OBJECTIVETo study difference among populations which belong to Astragalus membranaceus and A. membranaceus var. mongholicus on morphology, habit, characteristics of physiology and resistance to powdery mildew, and classify them in order to provide theoretical basis for breeding and improving varieties.

METHODMorphology, habits, isozyme and soluble protein electrophoretograms were compared among the populations. They were categorized by cluster analysis based on those electrophoretograms. Different ability of resistance to powdery mildew was also studied through comparing disease indices among six populations.

RESULTThe results showed A. membranaceus var. mongholicus was distinctly different from A. membranaceus. There was a special type in colonies of A. membranaceus, which showed hairy upper epidermis of leaflets and later florescence.

CONCLUSIONAstragalus for medicine could be categorized in three types A. membranaceus var. mongholicus, A. membranaceus early florescence type and A. membranaceus late florescence type. Among them A. membranaceus var. mongholicus is most resistant to powdery mildew, while A. membranaceus is easily infected, and the early florescence type is even more easily infected.

Ascomycota ; pathogenicity ; Astragalus Plant ; classification ; growth & development ; metabolism ; microbiology ; Astragalus membranaceus ; growth & development ; metabolism ; microbiology ; Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Plant Diseases ; microbiology ; Plant Proteins ; metabolism ; Plants, Medicinal ; classification ; growth & development ; metabolism ; microbiology

The study is aimed to explore the effect of different water on the content of total saponins,astragaloside Ⅳ and gene expression in the growth of Astragalus membranceus. In this study, one-year-old A. membranaceus was used as the experimental material, by pot culture different water treatments were simulated at herbal garden in Jilin Agricultural University. The content of astragaloside Ⅳ was determined by HPLC and the total saponins by UV spectrophotometry. With 18 S RNA as a reference gene, fluorescent quantitative PCR was applied to analyze the eight key enzymes in astragalus saponin synthesis pathway AACT,HMGS,HMGR,IDI,FPS,SS,SE,CAS expression. With the decrease of soil water, the content of astragaloside Ⅳ in the root tissue of A. membranaceus showed an increasing trend, up to 1.46 mg·g~(-1). The total saponin content tended to increase, up to 6.80 mg·g~(-1). The results of relative expression of genes showed that the eight genes showed different effects at different water. With the change of soil water content, the amount of(AACT,IDI,SS) relative expression in drought stress group firstly increased and then decreased, then increased, and then decreased. The amount of(HMGS,HMGR,FPS) relative expression in drought stress group increased firstly and then decreased. The amount of(SE,CAS) relative expression in drought stress group increased firstly and then decreased, and continued to decrease after rehydration. The expression of key enzyme genes involved in the synthesis of astragaloside was influenced by each other, and the expression of key enzyme in roots showed a correlation with the content of astragaloside. Correlation analysis showed that there was a very significant positive correlation between HMGR gene and total saponins content in drought stress group and a significant negative correlation between content of CAS and total saponins. The contents of FPS,SE,CAS and astragaloside Ⅳ were very significantly and negative correlated. The relationship between other genes and quality was positive. Therefore, HMGR, FPS, SE and CAS genes have significant effects on the regulation of saponin content under water control. On the 15 th day after water regulation, the total amount of astragaloside and total saponins reached the highest value and could be harvested.
Astragalus Plant ; metabolism ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Droughts ; Saponins ; biosynthesis ; Stress, Physiological ; Triterpenes ; Water

Astragalus polysaccharide(APS), one of the main active components of Astragali Radix, plays an anti-tumor effect by regulating the inflammatory microenvironment of tumors. Exosomes are small extracellular vesicles with a diameter ranging from 50 to 200 nm and carry several biological components from parental cells such as nucleic acids and proteins. When combined with recipient cells, they play an important role in intercellular communication and immune response. In this study, exosomes released from H460 cells at the inflammatory state or with APS addition activated by Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4) were extracted by ultracentrifugation and characterized by Western blot, transmission electron microscopy, and nanoparticle tracking analysis. The exosomal proteins derived from H460 cells in the three groups were further analyzed by label-free proteomics, and 897, 800, and 911 proteins were identified in the three groups(Con, LPS, and APS groups), 88% of which belonged to the ExoCarta exosome protein database. Difference statistical analysis showed that the expression of 111 proteins was changed in the LPS group and the APS group(P<0.05). The biological information analysis of the differential proteins was carried out. The molecular functions, biological processes, and signaling pathways related to the differential proteins mainly involved viral processes, protein binding, and bacterial invasion of proteasome and epithelial cells. Key differential proteins mainly included plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, laminin α5, laminin α1, and CD44, indicating that tumor cells underwent systemic changes in different states and were reflected in exosomes in the inflammatory microenvironment. The analysis results also suggested that APS might affect the inflammatory microenvironment through the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway or the regulation of the extracellular matrix. This study is conducive to a better understanding of the mechanism of tumor development in the inflammatory state and the exploration of the anti-inflammatory effect of APS at the exosome level.
Humans ; Exosomes/metabolism* ; Proteomics ; Toll-Like Receptor 4/metabolism* ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Astragalus Plant/chemistry* ; Lung Neoplasms/metabolism* ; Polysaccharides/metabolism* ; Tumor Microenvironment

