The current work assessed the potential immunomodulatory and growth-promoting effects of Astragalus membranaceus (AM) and Glycyrrhiza glabra (liquorice) in Yellow perch (Perca flavescens). In this regard, fish with an average weight of 31 ± 1.0 g were divided into five groups, and fed daily with an additive-free basal diet (control); 1, 2, and 3% (w/w) Glycyrrhiza glabra, and the fifth diet was incorporated with a combination of 1% G. glabra-AM for a four-week period. Immunological, biochemical and growth parameters were measured; and sub-groups of fish were exposed to 1-week starvation. The results showed that incorporating AM and liquorice in the diet significantly improved Immunological [superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT), Lipid peroxidase (LPx) and lysozyme activities], biochemical [Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) and Alanine Transaminase (ALT) activities; and glucose and cortisol concentrations] and growth performance parameters [body mass gain (BMG), specific growth rate (SGR), length, condition factor (K) and feed conversion ratio (FCR)]. In addition, markedly up-regulated the expression of related genes [Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1), Serum amyloid A (SAA), Complement Component C3 (CCC3), Alpha 2 Macroglobulin (A2M), SOD and GPx] in treated fish groups compared to the control. Conclusively, feeding AM and liquorice diets significantly increased (P < 0.05) growth performance, antioxidant and immune response profiles throughout the entire experiment, suggesting their beneficial rule as natural anti-stress agents.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease of CNS. Astragalus polysaccharides (APS), the main active extract from astragalus membranaceus which is a kind of traditional Chinese medicinal herb, is associated with a variety of immunomodulatory activities. We have evaluated the therapeutic effects of APS in the animal model of MS, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). It was found that APS could effectively alleviate EAE through inhibiting MOG_35-55-specific T cell proliferation and reducing the expression of proinflammatory cytokines, which is mediated by up-regulating the expression of PD-1/PD-Ls signaling pathway. Our results demonstrated that EAE could be suppressed significantly by APS administration. It indicated that APS might be a potential of developing innovative drug for the therapy of MS.

Radiotherapy was considered to induce abscopal effect initiated through antigen release and presenting by dendritic cells (DC), while immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TEM) attenuated the effects. Herein, we utilized bioactive polysaccharides extracted from a natural herb Astragalus membranaceus and developed polysaccharide nanoparticles (ANP) that can reverse TEM and accordingly, enhance the radiation-induced abscopal effect. ANP showed ability to prolong the survival rate of tumor-bearing mice. In addition, ANP dramatically inhibited the growth of the primary tumor subjected to radiation, as well as the secondary tumor distant from the primary lesion. Mechanistic study demonstrated that ANP-induced immune response was mainly reflected by DC activation, represented by phenotypic maturation and enhanced antigen presentation through TLR4 signaling pathway. Mature DC induced by ANP migrated to tumor-draining lymph node and initiated T cell expansion. Specifically, DC activation was successfully translated into an increase of CD4+ T/Treg and CD8+ T/Treg ratio within both primary (irradiated) and secondary (unirradiated) tumors. Our results also indicated that the systemic anti-tumor immune response and immune memory were enhanced with the increase of IFN-γ production and effector memory T cell population. Our work provided a novel strategy to facilitate the incorporation of immunoactive macromolecules purified from natural herbs into modern nanotechnology in the era of immunotherapy.

Objective: To investigate the evolution of herbal medicine in treating tuberculosis (TB) and encourage anti-TB drug discovery and development.

Methods: In this study, 477 ancient traditional Chinese medicine formulae were collected from the Dictionary of Traditional Chinese Medicine Prescriptions and 172 modern Chinese medicine formulae (from 1986 to 2016) were collected by searching 4 databases: WanFang Data Knowledge Service Platform, China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database (CNKI), China Science and Technology Journal Database (VIP) and Chinese Bio-medical Literature and Retrieval System (SinoMed) in Chinese. We restricted the search to publications in Chinese. Further data analysis was done using the Traditional Chinese Medicine Inheritance Support System version 2 Software.

Results: There were 425 herbs in the 477 ancient formulae and 257 herbs in the 172 modern formulae. Half of the top 30 herbs were shared by both modern and ancient prescriptions. They are Radix Ophiopogonis, Astragalus membranaceus, Fritillaria cirrhosa, Dried rehmannia glutinosa, Poria cocos, Angelica sinensis, Prepared rehmannia glutinosa, Platycodon Root, Radix paeoniae alba, Schisandra chinensis, Bighead atractylodes rhizome, Rhizoma anemarrhenae, Cortex lycii radicis and Radix Scutellariae. Only two groups of herbs with a high correlation coefficient were found in both modern and ancient prescriptions, the Dried rehmannia glutinosa with Radix ophiopogonis, and Radix ophiopogonis with Prepared rehmannia glutinosa. There were 9 and 15 core herb combinations in modern and ancient prescriptions, respectively, but no one was found simutaniously in both modern and ancient prescriptions.

