BACKGROUND

With the prevalent use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for AIDS patients since 1996, the mortality of HIV/AIDS patients has been remarkably decreased. With long-term use of HAART, drug resistance and side effects of antiretrovirals have been frequently reported, which not only reduce the efficacy, but also decreases the tolerance of patients. Traditional herbal medicine has become more popular among HIV/AIDS patients as adjuvant therapy to reduce these adverse effects of HAART. SH formula is a Chinese herbal formula consisting of five traditional Chinese herbs including Morus alba L., Glycyrrhiza glabra L., Artemisia capillaris Thumb., Astragalus membranaceus Bge., and Carthamus tinctorius L. SH formula is clinically used for HIV treatment in Thailand. However, the possible pharmacokinetic interactions between these Chinese herbs and antiretroviral drugs have not been well documented. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential herb-drug interaction between SH herbal Chinese formula and the antiretroviral drug atazanavir (ATV).

METHODS

The combination effect of SH formula and ATV on HIV protease was studied in HIV-1 protease inhibition assay in vitro. The inhibition of SH formula on rat CYP3A2 was assessed by detecting the formation of 1'-OH midazolam from midazolam in rat liver microsomes in vitro. The in vivo pharmacokinetic interaction between SH formula and ATV was investigated by measuring time-dependent plasma concentrations of ATV in male Sprague-Dawley rats with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

RESULTS

Through the in vitro HIV-1 protease inhibition assay, combination of SH formula (41.7-166.7 μg/ml) and ATV (16.7-33.3 ng/ml) showed additive inhibition on HIV-1 protease activity than SH formula or ATV used alone. In vitro incubation assay indicated that SH formula showed a weak inhibition (IC50=231.2 µg/ml; Ki=98.2 µg/ml) on CYP3A2 activity in rat liver microsomes. In vivo pharmacokinetic study demonstrated that SH formula did not affect the metabolism of ATV in rats.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrated for the first time that there is no metabolism-based herb-drug interaction between SH formula and ATV in rats, but this combination enhances the inhibition potentials against HIV protease activity. This observation may support the combinational use of anti-HIV treatment in human.

OBJECTIVE

The imbalance between extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis and degradation induces the excessive ECM deposition and thus renal fibrosis. The decoction (A&A) which is a combination of two Chinese herbs, Astragalus membranaceus var. mongholicus and Angelica sinensis, has been shown to alleviate ECM production in animal models of chronic kidney diseases. In this paper, the effect of A&A on ECM degradation was investigated with interstitial fibrosis in rats.

METHODS

Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into sham, unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) and UAA (UUO plus A&A administration) groups. After administration of A&A (14 g x kg(-1) x d(-1)) by gavage for 3, 7 and 10 days, morphological changes were evaluated by HE, PAS and Sirius red staining technique. The expression of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA), the activity of PAI-1 and t-PA were determined by ELISA. The activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-9, MMP-2), tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) were evaluated by gelatin zymography or reverse gelatin zymography, respectively.

RESULTS

Morphological analysis showed severe interstitial mononuclear cells infiltration, tubular atrophy, renal fibrosis and collagen expression in kidneys of UUO group, which was reduced by A&A administration (P < 0.05, UAA vs UUO group). Compared with the sham group, the expression of PAI-1 was significantly increased in UUO group by 63%, 91% and 112% at day 3, 7 and 10 respectively; and there were a remarkable decrease in UAA group by 44%, 43% and 52% at day 3, 7 and 10. The expression of active PAI-1 was strikingly increased in UUO group at day 3 [(30.5 +/- 23.8) ng x g(-1) vs. (0.0 +/- 0.0) ng x g(-1), P < 0.05)], day 7 [(36.5 +/- 11.2) ng x g(-1) vs. (0.0 +/- 0.0) ng x g(-1), P < 0.05)], and day 10 [(54.5 +/- 14.2) ng x g(-1) vs. (0.5 +/- 0.5) ng x g(-1), P < 0.05)]. The active PAI-1 was decreased in UAA group at day 7 [(14.9 +/- 0.5) ng x g(-1) vs. (36.5 +/- 11.2) ng x g(-1), P < 0.05] and day 10 [(15.4 +/- 4.8) ng x g(-1) vs. (54.5 +/- 14.2) ng x g(-1), P < 0.05]. The expression of t-PA was increased in UUO group only at day 3 [(58.1 +/- 16.5) microg x g(-1) vs. (30.1 +/- 17.3) microg x g(-1)], P < 0.05), meanwhile decreased in UAA group [(26.3 +/- 8.7) microg x g(-1) vs. (58.1 +/- 16.5) microg x g(-1), P < 0.05)]. But the expression of active t-PA was shown no significantly difference among the three groups. For MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity, they were significantly higher compared with the sham group in UUO group, but no significantly change after A&A treatment. The TIMP-1 activity was significantly increased in UUO group by 28% and 63% at day 7 and 10 respectively, significantly decreased in UAA group by 40% and 39% at the same time point.