Objective: To investigate the effects of different prescription compositions of traditional Chinese medicine and its different extraction methods of compound formula extracts on hypoxia tolerance in mice, in order to preferably select their prescription compositions and preparation extraction methods. Methods: Male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into 6 groups: blank control group, compound danshen group, compound Rhodiola Rosea alcohol-water extract group (Rhodiola rosea, Astragali Radix, Polygonati Rhizoma, Lycii Fructus), compound Rhodiola Rosea water extract group, compound Astragalus alcohol-water extract group (Astragali Radix, Polygonati Rhizoma, Lycii Fructus) and compound Astragalus water extract group, 30 mice in each group. Each group was administered continuously by gavage for 10 d. The blank group was gavaged with sterilized injection water. The mice in the other groups were treated with 0.15 g/kg of compound danshen, 3 g/kg of compound Rhodiola Rosea alcohol-water extract or water extract, and 1.7 g/kg of compound Astragalus alcohol-water extract or water extract, respectively. Each group was subjected to normobaric hypoxia tolerance test, sodium nitrite toxicity survival test and acute cerebral ischemia-hypoxia test 1 h after the last gavage, and the mice brain tissues were used to determine the activity of antioxidant enzymes and metabolites related to oxidative stress. Results: Compared with the blank control group, in normobaric hypoxia tolerance test, the survival time of mice in the compound danshen group and the compound Astragalus alcohol-water extract group and water extraction group was prolonged significantly (P＜0.01), and the number of open-mouth gasping after cerebral ischemia and hypoxia was increased significantly (P＜0.05). There was no statistical difference in survival time after sodium nitrite injection in each group. Compared with the blank control group, the activities of T-AOC, SOD, GSH and CAT were increased significantly (P＜0.05, P＜0.01) and the content of MDA was decreased significantly (P＜0.01) in the compound Astragalus water extract group. Compared with the compound danshen group, the activities of SOD, CAT and GSH were increased significantly (P＜0.01, P＜0.05) and the content of MDA was decreased significantly (P＜0.05). Conclusion: Compound Astragalus water extraction has the best effect of hypoxia tolerance, compound Rhodiola Rosea can eliminate Rhodiola rosea and consists of Astragali Radix, Polygonati Rhizoma, Lycii Fructus and its extraction method is water extraction.
Animals ; Astragalus Plant ; Ethanol ; Hypoxia ; Male ; Mice ; Plant Extracts/pharmacology* ; Rhodiola ; Sodium Nitrite ; Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism* ; Water

Astragali Radix (AR) is one of the most popular herbal medicines in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Wild AR is believed to be of high quality, and substitution with cultivated AR is frequently encountered in the market. In the present study, two types of ARs (wild and cultivated) from Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge. and A. membranaceus var. mongholicus (Bge.) Hsiao, growing in different regions of China, were analyzed by NMR profiling coupled with multivariate analysis. Results showed that both could be differentiated successfully and cultivation patterns or growing years might have greater impact on the metabolite compositions than the variety; the metabolites responsible for the separation were identified. In addition, three extraction methods were compared and the method (M1) was used for further analysis. In M1, the extraction solvent composed of water, methanol, and chloroform in the ratio of 1 : 1 : 2 was used to obtain the aqueous methanol (upper layer) and chloroform (lower layer) fractions, respectively, showing the best separation. The differential metabolites among different methods were also revealed. Moreover, the sucrose/glucose ratio could be used as a simple index to differentiate wild and cultivated AR. Meanwhile, the changes of correlation pattern among the differential metabolites of the two varieties were found. The work demonstrated that NMR-based non-targeted profiling approach, combined with multivariate statistical analysis, can be used as a powerful tool for differentiating AR of different cultivation types or growing years.
Astragalus propinquus ; chemistry ; classification ; metabolism ; China ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; methods ; Metabolomics ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; classification ; growth & development ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; growth & development ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study Astragalus membranaceus absorption characteristic of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium at different growth stages.

METHODThrough the field experiment and the sampling analysis, the absorbing capacity of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium as well as the growth of plant at different growth stages in A. membranaceus were analyzed.

RESULTThe dry matter accumulation reached 88.22% of the total accumulation in 100-163 days after seedling emergence, The content of N, P, K in the stem was higher than that in the root system. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium absorbing capacity in the stem, the leaf and the root systems was N > K > P. In the whole growth period, nitrogen accumulation reached the highest, and followed with the accumulation of potassium, and the accumulation of phosphorus was the lowest. In the last phase of the exuberant growth period, the accumulation intensity of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium reduced. During the harvesting time, the accumulation intensity of nitrogen and potassium increased, and the accumulation intensity of phosphorus remained stable.

CONCLUSIONThe dry matter accumulation reached the maximum in 100-163 days after seedling emergence. The absorption strength of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in aerial part reached the maximum in 100-132 days after seeding emergence, the maximum absorption comes earlier than that of phosphorus and potassium, at that time the needs of nutrients reach the highest. For producing of 100 kg A. membranaceus 2.32 kg N, 0.323 kg P2O5, 1.62 kg K2O are needed to be absorbed from soil and fertilizer.

