To explore the status of the resources of Astragali Radix, a survey on its germplasm resources was carried out. Some conclusions can be drawn for Astragali Radix: the major source is the cultivated Astragalus mongolicus. The new major cultivation areas for A. mongolicus and A. membranaceus are Shandong and Gansu province. The semi-wildly planting model in Shanxi province maintains the genuine trait of Astragali Radix, but its yield is limited, and now a combination model has been developed. The major problems for Astragali Radix are the selection of planting sites, the rot root and difficulty in collecting and processing. Several developmental proposals for Astragali Radix were put forward including rational distribution of planting areas, establishment of standard system, development and standardization of producing technologies.
Astragalus Plant ; growth & development ; Astragalus membranaceus ; growth & development ; China

OBJECTIVETo study the isoflavonoid constituents of the roots of Astragalus membranaceus var. mongholicus.

METHODSuch column chromatography methods as HPD-100 macroporous adsorption resin, silica gel, polyamide and Sephadex LH-20 gel were used for seperating and purifying isoflavonoids, and their structures were identified on the basis of spectral data.

RESULTFourteen compounds were separated and identified as: formononetin (1), ononin (2) calycosin (3), calycosin-7-O-beta-3-D-glucopyranoside (4), (6aR, 11aR)-3-hydroxy-9,10-dimethoxypterocarpan (5), (6aR, 11aR)-3-hydroxy-9,10-dimethoxypterocarpan-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (6), (3R) -7,2'-dihydroxy-3', 4'-dimethoxyisoflavan (7), (3R) -7, 2'-dihydroxy-3', 4'-dimethoxyisoflavan-7-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (8), 6"-O-acetyl-ononin (9), 6"-O-acetyl-(3R) -7, 2'-dihydroxy-3', 4'-dimethoxyisoflavan-7-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (10), 6"-O-acetyl-(6aR, 11aR)-3-hydroxy-9, 10-dimethoxypterocarpan-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (11), pratensein (12), sissotrin (13) and 5,7,4'-trihydroxy-3'-methoxyisoflavone (14).

CONCLUSIONCompound 10 was a new compound. Compounds 9, 11, 13,14 were separated from A. membranaceus var. mongholicus for the first time.

Astragalus membranaceus ; chemistry ; Isoflavones ; analysis ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; analysis ; Plant Roots ; chemistry

There are dispute about the status of taxonomy among Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge, A. membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge. var. mongholicus (Bge.) Hsiao. and A. pallidipurpureus stat. nov. The varieties and taxa of the complex are still in need of revision. With molecular biology study used trnH-psbA intergenic region, the taxonomic revision of Radix Astragali has been made. A. pallidipurpureus stat. nov is suggested as a new species.
Astragalus Plant ; classification ; genetics ; Astragalus membranaceus ; classification ; genetics ; Chloroplasts ; genetics ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; Haplotypes ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots ; genetics ; Plants, Medicinal ; classification ; genetics ; Species Specificity

OBJECTIVETo study the genetic relationship of Astragalus membranaceus var. mongholicus in different producing area and provide theoretical basis for the evaluation of Astragalus germplasm resources.

METHODThrough quence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP) analysis, the systematic diagram of genetic relationship was constructed by UPGMA method.

RESULTA total of 141 SRAP markers were scored. By the use of UPGMA cluster analysis with genetic distance, Astragalus could be divided into two provenance plots of Gansu and Shanxi.

CONCLUSIONThe genetic differentiation among populations of A. membranaceus var. mongholicus is remarkable. SRAP marker could be efficiently used for the study of the genetic relationship of Astragalus.

Astragalus Plant ; classification ; genetics ; Astragalus membranaceus ; genetics ; DNA, Plant ; analysis ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; classification ; Genetic Markers ; genetics ; Phylogeny ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study separation and purification of flavonids with ethanol/phosphate aqueous two-phase system.

