testiculatus Pall. in western Mongolia. We provided a morphological revision and DNA barcoding (ITS) of two new records along with that of the most similar Astragalus species including A. ammodytes Pall., A.gubanovii N. Ulziykh., A. hypogaeus Ledeb., A. junatovii Sanchir. Furthermore, we made detailed photo illustrations and wild photos for new records and four species based on our field observations, respectively. The general distribution, taxonomic notes, type information, habitats, and species examined are given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Astragalus is a widely used traditional Chinese medicine material that is easily confused due to its quality, price and other factors derived from different origins. This article describes a novel method for the rapid tracing and detection of Astragalus via the joint application of an electronic tongue (ET) and an electronic eye (EE) combined with a lightweight convoluted neural network (CNN)–transformer model. First, ET and EE systems were employed to measure the taste fingerprints and appearance images, respectively, of different Astragalus samples. Three spectral transform methods – the Markov transition field, short‐time Fourier transform and recurrence plot – were utilized to convert the ET signals into 2D spectrograms. Then, the obtained ET spectrograms were fused with the EE image to obtain multimodal information. A lightweight hybrid model, termed GETNet, was designed to achieve pattern recognition for the Astragalus fusion information. The proposed model employed an improved transformer module and an improved Ghost bottleneck as its backbone network, complementarily utilizing the benefits of CNN and transformer architectures for local and global feature representation. Furthermore, the Ghost bottleneck was further optimized using a channel attention technique, which boosted the model's feature extraction effectiveness. RESULTS: The experiments indicate that the proposed data fusion strategy based on ET and EE devices has better recognition accuracy than that attained with independent sensing devices. CONCLUSION: The proposed method achieved high precision (99.1%) and recall (99.1%) values, providing a novel approach for rapidly identifying the origin of Astragalus, and it holds great promise for applications involving other types of Chinese herbal medicines. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A sensitive UPLC-HRMS method was developed and validated for simultaneous quantification of four active flavonoids from Chimonanthus nitens Leaf Granules (CNLG) in biological matrix. The method was utilized in pharmacokinetic study of the four flavonoids in rats as well as other evaluation assays in vitro. It was revealed that rutin, nicotiflorin, and astragalin had poor oral bioavailability in rats possibly due to low intestinal permeability and metabolism in intestinal flora. Kaempferol underwent rapid glucuronidation and sulphation in rat plasma with medium permeability coefficient. The results provided valuable data for future research and development of CNLG flavonoids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of drug‐resistant strains in tuberculosis treatment underscores the urgency for novel therapeutic approaches. This study investigates the anti‐tuberculosis activity of green‐synthesized copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles (NPs) using garlic and astragalus extracts. The physicochemical characterization of the nanoparticles confirms successful synthesis, followed by assessment of their antibacterial properties and safety profile. Rats infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis are treated with nanocomposites derived from garlic extract at doses of 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg body weight. Evaluation includes the analysis of Early secreted antigenic target of 6 kDa (ESAT‐6) expression and confirmation of antibodies through molecular assays. Administration of garlic and nanocomposites demonstrates significant inhibitory effects on tuberculosis progression in rats, validated by safety assessments and antibacterial efficacy. Notably, the 100 mg/kg dosage exhibits pronounced mitigation of tuberculosis‐induced oxidative stress and lung damage. In conclusion, the combined administration of garlic extracts and green‐synthesized nanocomposites shows promising efficacy in reducing tuberculosis infection, highlighting a potential avenue for anti‐tuberculosis interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fodder Galega (Galega orientalis Lam.) is a perennial legume adapted to the temperate regions of the world. The objective of this research was to compare the performance of fodder Galega to alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.), and cicer milkvetch (Astragalus cicer L.) in monocultures and grass–legume mixtures. From 2018 to 2020, a