Absorption ; Astragalus membranaceus ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Ecosystem ; Fertilizers ; analysis ; Nitrogen ; metabolism ; Phosphorus ; metabolism ; Plant Leaves ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Plant Roots ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Plant Stems ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Plants, Medicinal ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Potassium ; metabolism ; Soil ; analysis ; Time Factors

Aging ; drug effects ; Animals ; Astragalus Plant ; Blood ; metabolism ; Brain ; metabolism ; Female ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Liver ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Polysaccharides ; pharmacology ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

The objective of this study was to explore the effect of astragalus polysaccharide (APS) on sensitivity of leukemic cell line HL-60 to NK cell cytotoxicity and its mechanism. The cytotoxicities of NK cells against HL-60 cells were analyzed by LDH releasing assay at different effect-to-target cell ratios (E:T) before and after treated with APS. The gene expression of MHC class I chain-related (MICA) in HL-60 cells before and after APS treatment was assayed with RT-PCR. Protein expression of MICA in HL-60 cells was assayed by flow cytometry before and after treated by APS. The results showed that after treated with APS 15 mg/ml for 48 h, the cytotoxicities of NK cells against HL-60 cells enhanced at different effect-to-target (P < 0.05), and the gene and protein expressions in MICA of HL-60 cells were up-regulated (P < 0.05). It is concluded that the APS can obviously up-regulate the expression of MICA in HL-60 cells, thus enhance sensitivity of HL-60 cells to cytotoxicity of NK cells.
Astragalus Plant ; Cytotoxicity, Immunologic ; drug effects ; HL-60 Cells ; Histocompatibility Antigens Class I ; metabolism ; Humans ; Killer Cells, Natural ; Polysaccharides ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo study the anti-fibrotic effects of danshensu, baicalin, astragalus and Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) and their possible mechanisms.

METHODSThe four Chinese herb products mentioned above were given intraperitoneally to experimental rats with hepatic fibrosis. Colchicine was administered to a control group. Comparisons were made in four aspects: (1) Degrees of liver fibrosis; (2) Serum levels of hyaluronic acid (HA) and type IV collagen (CIV), using radioimmunoassay; (3) Densities of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and hydroxyproline (Hyp), using chromatometry, to detect the expression of tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), matrix metalloproteinase-1(MMP-1) and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF beta 1) in liver tissues, using immunohistochemical techniques; and (4) For hepatic stellate cells (HSCs): proliferation using MMT calorimetric assay, the cell cycles using flow cytometry, apoptosis using AO/EB fluorescence staining and type I and type III collagens using immunocytochemical stainings.

RESULTS(1) Compared with the model group, the serum levels of HA and CIV decreased significantly in all four drug-treated groups, especially in the danshensu-treated group. Astragalus and baicalin had better effects over PNS (P<0.05 or 0.01). (2) In contrast to the model group, all four drugs dramatically reduced the amount of Hyp and MDA, increased SOD activity and reduced the degrees of liver fibrosis and the expressions of TIMP-1 and TGFbeta1 in liver tissues (P<0.05 or 0.01). Danshensu had the best effect, astragalus and baicalin had similar effects which were stronger than PNS. (3) All four drugs inhibited HSCs proliferation, induced HSCs apoptosis and decreased type I, III collagen synthesis of HSC.

CONCLUSIONSThe four drugs could minimize the hepatic fibrosis of rats in different degrees. Danshensu had the best effect, astragalus and baicalin had similar effects. The possible mechanisms of these effects might be related to inhibiting actions on activation and proliferation, promoting apoptosis and lowering the expression of type I and type III collagen of HSCs by down-regulating the expression of TGFbeta1; the decrease in the amount of MDA and the increase of SOD activity; and the reduction of extracellular matrix by down-regulation of TIMP-1/MMP-1.

Animals ; Astragalus Plant ; chemistry ; Astragalus membranaceus ; Collagen Type III ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Ginsenosides ; pharmacology ; Hepatic Stellate Cells ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; drug therapy ; Male ; Panax notoginseng ; chemistry ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the antioxidant activity of astragalus and its therapeutic effect on gestational diabetes.

METHODSEighty-four pregnant women with gestational diabetes were divided into insulin and insulin plus astragalus groups after regular dietary control and insulin treatment to maintain stable blood glucose level. The 43 patients in insulin group received insulin injection, whereas the 41 patients in the other group received treatment with both insulin and astragalus. The SOD activity, MDA level, blood lipids and renal function were determined in both groups after the treatments.

RESULTSThe patients with both insulin and astragalus treatments showed significantly increased serum SOD activity and decreased MDA level, renal function and blood lipids in comparison with those with exclusive insulin treatment.

CONCLUSIONAstragalus can effectively control blood glucose, reduce the free radicals, and promote the antioxidative activity, and may play a role in the prevention and treatment of gestational diabetes.

Antioxidants ; metabolism ; Astragalus Plant ; Diabetes, Gestational ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Phytotherapy ; Pregnancy ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Treatment Outcome