CONCLUSIONS

The anti-fibrosis effects of A&A might be associated with modulating the imbalance of PAs/PAIs system as well as MMPs/TIMPs system, thereby alleviate ECM accumulation and interstitial fibrosis.

Astragalus membranaceus (AM) is one of the important Chinese medicinal herbs which are widely used and well known for its invigoration of vital energy. In the present experiment, the cycle duration of interdigestive myoelectric complex (IDMEC) and the durations of every phase were observed electrophysiologically before and after the 25% concentrated solution (1 ml/kg) was instilled into the empty stomach of the healthy, awakened dog. Signals of IDMEC were recorded by microcomputer. No significant change was found in duodenum in each criteria except for phase which became slightly longer (P < 0.05). While in jejunum the shortening of phase I and the prolonging of phase II were both significant (P < 0.01) and the cycle duration was also extended (P < 0.05) as well as increase of action potential on phase II and within the cycle (P < 0.05), with phase III and IV remained unchanged (P>> 0.05). These results indicated that AM could strengthen the movement and muscle tonus in intestine (esp. in jejunum) and might serve as the scientific evidences to elucidate the effects of AM on the movements in digestive tracts.

OBJECTIVE

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

METHODS

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

RESULTS

A 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.

CONCLUSIONS

The 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.

Astragalosides are among the most predominant of the bioactive compounds in the root of Astragalus membranaceus and are differentially concentrated depending on the anatomical part of the root in question. The aim of this study was to analyse astragaloside contents in the periderm, cortex, and xylem of A. membranaceus root, and to compare the contents between peeled and unpeeled roots. Total astragalosides in the periderm were about 8-fold more concentrated than in the cortex, and 28-fold more concentrated than in the xylem. The dry weight percentages of total astragalosides in primary roots were 43.5% in the periderm, 47.2% in the cortex, and 9.30% in the xylem. Furthermore, unpeeled main (primary) roots were enriched in astragalosides by 1.46-fold compared with peeled main roots, whereas unpeeled lateral roots were enriched by 2.33-fold compared with peeled lateral roots. In conclusion, the periderm is the most astragaloside-rich part of the root of A. membranaceus. Therefore, it is necessary to preserve the periderm in order to supply astragaloside-rich roots for use as health food supplements.

BACKGROUND

Recently it has been reported that Astragalus membranaceus injection (AMI) inhibits immune responses, but whether it affects alloimmunity is not clear. It has been shown that the CD4(+) CD25(+) regulatory T cells (Treg) down-regulate immune responses. The aim of our study was to investigate the effects of AMI on allograft survival and its relation to Treg.

METHODS

Allografted mice were administered AMI for 14 consecutive days with observations of graft survival. The specific recall response, the ratio of Treg, the expression of Foxp3 mRNA, and interleukin (IL)-10 secretion were measured by mixed lymphocyte reactions (MLR), FCM, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, and radioimmunoassay, respectively.

RESULTS

AMI significantly prolonged allograft survival by up-regulating the Treg ratio and promoting Foxp3 expression (P < .05). The ratio of Tregs, the expression of Foxp3 mRNA, and the IL-10 level in the AMI administration group increased from day 7, to reach a maximum at day 14, recovering to the initial level on day 21. No obvious difference was detected between the AMI and a cyclosporine group.