Conclusions: Although there were wide variations in the herb groups and herb combinations in the formulae, half of the top 30 herbs were found in both modern and ancient prescriptions. The core herb combinations in modern and ancient prescriptions could help us to improve the priscription for treatment of TB.

Keywords: Chinese materia medica; anti-tuberculosis berbs; herbal formula; tuberculosis.

Astragalus membranaceus and Curcuma zedoaria, two traditional Chinese medicines, are widely used together in colorectal cancer adjuvant treatment. Many different mechanisms should be involved in the benefit effect of Astragalus membranaceus and Curcuma zedoaria. In this study, we established that the combined extract from Astragalus membranaceus and Curcuma zedoaria (HQEZ) decreased the metastasis ability in colorectal cancer cells (HCT116, a cell line of colorectal carcinoma established from Homo sapiens) in vitro, and the treatment induced the downregulation of EMT signal and decreased CXCR4 expression and the level of β-catenin. Overexpression of CXCR4 and the administration of the agonist and inhibitor to β-catenin signal pathway were used to explore the mechanism of Astragalus membranaceus and Curcuma zedoaria in colorectal cancer treatment. The data demonstrated that HQEZ increased the phosphorylation of β-catenin which related to the degradation of β-catenin, and it induced the downregulation of EMT signal and CXCR4. It meant that the influence of β-catenin should be a key event in the antimetastasis effects of Astragalus membranaceus-Curcuma zedoaria in colorectal cancer model. These findings revealed the potential effect and mechanism of Astragalus membranaceus-Curcuma zedoaria in colorectal cancer treatment and provided insight for optimization of the usage.

Xiang-qi-tang (XQT) is a Chinese herbal formula containing rhizoma Cyperi, Andrographis paniculata and Astragalus membranaceus. The present study investigated the effects of XQT on the mortality and inflammatory mediators in a chicken model challenged with avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC). To detect the effect of XQT, the chickens were pretreated with the formula 12 h before being challenged with 10(8) colony forming unit (CFU) of APEC. The results showed that 0.6 g/kg XQT significantly elevated the survival rate of infected chickens. To further investigate the mechanism of decreasing mortality of XQT, we examined plasma inflammatory mediator levels. The levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 (IL-1) and soluble endothelial protein C receptor (sEPCR) were significantly increased in chickens challenged with APEC alone, whereas chickens pretreated with 0.6 g/kg XQT showed marked decrease of these inflammatory mediator levels during the death peak. Taken together, this study demonstrates that XQT has protective effects in APEC-treated chickens. The action mechanisms of XQT involve anti-inflammation and antithrombotic activity. These findings may contribute to future research on the action mechanisms of this formula, as well as prevention of or therapy for avian colibacillosis.

Both osteoblasts and preosteoclasts contribute to the coupling of osteogenesis and angiogenesis, regulating bone regeneration. Astragaloside IV (AS-IV), a glycoside of cycloartane-type triterpene derived from the Chinese herb Astragalus membranaceus, exhibits various biological activities, including stimulating angiogenesis and attenuating ischemic-hypoxic injury. However, the effects and underlying mechanisms of AS-IV in osteogenesis, osteoclastogenesis, and bone regeneration remain poorly understood. In the present study, we found that AS-IV treatment inhibited osteoclastogenesis, preserved preosteoclasts, and enhanced platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB)-induced angiogenesis. Additionally, AS-IV promoted cell viability, osteogenic differentiation, and angiogenic gene expression in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). The activation of AKT/GSK-3β/β-catenin signaling was found to contribute to the effects of AS-IV on osteoclastogenesis and osteogenesis. Furthermore, AS-IV accelerated bone regeneration during distraction osteogenesis (DO), as evidenced from the improved radiological and histological manifestations and biomechanical parameters, accompanied by enhanced angiogenesis within the distraction zone. In summary, AS-IV accelerates bone regeneration during DO, by enhancing osteogenesis and preosteoclast-induced angiogenesis simultaneously, partially through AKT/GSK-3β/β-catenin signaling. These findings reveal that AS-IV may serve as a potential bioactive molecule for promoting the coupling of osteogenesis and angiogenesis, and imply that AKT/GSK-3β/β-catenin signaling may be a promising therapeutic target for patients during DO treatment.

Keywords: angiogenesis; astragaloside IV; bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell; distraction osteogenesis; preosteoclast.

