ABSTRACT
Objective: Based on trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) hydrolysis, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) analysis, the carbohydrate responsible for immunomodulatory activity are used as quality indicators for Astragalus Radix (AR). Methods: In this study, 24 batches of AR from different germplasm resources were selected as the research object, and AR polysaccharides were extracted. PAGE and HPTLC methods were used to analyze the partial acid hydrolyzate of AR polysaccharides and obtain a series of saccharide fingerprints. The data were analyzed by principal component analysis to obtain the difference between AR from different germplasm resources. Results: The results showed that trisaccharide and tetrasaccharide could be used as differential fragments to distinguish AR of different cultivation methods; Disaccharides and trisaccharides can be used as differential fragments to distinguish different species of AR. The immunological activity analysis of the specific oligosaccharide fragment of AR showed that the specific oligosaccharide fragment of AR could promote the secretion of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and NO in THP-1 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Conclusion: Both PAGE and HPTLC methods can be used to evaluate AR from different germplasm resources. This study laid the foundation for the quality evaluation of AR medicinal herbs.
ABSTRACT
sup>1H NMR-based metabonomic analysis was used to elucidate the hypoglycemic mechanism of Astragalus Radix and Dioscoreae Rhizomacomes. Thirty-seven SD rats were divided into four groups: model group (M group), control group (C group), Astragalus Radix and Dioscoreae Rhizomacomes group (HS group), metformin group (Y group). A T2DM model was induced with a high fat diet and streptozotocin (STZ). Drug was continuously administered for 8 weeks, after which blood and the kidneys were collected to determine the biochemical index and the kidney coefficients of each group. Using 1H NMR metabolomics technology, we measured the metabolites in the urine of rats in each group to identify appropriate biomarkers. The results showed that total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (L-DLC), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and the kidney coefficients were significantly increased with high density lipoprotein (H-DLC) significantly decreased in the diabetic group, but these changes were largely reversed with treatment with Astragalus Radix and Dioscoreae Rhizomacomes. A total of 20 biomarkers were found in rat urine in the diabetic group and Astragalus Radix and Dioscoreae could reverse the changes of 16 of these metabolites to varying degrees, similar to that of metformin (200 mg·kg-1). The changes in metabolomics mainly involved butanoate metabolism, the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, taurine and hypotaurine metabolism, synthesis and degradation of ketone bodies, and pyruvate metabolism. Dioscoreae Rhizomacomes and Astragalus Radix may have a therapeutic role in the treatment of diabetes through the above five metabolic pathways, revealing the possible therapeutic mechanisms for Dioscoreae Rhizomacomes and Astragalus Radix.
ABSTRACT
Objective::Astragalus membranaceus var. mongholicus and A. membranaceus are medicinal Astragalus, which are closely related and similar in composition, but with unclear medicinal value. Water-soluble protein profiles for A. membranaceus var. mongholicus and A. membranaceus were established to explore the differences between the two kinds of Astragalus Radix. Method::The water-soluble protein components were obtained through water ultrasonic extraction and acetone precipitation. After digested with trypsin, the obtained peptides were analyzed by nano ESI-LC-MS/MS method. Proteome Discovery 1.4 software was used to identify the proteins by comparing with the legume protein database, and the different expression water-soluble proteins were analyzed by the label-free quantitative software SIEVE. Finally, relevant information for common expression proteins, including classification, molecular function, involved biological process and signaling pathway, were analyzed by bioinformatics. Result::There were 920 and 717 specific proteins identified for A. membranaceus var. mongholicus and A. membranaceus, respectively. Totally 472 proteins were found to be co-expressed, in which 21 were differentially expressed, such as PR-10 protein, NDK-1 protein, glutelin A2, and phospholipase D. There were 14 highly expressed proteins in A. membranaceus var. mongholicus and 7 highly expressed proteins in A. membranaceus. Conclusion::There are significant differences in water-soluble protein profiles for two kinds of Astragalus Radix. Specific proteins, differentially expressed proteins and common expressed proteins can provide references for the identification of A. membranaceus var. mongholicus and A. membranaceus. It also can be used to define pharmacological mechanisms and search for drug action targets.