multiple-location trial was conducted at Swift Current, Saskatoon, Melfort, SK and Beaverlodge, AB, Canada. The average forage mass of fodder Galega in monoculture was 3226, 1176, and 1678 kg·ha–1 at Melfort, Saskatoon, and Swift Current, respectively, and was lower than alfalfa. However, fodder Galega and alfalfa had similar forage mass at Beaverlodge (7900 and 7670 kg·ha−1, respectively). The proportion of fodder Galega in the grass–legume mixtures was 36%–42% in 2019, decreasing to 3%–27% at Saskatoon. At Swift Current, fodder Galega in the mixtures was 11%–13% in 2019, which almost disappeared from the stand in 2020. At Beaverlodge, fodder Galega maintained 38%–47% in 2019 and increased to 47%–69% in 2020. Fodder Galega had similar acid detergent fiber to cicer milkvetch at two of four sites, which was lower than those of alfalfa and sainfoin. The crude protein of fodder Galega and its mixtures with grasses was lower than other mixtures at the three Saskatchewan sites, but was higher at Beaverlodge. Our results indicate that fodder Galega has potential to be utilized as a forage legume in cooler northern regions, but its productivity was low in the Dark Brown and Brown soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Astragalus membranaceus is a traditional Chinese medicine with multiple pharmacological activities. Modern pharmacological research has found that Astragalus membranaceus extract has an inhibitory effect on α-glucosidase, however, which component can inhibit the activity of α-glucosidase and its degree of inhibition are unknown. To address this issue, this study used affinity ultrafiltration screening combined with UPLC-ESI-Orbitrap-MS technology to screen α-glucosidase inhibitors in Astragalus membranaceus. Using affinity ultrafiltration technology, we obtained the active components, and using UPLC-ESI-Orbitrap-MS technology, we quickly analyzed and identified them. As a result, a total of 8 ingredients were selected as α-glucosidase inhibitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Astragali Radix (AR), a common traditional Chinese medicinal herb, exhibits protective effects on diabetic nephropathy (DN) in extensive researches. Aticles focusing on AR in PubMed were collected and reviewed in order to summarize the latest pharmacological effects on DN. The action mechanisms for protectiving effects of AR were associated with regulation of anti-fibrosis, anti-inflammation, anti-oxidative stress, anti-podocyte apoptosis, restoration of mitochondrial function, restoration of endothelial function in diabetes nephropathy experimental models. Consequently, AR hold promise as potential novel therapeutics for the treatment of DN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heart failure is a geriatric syndrome, often accompanied by a high disability rate, complex comorbidities, and a poor prognosis. This study aimed to assess the effect of Astragalus on the vitamin D- fibroblast growth factor 23/fibroblast growth factor receptor 1-KLOTHO axis in elderly heart failure patients using a bioinformatics approach. Thirteen active ingredients and 159 targets were identified based on network pharmacology, and 500 HF targets were obtained using GeneCards database. A predicted target set was established using 22 core targets, and a diagram of the active component-target network was constructed using Cytoscape software (version 3.7.2); a protein-protein interaction network was constructed for analysis, and the Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment were analyzed using DAVID software. Bioinformatics analyses revealed that 22 targets were mainly involved in the Ras and PI3K-Akt signaling pathways. Molecular docking for fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 revealed that the active components HMM7 and HMM13 demonstrated better binding stability with the target gene. This study may help explain the molecular mechanism of effects on vitamin D- fibroblast growth factor 23/fibroblast growth factor receptor 1-KLOTHO axis and promote clinical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Crop diversification is considered as an imperative approach for synchronizing the plant nutrient demands and soil nutrient availability. Taking two or more crops from the same field in one year is considered as multiple cropping. It improves the diversity and abundance of soil microbes, thereby improving the growth and yield of crops. Therefore, the present study was conducted to explore the effects of different multiple winter cropping on soil microbial communities in paddy fields. In this study, eight rice cropping patterns from two multiple cropping systems with three different winter crops, including Chinese milk vetch (CMV), rape, and wheat were selected. The effects of different multiple winter cropping on soil microbial abundance, community structure, and diversity