CONCLUSIONS

AMI administered in vivo prolonged allograft survival associated with promotion of Treg activities.

Historically, botanicals have been reported to possess good antioxidative activities as demonstrated by their free radical scavenging property rendering their usage in liver protection. In this study, we describe the potential use of MAP, a standardized blend comprising three extracts from Myristica fragrans, Astragalus membranaceus, and Poria cocos, in ameliorating chemically induced acute liver toxicities. Acetaminophen (APAP) and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced acute liver toxicity models in mice were utilized. Hepatic functional tests from serum collected at T24, histopathology analysis, and merit of blending three standardized extracts were evaluated. MAP administered at doses of 150-400 mg/kg showed statistically significant and dose-correlated inhibitions of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ranging from 30.8% (P ≤ .05) to 88.1% (P = .0001) in the APAP and 66.9% (P = .002) to 83.7% (P = .0002) in the CCl4 models, respectively. Moreover, MAP resulted in up to 75.7%, 60.9%, and 33.3% reductions in serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), bile acid, and total bilirubin, respectively. Mice treated with oral doses of composition of MAP at 300 mg/kg showed statistically significant reduction in hepatocyte necrosis when compared with vehicle control. Unexpected synergistic protection of liver damage was also observed. Therefore, the composition, MAP, could be potentially utilized as an effective hepatic detoxifying agent for the protection of liver damage.

In this study, the RAPD (random amplified polymorphic DNA) technique was employed for the first time to determine the components in a Chinese herbal prescription. Forty decamer oligonucleotide primers were screened in the RAPD analysis to identify three Chinese medicines, the dried root of Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge., the dried root of Ledebouriella seseloides Wolff, and the dried rhizome of Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz, in a Chinese prescription. Only primer OPP-10 simultaneously generated three distinct markers were each specific to one component. The marker with 200 bp is specific to Astragalus membranaceus; the 440 bp marker is specific to Atractylodes macrocephala; and the remaining marker with 500 bp was present in Ledebouriella seseloides. The presence of the three herbal medicines in the mixed sample, the Chinese prescription, was determined when the primer OPP-10 RAPD reaction was performed. The technique was proved to contribute to the identification of components in the Chinese medicinal preparations.

A 46-year-old Korean woman was diagnosed with stage III breast cancer and underwent 8 cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, breast conservation surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy. However, the cancer recurred in the right upper lung (RUL) and the right pulmonary hilum after 8 months. The RUL nodule was removed through a wedge resection, and the pathologic finding was revealed as a metastatic adenocarcinoma. Adjuvant chemotherapy was recommended, but she refused it because she feared adverse reactions to chemotherapy. Instead, Korean Medicine Therapy with intravenous wild ginseng pharmacopuncture (WGP), Cordyceps sinensis pharmacopuncture, Trichosanthes kirilowii pharmacopuncture, Euonymus alatus pharmacopuncture (EAP) and Astragalus membranaceus pharmacopuncture was started. After a month, the disease looked stable, but findings of newly occurring metastatic lymphadenopathies appeared on CT after 6 months. Salvage chemotherapy was recommended, but she also refused it. At this time, Prunella vulgaris pharmacopuncture was started. Finally, a complete resolution was confirmed on PET-CT after 5 months, and she has remained in stable condition for more than 6 months with WGP, EAP, a Soram nebulizer solution inhalation and the oral intake of Soramdan S and Hangamdan S.

Four rhizobial strains representing a previously defined novel group in the genus Mesorhizobium and isolated from Astragalus species in China were further characterized using a polyphasic approach. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that these Gram-negative bacteria belonged to the genus Mesorhizobium, with Mesorhizobium plurifarium LMG 11892(T) as the closest neighbour sharing a sequence similarity of 99.8 %. Comparative sequence analysis of the atpD, recA, glnII, rpoB, nodC and nifH genes, SDS-PAGE of whole-cell soluble proteins, DNA-DNA hybridization, fatty acid profiles and a series of phenotypic and physiological tests differentiated the novel group from all recognized species of the genus Mesorhizobium. Based on the data obtained in the present and previous studies, this group represents a novel species within the genus Mesorhizobium, for which the name Mesorhizobium silamurunense sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CCBAU 01550(T) (= HAMBI 3029(T) = LMG 24822(T)), and could form effective nodules on Astragalus membranaceus, Astragalus adsurgens and Caragana intermedia, and ineffective nodules on Phaseolus vulgaris in cross-nodulation tests.

