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AIM To optimize the two-phase (ethanol-dipotassium phosphate) aqueous extraction for Astragali Radix by central composite design-response surface method.METHODS With ethanol concentration,dipotassium hydrogen phosphate solution concentration and Astragali Radix feed ratio as influencing factors,together with extraction rates of total flavonoids and total saponins as evaluation indices,the technology optimization was accomplished by central composite design-response surface method.RESULTS The optimal conditions were determined to be 27.97％ for ethanol concentration,22.03％ for dipotassium hydrogen phosphate solution concentration,and 1 ∶ 58.85 for Astragali Radix feed ratio.The extraction rate of total flavonoids reached 74.13％ (concentrated in the upper layer),while that of total saponins reached 81.34％ (concentrated in the lower layer).CONCLUSION With good predictability,this simple and accurate method can be used for the extraction of total flavonoids and total saponins in Astragali Radix.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of fasudil, an inhibitor of Rho kinase, on the erectile function of hypertensive rats and its action mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty 12-week-old healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into groups A (control), B (hypertension) and C (fasudil treatment). After establishment of the hypertension model, group C received intraperitoneal injection of fasudil at 30 mg/(kg x d), while A and B normal saline only. At 10 weeks after surgery, we measured the corpus cavernosum pressure/mean carotid arterial pressure (ICPmax / MAP), and the expression levels of ROCK1 and ROCK2 proteins in the corpus cavernosum of the rats by Western-blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The systolic blood pressure (mmHg) and the expressions of ROCK1 and ROCK2 proteins were significantly increased in group B (190.39 +/- 5.07, 0.048 +/- 0.002 and 0.143 +/- 0.011) as compared with A (124.81 +/- 4.01, 0.036 +/- 0.001 and 0.101 +/- 0.011) (P<0.05), but markedly decreased in group C (182.03 +/- 4.32, 0.044 +/- 0.001 and 0.126 +/- 0.007) in comparison with B (P<0.05). ICPmax /MAP was significantly lower in group B (36.82 +/- 5.47) than in A (59.99 +/- 5.69) (P<0.05), but remarkably higher in group C (51.1 +/- 5.63) than in B (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Fasudil can improve erectile function in hypertensive rats by inhibiting the expression of RhoA / Rho kinase signaling and its possible attenuating effect on hypertension.</p>