in paddy fields were studied by 16 S rRNA high-throughput sequencing and real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: The results showed that different multiple winter cropping increased the operational taxonomic units (OTUs), species richness, and community richness index of the bacterial community in 0 ~ 20 cm soil layer. Moreover, soil physical and chemical properties of different multiple cropping patterns also affected the diversity and abundance of microbial bacterial communities. The multiple cropping increased soil potassium and nitrogen content, which significantly affected the diversity and abundance of bacterial communities, and it also increased the overall paddy yield. Moreover, different winter cropping changed the population distribution of microorganisms, and Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Nitrospira, and Chloroflexi were identified as the most dominant groups. Multiple winter cropping, especially rape-early rice-late rice (TR) andChinese milk vetch- early rice-late rice (TC) enhanced the abundance of Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, and Actinobacteria and decreased the relative abundance of Verrucomicrobia and Euryarchaeota. Conclusion: In conclusion, winter cropping of Chinese milk vetch and rape were beneficial to improve the soil fertility, bacteria diversity, abundance and rice yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The excessive application of chemical fertilizers in the cultivation of Astragalus mongholicus Bunge results in a reduction in the quality of the medicinal plant and compromises the sustainable productivity of the soil. PGPB inoculant is a hot topic in ecological agriculture research. In the cultivation of Astragalus mongholicus, the screened nitrogen-fixing bacteria can promote plant growth, however, whether it can promote the accumulation of main bioactive components remains unknown. In this study, mixed inoculants containing 5 strains of growth promoting bacteria (Rhizobium T16, Sinorhizobium T21, Bacillus J1, Bacillus G4 and Arthrobacter J2) were used in the field experiment. The metabolic substances in the root tissues of Astragalus mongholicus were identified during the harvest period by non-targeted metabolomics method, and the differential metabolites between groups were identified by statistical analysis. Meanwhile, high-throughput sequencing was performed to analyze the changes of rhizosphere soil and endophytic microbial community structure after mixed microbial treatment. Results: The results of non-targeted metabolism indicated a significant increase in the levels of 26 metabolites after treatment including 13 flavonoids, 3 saponins and 10 other components. The contents of three plant hormones (abscisic acid, salicylic acid and spermidine) also increased after treatment, which presumed to play an important role in regulating plant growth and metabolism. Studies on endosphere and rhizosphere bacterial communities showed that Rhzobiaceae, Micromonosporaceae, and Hypomicrobiaceae in endophytic, and Oxalobactereae in rhizosphere were significantly increased after treatment. These findings suggest their potential importance in plant growth promotion and secondary metabolism regulation. Conclusions: This finding provides a basis for developing nitrogen-fixing bacteria fertilizer and improving the ecological planting efficiency of Astragalus mongholicus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and its associated end-stage renal disease (ESRD) are significant health problems that pose a threat to human well-being. Renal fibrosis is a common feature and ultimate pathological outcome of various CKD leading to ESRD. The Astragalus mongholicus Bunge and Panax notoginseng formula (A&P) is a refined compound formulated by our research group, which has been clinically administered for over a decade and has demonstrated the ability to improve the inflammatory state of various acute or chronic kidney diseases. However, the underlying mechanism by which A&P ameliorates renal fibrosis remains unclear. Methods: We established a mouse model by surgically ligating the unilateral ureter to induce renal injury in vivo. And we utilized renal in situ electroporation of a plasmid with low LncRNA A33 expression to establish the unilateral ureteral obstruction(UUO)mouse model. In vitro, we stimulated primary tubular epithelial cells(pTEC) injury using TGF-β1, siRNA-A33, and pcDNA3.1-A33 plasmids were transfected into pTECs to respectively knockdown and overexpress LncRNA A33, and both in vitro and in vivo models were intervened with A&P. Results: The results demonstrated that A&P effectively alleviated renal fibrosis in mice. Subsequent findings indicated high expression of LncRNA A33 in the kidneys of UUO mice and TGF-β1-induced renal tubular cells. In situ, renal electroporation of a plasmid with reduced