The aim of the study is to evaluate the efficacy of Chinese herbs (Angelica sinensis, Ligusticum wallichii, Salvia miltiorrhiza, Rhizoma dioscoreae, Rhodiola crenilata, Astragalus membranaceus and Angelica sinensis) on adenine-induced chronic renal failure in rats. 30 age-matched male Wistar rats were divided into three groups. Rats in group A (n = 10), B (n = 10) and C (n = 10) were fed a standard laboratory chow and allowed tap water ad libitum. In group B and C, renal failure was induced by the administration of a diet containing 0.75% adenine for 28 days which began at day 0. Rats in group C were given Chinese herbs (40 ml/kg with drug concentration 1.75 g/ml) beginning at day 0. Urine albumin, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine were determined at days 0, 14 and 28. At day 28, the animals were killed and their kidneys removed for light microscope evaluation. Body weight in Group B decreased more significantly than that in Group C (p = 0.032) at day 28. The rats in group B demonstrated more severe proteinuria and higher Serum creatinine and BUN levels than group C at day 14 and day 28 (P < 0.05, 0.01). All rats given adenine developed marked structural renal damage involving the tubule and interstitium. The values were much less severe in group C than those in group B. In adenine-induced chronic renal failure rats, the protective effects of these Chinese herbs were of a significant nature. Our results do support the notion that these Chinese herbs are useful in deferring the advance of chronic renal failure. We recommend Chinese herbs as a beneficial treatment for pre-end stage chronic renal failure.

We report the effects of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) on alcohol-induced fatty liver in rats. TCM consists of Astragalus membranaceus, Morus alba, Crataegus pinnatifida, Alisma oriental, Salvia miltiorrhiza and Pueraria lobata. The rats were separated randomly into five groups; the CD group (n=10), which was fed a control diet for 10 weeks, the ED group (n=10), which was fed an isocaloric liquid diet containing ethanol for 10 weeks and given daily oral doses of TCM (0.222 g/kg/day; TCM222, 0.667 g/kg/day; TCM667, and 2.000 g/kg/day; TCM2000, n=10, respectively) over the last four weeks of the study. The ED group developed fatty livers, as determined by their lipid profiles and liver histological findings. Compared with the control group, liver/body weight, plasma triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC), liver TG and TC, plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartic aminotransferase (AST) significantly increased in the ED group. Also, free fatty acids (FFA) levels increased in both plasma and liver during the administration of ethanol. On the other hand, when rats were administrated with TCM, their liver/body weight, plasma TG, TC and FFA, liver TG, TC and FFA, plasma ALT and AST decreased significantly and the degree of hepatic lipid droplets was markedly improved compared with those in the ED group. Proper function of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha) is essential for the regulation of hepatic fatty acid metabolism. Microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP) is essential for the secretion of triglycerides from the liver. mRNAs for PPARalpha and MTP were reduced in the livers of ethanol-fed rats. TCM restored the mRNA levels of PPARalpha and MTP, and prevented development of fatty livers in ethanol-fed rats. Impairment of PPARalpha and MTP function during ethanol consumption contributes to the development of alcohol-induced fatty liver, which can be overcome by TCM.

OBJECTIVE

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

METHODS

Such 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.

RESULTS

Fourteen 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).