METHODThe diversity of phase separation ability and the distribution of target products in various systems were taken as indicators to analyze aqueous two-phase extraction systems and phase diagrams formed by ethanol and some common salts, screen out EtOH/ K2HPO4 system as the optimla system for extracting total flavonids, and study the impact of proportion of components in EtOH/K2 HPO4 system on the partition coefficient and phase ratio of flavonids.

RESULT AND CONCLUSIONThe EtOH/K2 HPO4 system with omegaEtOH 36.05% and omegaKHPO4 18.20% has been proved as the optimal conditions for separating and purifying total flavonoids of Astragalus (TFA). Under this optimal condition, the partition coefficient and the extraction yield of TFA reached 10.33 and 96.6%, respectively. After extraction, the contents of A. membranaceus saponins and A. membranaceus polysaccharides in top and bottom phases were determined at the same time, showing that A. membranaceus saponins in the removal rate reached 92.01%, and A. membranaceus polysaccharides were totally concentrated in bottom water phase, indicating a removal rate of 100%. Therefore, this is beneficial to separate and purify total flavonids from A. membranaceus crude extracts.

Astragalus membranaceus ; chemistry ; Chemical Fractionation ; methods ; Ethanol ; chemistry ; Flavonoids ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; Phosphates ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; analysis ; isolation & purification

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

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

AIMTo determine calycosin-7-O-beta-D-glucoside, astragaloside IV and formononetin in Radix Astragali and other relative samples by HPLC-MS.

METHODSHPLC was carried out with Agilent 1100LC/MSD, equipped with Agilent Zorbax SB C18 column (250 mm x 4.6 mm ID, 5 microm) and mass spectrum detector. The mobile phase (CH3CN-H2O) was eluted in gradient mode.

RESULTSThe calibration curves of calycosin-7-O-beta-D-glucoside, astragaloside IV and formononetin were linear in the range of 0.03 - 1.21 microg x mL(-1), 0.35 - 13.86 microg x mL(-1) and 0.38 - 15.22 microg x mL(-1), respectively. These recoveries of samples were from 95% to 105% with RSD less than 1.5%.

CONCLUSIONThe method was employed to analyse 25 samples of Radix Astragali and other relative samples, including Radix Astragali slice, Radix Astragali Preparata, Hedysarum polybotrys Hand. -Mazz, Astragalus ernestii Comb. The contents of three constituents vary greatly because of the species, place of collection and season of harvesting. This method could apply to evaluate the quality of Radix Astragali and it is simple, sensitive and reliable.

Astragalus Plant ; chemistry ; Astragalus membranaceus ; chemistry ; China ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Ecosystem ; Glucosides ; analysis ; Isoflavones ; analysis ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Reproducibility of Results ; Saponins ; analysis ; Seasons ; Species Specificity ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; methods ; Triterpenes ; analysis

In order to ensure the superior quality and safety of the raw materials of the Chinese herbal medicine, a standard operating procedure for astragalus was established on the base of the GAP of the Chinese herbal medicine as well as practice investigation and experiments. This standard operating procedure provides the technical requirements for astragalus's growing, field management, controlling of the diseases and pests, harvesting, processing, packing, storing, transporting and quality monitoring.
Astragalus membranaceus ; growth & development ; Drug Packaging ; Drug Storage ; Pest Control ; Pesticide Residues ; Plant Diseases ; Plant Roots ; growth & development ; Plants, Medicinal ; growth & development ; Quality Control ; Soil ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; standards

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of processing on the contents of saccharides in Huangqi.

METHODThe contents of reducing saccharides, water-soluble saccharides and poly saccharides in Huangqi and its processed products were determined with phenol-H2SO4 method.

RESULTThe contents of poly saccharides in the alcohol-broiled product were the highest of all the products. The others were all higher than those in the crude drug.

CONCLUSIONDifferent processing methods result in different effects on the above saccharides, which administers to the interpretation of the theory of Huangqi processing.

Astragalus membranaceus ; chemistry ; Drug Stability ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Hot Temperature ; Oryza ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Polysaccharides ; analysis ; Salts ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; Wine