LncRNA A33 expression revealed that inhibiting LncRNA A33 significantly improved renal fibrosis in UUO mice. Moreover, A&P effectively suppressed LncRNA A33 expression both in vitro and in vivo. Subsequent downregulation of LncRNA A33 in renal tubular epithelial cells resulted in the downregulation of numerous fibrotic markers, a significant inhibition of LncRNA A33, and a notable reduction in downstream ferroptosis signaling. Cell experiments demonstrated that A&P improved renal fibrosis in UUO mice by inhibiting LncRNA A33 and downregulating ferroptosis signaling. Conclusion: Through the inhibition of LncRNA A33 and subsequent downregulation of ferroptosis signaling, A&P showed potential as a therapeutic approach for improving renal fibrosis in UUO mice, providing a potential treatment avenue for CKD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Astragalus, as the most commonly used traditional Chinese medicinal herb, contains various active components, the most important of which are astragaloside IV, flavonoids, and polysaccharides.These components endow Astragalus with a variety of pharmacological effects such as immunity enhancement, anti-fatigue, anti-inflammatory, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular protection, visceral tissue protection, anti-cancer, anti-tumor, etc.The article reviews the physiological functions of the active components of Astragalus and their application in food, with the aim of providing theoretical references for the further development and application of Astragalus and its active components in the food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Astragalus endopterus (Barneby) Barneby, listed as an extinct species in a recent Conservation Biology paper (Knapp et al. 2021) was found in abundance after three hours of targeted searching. Continued searches revealed thousands of plants. Our work has doubled the known range of the species. Astragalus endopterus seems to mostly occur on sheetwash deposits composed of particles derived mostly from windblown sands along with a component of clay probably derived from the Chinle Formation. We have no indications that the species may have been in decline or was ever on the verge of extinction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite their relative abundance, members of the family Hypertragulidae (Artiodactyla, Mammalia) have proved a conundrum regarding species diversity in the Turtle Cove Member (Oligocene) of the John Day Formation, located in central and eastern Oregon. Three species and two separate genera are described in the area, but previous research lacks statistical support for this level of variation. We use coefficients of variation (V) on measurements of dentition and astragali of hypertragulid specimens designated Hypertragulus hesperius, Hypertragulus minutus, and Nanotragulus planiceps as a metric for determining whether there were multiple species present in the population. Asymptotic and modified signed-likelihood ratio V equality tests show that V values of anterior-posterior molar length and transverse molar width vary significantly when comparing single species of modern ecological analogs (Muntiacus muntjak, Muntiacus reevesi, and Tragulus javanicus) to groupings of a combined population. However, the V equality tests on dental and postcranial measurements yield almost no significant results when comparing variation in the extinct John Day hypertragulids to an extant population comprised of a single species. Similar comparisons between astragali measurements of hypertragulids and T. javanicus express no significant difference in the level of variation from the combined population to a modern single species. The low level of variation in the hypertragulids and the lack of differentiation between dental characters of individuals does not statistically support the hypothesis that there were multiple species present in the population, suggesting either that cryptic species may be present but impossible to identify without soft tissue remains, or there may have been taxonomic over-splitting of a single hypertragulid species in the John Day region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to determine the phytochemical content and biological activities of Astragalus gombo (endemic species). We conducted an HPLC analysis to identify the secondary metabolites. Antioxidant (DPPH and FRAP), anti-inflammatory, anti-hemolytic and antibacterial activities were evaluated. For the HPLC analysis, we obtained 65 peaks and identified six major bioactive compounds. The total concentration of polyphenols, flavonoids and condensed tannins varied, respectively, from 66.3±0.9 mg GA eq/g, 34.31±1.4 mg Q eq/g and 5.3±2.7 mg Ca eq/g. In terms of antioxidant activity, the extract exhibited high inhibitory activity, equivalent to IC50 = 62.81±0.01 µg/mL for DPPH and IC50 = 19.37±0.04 µg/mL