CONCLUSIONS

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

Recently, an epidemic disease outbreak caused by a novel human coronavirus has surged worldwide. Our aim is to briefly describe the potential help of phytotherapy research in finding new integrative therapeutic options against human coronaviruses, and to provide researchers with some essential hints to be used for planning future studies. Existing evidence mostly derives from laboratory studies, whereas clinical data have been only collected for multi-component formulations used in Traditional Chinese Medicine in addition to standard care. Herbs with anti-viral properties like Glycyrrhiza glabra, Scutellaria baicalensis, Sambucus nigra, Pelargonium sidoides, or Cistus incanus, as well as herbal remedies with immune boosting effects like Astragalus membranaceus or Echinacea purpurea may all appear interesting options to study. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Astragaloside IV (AsIV), an active ingredient isolated from traditional Chinese medicine astragalus membranaceus, is beneficial to cardiovascular health. This study aimed to characterize the functional role of AsIV against adriamycin (ADR)-induced cardiomyopathy. Here, healthy rats were treated with ADR and/or AsIV for 35 days. We found that AsIV protected the rats against ADR-induced cardiomyopathy characterized by myocardial fibrosis and cardiac dysfunction. Meanwhile, ADR increased type I and III collagens, TGF-β, NOX2, and NOX4 expression and SMAD2/3 activity in the left ventricles of rats, while those effects were countered by AsIV through suppressing oxidative stress. Moreover, ADR was found to promote cardiac ferroptosis, whereas administration of AsIV attenuated the process via activating Nrf2 signaling pathway and the subsequent GPx4 expression increasing. These results suggest that AsIV might play a protective role against ADR-induced myocardial fibrosis, which may partly attribute to its anti-ferroptotic action by enhancing Nrf2 signaling.

Keywords: Adriamycin; Astragaloside IV; Ferroptosis; Heart; Nrf2.

Apoptosis plays a crucial role in regulating cardiomyopathy and injuries of coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3)-induced viral myocarditis (VM). It has been reported that Astragaloside IV (AST-IV) from Astragalus membranaceus could inhibit apoptosis under a variety of pathological conditions in vivo or in vitro. However, the functional roles of AST-IV in CVB3-induced VM still remain unknown. Here, we found that AST-IV significantly enhanced survival for CVB3-induced mice. AST-IV protected the mice against CVB3-induced virus myocarditis characterized by the increased body weight, decreased serum level of creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), supressed expression of Ifn-γ, Il-6 in heart, enhanced systolic and diastolic function of left ventricle. At the pathological level, AST-IV ameliorated the mice against CVB3-induced myocardial damage and myocardial fibrosis. In vitro, the results from flow cytometry showed that AST-IV significantly suppressed CVB3-induced cardiomyocytes apoptosis, which also were verified in vivo. Moreover, an increased expression of pro-apoptotic genes including FAS, FASL, cleaved caspase-8 and cleaved caspase-3 was found in CVB3-induced cardiomyocytes, while those was inhibited in cardiomyocytes treated with AST-IV. Taken together, the data suggest that AST-IV protected against CVB3-induced myocardial damage and fibrosis, which may partly attribute to supress activation of FAS/FASL signaling pathway.

A pot culture with unsterilized soil as growth substrate showed that AM fungi had significant effects on the growth of Astragalus membranaceus (Fabaceae) under different N application levels. Inoculation with AM fungi promoted the AM infection of A. membranaceus roots, but high N application level suppressed the infection. Inoculating AM fungi increased the growth rate, soluble protein and sugar contents, and SOD, POD and CAT activities of A. membranaceus. Under 50 and 100 mg x kg(-1) of N application, new bands of POD isozyme occurred in inoculated plants, and the contents of flavonoid, N, and P in A. membranaceus also had definite increase. The best inoculation effect was observed under the N application level of 50-100 mg N x kg(-1) soil.

OBJECTIVE

The study was to investigate the prevention effects and possible mechanism of Yu Ping Feng San fractioned polysaccharide (YPF-P) on CCl(4)-induced liver fibrosis in rats.

METHODS

YPF-P was prepared from root of Astragalus membranaceus, rhizome of Atractylodes macrocephaia and root of Raidix saposhnikoviae, and compared with polysaccharide from root of Astragalus membranaceus (AP). Hepatic fibrosis was induced by subcutaneous injection with carbon tetrachloride twice weekly for 12 weeks in Sprague-Dawley rats. YPF-P, AP and colchicine were administered intragastrically daily to carbon tetrachloride-treated rats. Histopathological changes of the liver and hepatic stellate cells were evaluated by Masson staining and transmission electron microscopy, respectively. Markers of fibrosis were determined by radioimmunoassay, biochemistry assay and ELISA. The mRNA expressions of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13), procollagen I and collagen III were detected by RT-PCR.