ABSTRACT
The aim is to study the effect and its mechanism of Astragalus Radix combined with Angelicae Sinensis Radix on the proliferation of hematopoietic stem cells(HSCs) in senescence model. After drug-containing plasma of rats was prepared via intragastric administration, HSCs of mice were cultured in vitro, and then they were divided into blank control group, model group, blank plasma group, Astragalus Radix + Angelicae Sinensis Radix 1∶1 group and 10∶1 group, Angelicae Sinensis Radix plasma group, and Astragalus Radix plasma group. HSCs senescence model was induced by using tert-butyl hydrogen peroxide(t-BHP), and intervened by drug-containing plasma. Cells senescence rate was tested by SA-β-galactosidase staining method; cell cycle distribution was determined by flow cytometry; Cyclin D1, P21, and P53 mRNA were measured with RT-PCR, and Cyclin D1 protein expression was measured by Western blot. Results showed that after being induced by t-BHP, senescence rate of HSCs was increased; cell proliferation ability was decreased; count of G₀/G₁ phase cells was increased; count of G₂/M+S phase cells was reduced; Cyclin D1 expression was down-regulated while P53, P21 expression was up-regulated, which were reversed by Astragalus Radix + Angelicae Sinensis Radix 1∶1 and 10∶1, single Angelicae Sinensis Radix, and single Astragalus Radix plasma. Furthermore, the above effects were most obvious in Astragalus Radix+Angelicae Sinensis Radix 1∶1 group. These results suggested that t-BHP can promote HSCs senescence and reduce cell proliferation ability. Angelicae Sinensis Radix, Astragalus Radix and their combinations can inhibit HSCs senescence, promote HSCs proliferation as well as cell cycle conversion; moreover, the effects of 1∶1 Astragalus Radix+Angelicae Sinensis Radix were strongest. The mechanisms may be related to up-regulating the expression of cell cycle positive regulator, down-regulating the expression of cell cycle negative regulator, thus promoting the cells to enter the proliferation phase from the stationary phase.
ABSTRACT
By summarizing the results of the determination of index chemical composition in the samples of product specification and growth period of Astragalus Radix, we analyze the reason for the contradictions of determination results as follows: The actual growth years of the sample are not clear, the test samples mixed, and we draw the conclusion that the existing commodity classification is not scientific. Proposing a set of methods to identify actual growth years of Astragalus Radix and to carry out the research by comparing the chemical and biological effects with the subjects which we have known the exact growth years. Aiming to get the exterior features associated with its chemical compositions and biological effects to interpret the meaning of "assessing the quality by distinguishing the features of CMM". Finally, to establish the kinds of standards that not only embody the actual growth years of Astragalus Radix, but also for applicable to market transactions
ABSTRACT
Objective: Effect of Astragalus saponins on the changes of endogenous metabolites in plasma of rats with spleen deficiency syndrome of dampness and the intervention function of Astragalus Radix saponins on the syndrome was studied. Methods: High performance liquid phase of flight time mass spectrometry was used to detect the information of endogenous metabolites in rat plasma, principal component analysis and partial least-squares discriminate analysis were used to study the metabolic differences between normal group, model group, and astragalus saponins group to identify potential biomarkers. Results: The metabolism pattern of normal group, model group, and Astragalus saponin group were significantly different, 11 biomarkers were identified and the pathway mainly involved glycerol phospholipids metabolism, sphingolipid metabolism, pentose glucuronic acid conversion, and peanut arachidonic acid metabolism. Conclusion: The results of this study show that it is possible for Astragalus Radix saponins group to interfere with the spleen deficiency syndrome of dampness by regulating energy metabolism, lipid metabolism, and fatty acid metabolism to exert therapeutic effect.