for FRAP. The anti-inflammatory activity was estimated to be high at 1615.8±2.8 µg/mL, the anti-hemolytic activity was weak and the antibacterial activity against the five strains under study was moderately strong. This study demonstrated that the aqueous extract of A. gombo from El Oued region has remarkable antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The past and present status of Grapholita pallifrontana in Cambridgeshire has been investigated. The species was discovered in Cambridgeshire by William Warren, most likely in 1887; the next published record was in 2021. Its sole larval foodplant, Wild Liquorice Astragalus glycyphyllos has been well-documented by botanists since 1660. We visited the 15 monads with post-1985 records and relocated plants in 11 of them, plus one new adjacent monad. We subsequently revisited these 12 monads during the season when larvae are detectable within the seedpods, and found G. pallifrontana in six of the monads, concentrated in the southeast and southwest of VC29. The botanical history of these sites suggests that Wild Liquorice has probably only been present in these locations for the last half-century, and that both foodplant and moth must therefore be quite mobile. Records from adjacent vicecounties demonstrate an overall L-shaped G. pallifrontana distribution, with the Cambridgeshire colonies at its eastern extremity, and raise the question of whether most may belong to a single meta-population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study determines the role and mechanism of APS in cyclophosphamide-induced myelosuppression in mice and bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) cell model. Cy-induced myelosuppression mice and BMSCs cell model were established. Fifty C57BL/6 mice (weighing 20 ± 2 g) were randomly divided into five groups. Femur and tibia samples, bone marrow samples, and blood samples were collected 3 days after the last injection of Cy. Histopathology changes and cell apoptosis were detected. Cell viability, apoptosis, cycle distribution, reactive oxygen species activity, osteogenesis ability, and protein levels were detected. γ-H2AX and senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity expression was detected by immunofluorescence. Cy-induced senescence and Wnt/β-catenin related protein levels were detected using western blotting. The results showed that APS effectively induced Cy-induced histological injury and cell apoptosis rate. After treated with APS, ROS and ALP levels were significantly increased. In BMSCs, cell viability, apoptosis, and cell cycle distribution were also influenced by APS treatment. Compared with the control group, cell viability was significantly increased, the cell apoptosis rate was decreased while the number of cells remained in the G0-G1 phase was increased. Meanwhile, ROS levels were significantly increased in APS group. Cell senescence and Wnt/β-catenin related protein (γ-H2AX, SA-β-gal, p21, p16, p-β-catenin/ β-catenin, c-Myc, and AXIN2) levels were also altered both in vivo and in vitro. Interestingly, the effects of APS were reversed by BML-284. Our results indicate that APS protected Cy-induced myelosuppression through the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and APS is a potential therapeutic drug for Cy-induced myelosuppression. • By treated with APS, cell senescence and Wnt/β-catenin related protein levels were also altered both in vivo and in vitro. • APS protected Cy-induced myelosuppression through the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. • APS is a potential therapeutic drug for Cy-induced myelosuppression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fermentation products of Astragalus have been acknowledged for their ability to enhance immune functions. This study assessed the impact of incorporating Astragalus, fermented with Lactobacillus plantarum and Bacillus coagulans, on crucian carp's growth, disease resistance, and immunological characteristics. The experimental groups were fed with common feed (C), C + Astragalus (A), A + Lactobacillus plantarum (AL), A + Bacillus coagulans (AB), and AL + Bacillus coagulans (ALB). The fermented products were mixed with common feed at a 1:99 ratio, and crucian carp were fed 2% of their body weight for four weeks, with sampling conducted on days 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28. Disease resistance was evaluated using Aeromonas hydrophila (A. hydrophila) at a concentration of 0.2 mL (1.0×107 CFU/mL). The final weights in the AL, AB, and ALB groups significantly increased compared to the C group. The ALB group exhibited elevated serum albumin levels, alkaline phosphatase, intestinal lipase, protease enzyme, C3, and IgM gene expression compared to the C group. At the same time, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and glucose contents were significantly