RESULTS

YPF-P dose-dependently alleviated the degree of liver fibrosis and inhibited hepatic stellate cell transformation into myofibroblast-like cells, markedly reduced the elevated levels of hyaluronic acid, laminin, type IV collagen, type III procollagen, hydroxyproline and transforming growth factor beta-1, suppressed procollagen I, collagen III and TIMP-1 expression, and improved the TIMP-1/MMP-13 ratio. MMP-13 expression was only promoted moderately by YPF-P. Compared with AP, YPF-P showed more potency on most markers except laminin, type IV collagen and MMP-13 mRNA.

CONCLUSIONS

YPF-P prevented the progress of rat liver fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride and had a more potent preventative effect. The preventative effect may be associated with the ability of YPF-P to inhibit the synthesis of matrix collagen and balance the TIMP/MMP system.

This paper presents the anti-senility effects of Shou Xing Bu Zhi (SXBZ. made of thirteen herbs: Polygonum multiflorum, Codonopsis silvestris, Astragalus membranaceus, Poria cocos, etc.) in mice. The mice were administered with the SXBZ orally at dosage of 10 g/kg daily for three months. The results showed that the lipofuscin of liver and brain tissues was significantly reduced in both young (1 month old) and adult (11 months) mice. Examination of lipid peroxidation of liver tissue revealed a marked decrease in adult mice. The lipid peroxidation of rat liver homogeneous was obviously inhibited after culturing with drug solutions (5.0 mg/0.1 ml), 37 degrees C for 90 minutes in vitro. In addition, the diminution of hydroxyproline of skin in both young and adult mice was observed. Results of this study indicated that the SXBZ was effective in slowing down aging.

HT042 is a new herbal prescription consisting of Astragalus membranaceus, Phlomis umbrosa and Eleutherococcus senticosus, which are used in Korean medicine to stimulate growth in children. We investigated the effects of HT042 on the body weight, longitudinal bone growth, and bone length in spontaneous dwarf rats (SDR). Male and female SDRs were divided into three groups: the control group (DW, 10 mL/kg/day), the recombinant human GH group (rhGH; 500 µg/kg/day), and the HT042 (100 mg/kg/day) group. Each group received the respective treatments for 10 days. Body weight was measured on day 10 of treatment. On day 8, tetracycline (20 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally into all individuals to form a fluorescent band on the newly synthesized bone. On day 10, femur and tibia lengths were measured using PIXImus. Body weight, longitudinal bone growth, and bone length were not affected in the HT042 group. In contrast, the rhGH group showed significantly increased body weight, longitudinal bone growth, and bone length. In conclusion, HT042 does not act through a GH-like effect to promote longitudinal bone growth.

Medicinal herbs (21 species) were screened for the antioxidant activity and nicotine degradation activity (NDA) in vitro. Eleven of them with higher antioxidant activity and NDA were selected for preparation of the medicinal herb tea (MHT) and the effects of MHT on smoking cessation and reducing smoking withdrawal symptoms were evaluated in 100 male human smokers. Among these medicinal herbs, Eugenia aromaticum and Astragalus membranaceus Bunge showed the highest antioxidant activity (IC50 of 30.0 microg/mL) and NDA (1.81), respectively. MHT showed relatively high antioxidant activity (IC50 of 50.6 microg/mL) and NDA (1.23). The urinary cotinine level, a metabolite of nicotine, increased in the first 2 weeks and greatly decreased from the 2nd to 4th week in the MHT taking group, which indicates that MHT accelerates the conversion of nicotine into cotinine. Human groups taking MHT for 4 weeks underwent reduced smoking withdrawal symptoms compared to the non-MHT taking subjects, and 38% of subjects taking MHT succeeded in smoking cessation, while only 12% of non-MHT taking subjects succeeded in quitting smoking.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of AMI on hematopoiesis in anemic mice and explore the possible mechanisms.