reduced. The survival rate significantly increased in all experimental groups after treatment with A. hydrophila. In conclusion, Astragalus products fermented with Lactobacillus plantarum and Bacillus coagulans could effectively improve crucian carp's growth, disease resistance, and immune response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To elucidate the mechanism underlying the therapeutic impact of Astragalus-Danshen in chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN), a comprehensive exploration was conducted utilizing network pharmacology. The TCMSP database was employed to aggregate the chemical constituents and targets associated with Astragalus and Danshen. Simultaneously, disease targets specific to CGN were sourced from the Genecards database. The convergence of these datasets yielded a set of intersection genes, representing potential targets for CGN treatment through Astragalus-Danshen formulations. Subsequently, protein interaction networks and "chemical composition-target" networks were meticulously constructed. Core targets were subjected to GO and KEGG enrichment analyses. The investigation revealed a total of 240 targets corresponding to 20 and 65 chemical components of Astragalus and Danshen, respectively. From this pool, 86 potential targets associated with CGN treatment were discerned, ultimately identifying 29 core targets. Noteworthy among these were TNF, JUN, TP53, IL1B, RELA, MMP9, CASP3, IL10, MAPK14, MYC, and TGFB1. KEGG enrichment analysis illuminated pathways pertinent to CGN, encompassing the IL-17 signaling pathway, TNF signaling pathway, and the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications. In summary, Astragalus-Danshen exhibited a potential anti-inflammatory and renoprotective effect on CGN, particularly through modulating the IL-17 signaling pathway, TNF signaling pathway, and AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications, involving key regulators such as TNF, JUN, TP53, IL1B, MAPK14, and others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With worldwide cultivation, the faba bean (Vicia faba L.) stands as one of the most vital cool-season legume crops, serving as a major component of food security. China leads global faba bean production in terms of both total planting area and yield, with major production hubs in Yunnan, Sichuan, Jiangsu, and Gansu provinces. The faba bean viruses have caused serious yield losses in these production areas, but previous researches have not comprehensively investigated this issue. In this study, we collected 287 faba bean samples over three consecutive years from eight provinces/municipalities of China. We employed small RNA sequencing, RT-PCR, DNA sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis to detect the presence of viruses and examine their incidence, distribution, and genetic diversity. We identified a total of nine distinct viruses: bean yellow mosaic virus (BYMV, Potyvirus), milk vetch dwarf virus (MDV, Nanovirus), vicia cryptic virus (VCV, Alphapartitivirus), bean common mosaic virus (BCMV, Potyvirus), beet western yellows virus (BWYV, Polerovirus), broad bean wilt virus (BBWV, Fabavirus), soybean mosaic virus (SMV, Potyvirus), pea seed-borne mosaic virus (PSbMV, Potyvirus), and cucumber mosaic virus (CMV, Cucumovirus). BYMV was the predominant virus found during our sampling, followed by MDV and VCV. This study marks the first reported detection of BCMV in Chinese faba bean fields. Except for several isolates from Gansu and Yunnan provinces, our sequence analysis revealed that the majority of BYMV isolates contain highly conserved nucleotide sequences of coat protein (CP). Amino acid sequence alignment indicates that there is a conserved NAG motif at the N-terminal region of BYMV CP, which is considered important for aphid transmission. Our findings not only highlight the presence and diversity of pathogenic viruses in Chinese faba bean production, but also provide target pathogens for future antiviral resource screening and a basis for antiviral breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Green manure is an important source of organic fertilizer. Exploring green fertilizer and nitrogen fertilizer reduction is important for agricultural production. However, few studies have been conducted, especially on the effects of different green fertilizers along with reduced nitrogen fertilizer application on soil ammonia volatilization emissions, rice yield, and nitrogen fertilizer uptake and utilization. Methods: In this study, the effects of different types of green manure and reduced nitrogen fertilizer application on soil ammonia volatilization emissions, aboveground population characteristics of rice, and nitrogen fertilizer uptake and utilization were explored. This study was based on a field-positioning experiment conducted between 2020 and 2022. Six treatments were established: no nitrogen fertilizer application (CK), conventional fertilization in wheat-rice (WR), villous villosa-rice (VvR), vetch sativa-rice (VsR), rapeseed seed-rice (RR), and milk vetch-rice (GR), with a 20% reduction in nitrogen fertilizer application. The amounts of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers remained unchanged. The characteristics of ammonia volatilization loss in rice fields, agronomic traits of rice, yield traits, and nitrogen uptake and utilization were investigated. Results: The results indicated a significant difference (P < 0.05) in the impact of different treatments on ammonia volatilization emissions from rice in the two-year experiment. Compared with WR treatment, VvR, VsR, RR, and GR treatments reduced the total ammonia volatilization loss by 23.58 to 39.21 kg ha−1, respectively. Compared with the conventional WR treatment, other treatments increased rice yield by 0.09 to 0.83 t ha−1. GR treatment was significantly higher than other green fertilizer treatments, except for VsR (P < 0.05). It increased the nitrogen uptake of rice by an average of 4.24%–22.24% and 13.08%–33.21% over the two years, respectively. The impact of different types of green manure on the nitrogen uptake and utilization of rice varied greatly, indicating that the combination of green manure and fertilizer is a sustainable fertilization model for crops to achieve high yields. In particular, the Chinese milk vetch as green manure was more beneficial for ammonia volatilization reduction in paddy field and stable grain production of rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the traditional farming systems, the excessive application of chemical fertilizers to boost crop yields has resulted in a range of issues, such as soil quality degradation, soil structure deterioration, and pollution of the farmland ecological environment. Green manure, as a high-quality biological fertilizer source with rich nutrient content, is of great significance for enhancing the soil quality and establishing a healthy farmland ecosystem. However, there are few studies on the effects of different green manures on the soil nutrient levels, enzyme activities, and soil bacterial community composition in the rice–wheat rotation areas in southern China. Thus, we planted Chinese milk vetch (MV; Astragalus sinicus L.), light leaf vetch (LV; Vicia villosa var.), common vetch (CV; Vicia sativa L.), crimson clover (CC; Trifolium incarnatum L.), Italian ryegrass (RG; Lolium multiflorum L.), and winter fields without any crops as a control in the Taihu Lake area of Jiangsu. The soil samples collected after tilling and returning the green manure to the field during the bloom period were used to analyze the effects of the different green manures on the soil nutrient content, enzyme activity, and the structural composition of the bacterial community. This analysis was conducted using chemical methods and high-throughput sequencing technology. The results showed that the green manure returned to the field increased the soil pH, soil organic matter (SOM), alkali-hydrolyzed nitrogen (AN), available phosphorus (AP), available potassium (AK), sucrose (SC), urease (UE), and neutral phosphatase (NEP) contents compared to the control. They increased by 1.55% to 10.06%, 0.26% to 9.31%, 20.95% to 28.42%, 20.66% to 57.79%, 12.38% to 37.94%, 3.11% to 58.19%, 6.49% to 32.99%, and 50.0% to 80.36%, respectively. In addition, the green manure field increased the relative abundance of the genera Proteobacteria and Haliangium while decreasing the relative abundance of Gemmatimonadetes, Chloroflexi, SBR1031, and Anaeromyxobacter in the soil bacteria. Both the number of ASVs (amplicon sequence variants) and α-diversity of the soil bacterial communities were higher compared to the control, and the β-diversity varied significantly among the treatments. Alkali-hydrolyzed nitrogen and neutral phosphatase had the greatest influence on the soil bacterial community diversity, with alkali-hydrolyzed nitrogen being the primary soil factor affecting the soil bacterial community composition. Meanwhile, the results of the principal component analysis showed that the MV treatment had the most significant impact on soil improvement. Our study provides significant insights into the sustainable management of the soil quality in rice–wheat rotations. It identifies MV as the best choice among the green manure crops for improving the soil quality, offering innovative solutions for reducing chemical fertilizer dependence and promoting ecological sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Alterations in the gut microbiome and bile acid metabolism are known to play a role in the development and progression of colon cancer. Medicinal plants like Astragalus mongholicus Bunge and Curcuma aromatica Salisb. (AC) have shown preferable therapeutic