METHODS

Anemic mice model resulted from myelosuppression by irradiation and cytotoxic chemotherapeutic compounds were randomly divided into three groups: treated group I, treated group II and anemic control group. Intraperitoneal doses of AMI(500 mg/kg, 1000 mg/kg) were given to the treated group, and equal doses of physiological saline were given to the anemic control group. On 7 days after treatment, the count of whole blood cells and bone marrow cells were determined by blood auto-analyzer. The numbers of CFU-GM (granulocyte and macrophage colony forming unit), CFU-E (colony forming unit-erythroid), BFU-E (burst forming unit-erythroid), CFU-Meg(colony forming unit-megakaryocyte) were determined by using technique of hematopoietic progenitor cells culture in vitro. Expression of anti-apoptosis protein BcL-XL and BcL-2 in BMC were determined by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

RBC, HB, PLT (P < 0.05) and BMC (P < 0.01) in treated group I were significantly higher than that of anemic control. The number of CFU-E, BFU-E and CFU-Meg as well as expression of anti-apoptosis protein BcL-XL of BMC in treated group I also were significantly higher than that of anemic control (P <0. 05 or P <0. 01), while numbers of CFU-E as well as expression of anti-apoptosis protenin BcL-XL of BMC in treated group II were higher than that of anemic control (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

AMI can lesson apoptosis of bone marrow cells and promote hematopoietic progenitor cells to differentiate along the erythroid and megakaryocytoid line by up-regulating expression of antiapoptosis protein BcL-XL of BMC.

Chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy are believed to further lower the already low cellular immunologic response of cancer patients giving poorer prognosis. A number of Chinese medicinal herbs known as Fuzheng therapy (FZT), in which AM is an active one, are being used to enhance the natural host defence function in cancer patients. Among some fractions of AM polysaccharide extracts, FB was the strongest. In vitro restorative effects of FB in 18 normal healthy individuals and in 9 previously untreated advanced cancer patients are reported. Local graft versus host (GVH) reaction and blastogenic response of lymphocytes in vitro (BRL) were used as test index for T-cell function. GVH reaction nodules with a volume greater than or equal to 50 mm3 were considered as positive GVH reaction. FB 100 micrograms/ml induced a restored reaction in 18 normal donors with an increase in local GVH reaction from 69.6 +/- 20.8 mm3 to 148.9 +/- 40.8 mm3 (P less than 0.001) and in 9 cancer patients with an increase in local GVH reaction from 29.3 +/- 9.5 mm3 to 137.2 +/- 35.8 mm3 (P less than 0.001). The local GVH reaction of the 9 cancer patients went from negative to positive. FB on BRL was detected. 10 micrograms/ml of FB augmented the spontaneous 3H-TdR incorporation in the lymphocyte of 18 normal subjects from 310.2 to 910.9 counts per minute (cpm) and of 9 patients from 248.5 to 642.2 cpm, but the effects were not strong. The effect of single mitogen was not remarkable.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

BACKGROUND

Huangqi injection is derived from Astragalus membranaceus root. In China, recent reports of Huangqi injection for the treatment of leucopenia have emerged. However, a systematic review of these reports has not been performed. Thus, we conducted a meta-analysis of clinical controlled trials to assess the clinical value of Huangqi injection in the treatment of leucopenia.

METHODS

We searched the Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), Wanfang Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese Scientific Journals Full-text Database (VIP), as well as PubMed and EMBASE to collect the data about trials of Huangqi injection for treating leucopenia. A meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.2 software.

RESULTS

A total of 13 studies involving 841 patients were included in this study. The overall study quality was lower according to the Jadad scale. The meta-analysis showed that experimentally treated patients experienced greater therapeutic efficacy and lower white blood cell counts than control groups treated with Western medicine (P < 0.05). No publication bias was evident, according to Egger's test.

CONCLUSIONS

The validity of this meta-analysis was limited by the overall poor quality of the included studies. Huangqi injection may have potential clinical value in the treatment of leucopenia, but confirmation with rigorously well-designed multi-center trials is needed.