effect on cancer therapy, especially digestive tract tumors like colon cancer. However, the precise mechanisms of AC inhibiting colon cancer, particularly in relation to the gut microbiome and bile acid dynamics, are not fully understood. Methods: Our research aimed to investigate the anti-tumor properties of AC in mice with CT26 colon cancer and further investigate its underlying mechanism via intestinal microbiota. The size and pathological changes of solid tumors in colon cancer are used to evaluate the inhibitory effect of AC on colon cancer. Metagenomics and 16s rRNA gene sequencing were employed to clarify the dysbiosis in the gut microbiome of colon cancer and its impact on colon cancer. The levels of bile acids (BAs) in the feces of mice from each group were measured using UPLC-Qtrap-MS/MS. Results: AC effectively suppressed the growth of colon cancer and reduced histological damage. Notably, AC treatment led to changes in the gut microbiome composition, with a decrease in pathogenic species like Citrobacter and Candidatus_Arthromitus, and an increase in beneficial microbial populations including Adlercreutzia, Lachnospiraceae_UCG-001, and Parvibacter. Additionally, AC altered bile acid profiles, resulting in a significant decrease in pro-carcinogenic bile acids such as deoxycholic acid (DCA) and lithocholic acid (LCA), while increasing the concentration of the cancer-inhibitory bile acid, ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA). Tracking and analyzing the data, AC may mainly upregulate FabG and baiA genes by increasing the relative abundance of Adlercreutzia and Parvibacter bacteria, which promoting the metabolism of pro-carcinogenic LCA. Discussion: These findings provide strong evidence supporting the role of AC in regulating gut microbiome-mediated bile acid metabolism, which is crucial in impeding the progression of colon cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An ultra-sensitive lateral flow immunochromatography (LFIC) method based on europium nanoparticles (EuNPs) was established for the simultaneous and rapid detection of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), zearalenone (ZEN), and ochratoxin A(OTA) in medicine and food homologous materials. By optimizing the key parameters such as the mass concentration of the coated artificial antigen, immobilized line position of the coated artificial antigen, mass concentration of the coated goat anti-mouse IgG, buffer pH, and immunoreaction time, the developed method could achieve the ultrasensitive and simultaneous identification of three target mycotoxins in one sample after a simple sample pretreatment. This method demonstrated a high specificity and sensitivity. The visual limits of detection of the AFB1, ZEN, and OTA standards were 0.5, 4.0, and 2.0 ng/mL, respectively. Their linear ranges (IC10~IC90) were 0.03~4.61, 0.12~8.47, and 0.09~8.26 ng/mL, respectively. In the detection of mycotoxins in ginseng, astragalus, and angelica samples, the mean spiked recovery rates of the three types of analytes ranged from 90.02% to 109.39%, with a relative standard deviation of less than 8.50%. The coincidence rate between the actual sample and HPLC method was 100%. Therefore, the developed EuNP-LFIC method is suitable for the on-site rapid monitoring of mycotoxins such as AFB1, ZEN, and OTA in medicine and food homologous materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe several proterotheriid remains from the Andalhuala and the Corral Quemado formations (Villavil-Quillay and Santa María basins, Catamarca Province) and the Andalhuala Formation (Santa María Basin at Encalilla, Tucumán Province), Argentina. Neobrachytherium intermedium distinguishes from N. morenoi by the presence of lophoid metaconules in upper molars and astragalus with fusiform attachment for the tibioastragalar ligament, while N. morenoi presents bunoid metaconules and astragalus with ectal facet slightly projected laterally without attachment for the tibioastragalar ligament. ?Proterotherium simplicidens is considered junior synonym of N. intermedium. N. intermedium is circumscribed to levels ca. 6.02 Ma in the Santa María Basin (extendable to ca. 6.88 Ma), to ca. 3.66 Ma in Puerta de Corral Quemado. N. morenoi is restricted to levels above ca. 6.02 to below ca. 4.85 Ma in the Santa María Basin. While other species of Neobrachytherium (i.e. N. ullumense and N. ameghinoi) are distributed in Argentina and Uruguay, N. intermedium and N. morenoi only have records in the late Neogene of northwestern Argentina. These distributions align with earlier hypotheses regarding a regional ecological distinction between the western and eastern regions in the northern half of Argentina during the late Neogene while also fitting the paleophytogeographic provinces (Neotropical and Proto-Spinal). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]