Lung cancer is one of the most fatal cancers due to its high metastatic rate. Traditional Chinese medicine has been used in cancer patients for decades to improve quality of life and prolong survival time. The present study used a novel Qiyusanlong (QYSL) decoction composed of 10 kinds of Chinese medicine including astragalus membranaceus (Huangqi), polygonatumod oratum (yuzu), scolopendra (tianlong), pberetima (dilong), solanum nigrum (longkui), herbahedyotis (baihushecao), semen coicis (yiyiren), euphorbia helioscopia (zeqi), curcuma longa (eshu) and tendril-leaved fritillary bulb (chuanbei). The effects and function of the QYSL decoction remain to be elucidated. The present study established a mouse xenograft model using Lewis lung carcinoma cell injection and administered different doses of QYSL decoction to the mice. It was demonstrated that the chemotherapy drug Cisplatin (DDP) and QYSL decoction repressed lung tumor growth, and the inhibitory effect of DDP was more significant. Furthermore, QYSL decoction and DDP modulated the expression of regulatory proteins in the Wnt/β‑catenin pathway, including Wnt1, Wnt2, Wnt5a and glycogen synthase kinase 3β, detected by western blotting, and affected the signals of cluster of differentiation 44 variation 6 and Survivin in tumor tissues, examined via immunohistochemistry. The combination of QYSL decoction and DDP enhanced the inhibitory effect. These data demonstrated that the QYSL decoction repressed lung tumor development via the Wnt/β‑catenin pathway. The therapeutic effect of QYSL decoction alone was milder compared with DDP, however the combination of QYSL decoction and chemotherapy exhibited an increased the rapeutic effect compared with the treatments administered alone. These findings revealed the function of QYSL decoction as a lung cancer treatment and provided insight for a novel lung cancer therapy.

A new isoflavone glucoside (1) was isolated from the roots of Astragalus membranaceus var. mongholicus. Its structure was elucidated by spectroscopic methods.

OBJECTIVE

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection was greatly common in the world. CMV infection produces usually mild or asymptomatic infections in individuals with normal immune responses, whereas it may cause serious disease in immunosuppressive patients. Clinical manifestations include suppression of myelopoiesis, a mononucleosis like syndrome, hepatosplenomegaly, lymphadenopathy, thrombocytopenia, and hemolytic anemia. In patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation CMV remains the most common infectious causes of morbidity and mortality. But the treatment drugs with specific effect for CMV was fewer at the present. This study was to investigate the effect of CMV on proliferation of colony forming unit granulocyte-macrophage (CFU-GM), CFU-erythroid (CFU-E), brust forming unit-erythroid (BFU-E), CFU-multipotential (CFU-Mix) and CFU-megakaryocyte (CFU-Mk) progenitor cells of cord blood (CB) with the presence of ganciclovir (GCV) and astragalus membranaceus in vitro.

METHODS

Twenty CB samples were collected from fetal umbilical vein of normal term spontaneous delivery neonates. The colony forming unit-assay was applied to observe the suppression effect of CMV-AD169 strain on CFU-GM, CFU-E, BFU-E, CFU-Mix and CFU-Mk of CB with the presence of GCV and astragalus membranaceus in vitro. The technique of PCR was used to demonstrate the existence of CMV-AD169 DNA in the colony cells of cultured CFU-GM, CFU-E, BFU-E, CFU-Mix and CFU-Mk.

RESULTS

(1) The numbers of CFU-GM, CFU-E, BFU-E, CFU-Mix and CFU-Mk colonies in CMV infection groups were significantly less than those in blank and mock group, respectively. The last time of colonies in groups with CMV infection was significantly shorten compared with the blank and mock group. (2) CMV-DNA was positively detected in the colony cells of CMV infection groups by PCR, while negative in the control groups. (3) The lasting time of CFU-GM, CFU-E, BFU-E, CFU-Mix and CFU-Mk colonies infected with CMV extended significantly with the presence of astragalus membranaceus and GCV, and the numbers of those increased significantly compared with the CMV infection group, respectively. The increasing rate of colonies was 27.2%, 45.2%, 49.1%, 39.0% and 11.9% with astragalus membranaceus group, 37.4%, 74.2%, 71.7%, 67.4% and 38.9% with GCV group, 53.6%, 83.8%, 88.7%, 87.8% and 61.5% with astragalus membranaceus and GCV group, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The differentiation and proliferation of CFU-GM, CFU-E, BFU-E, CFU-Mix and CFU-Mk were significantly inhibited after infected with CMV-AD169 strain. The suppression effect of CMV-AD169 on CFU-GM, CFU-E, BFU-E, CFU-Mix and CFU-Mk was inhibited with the presence of GCV and astragalus membranaceus in vitro. This suggested that CMV-AD169 may be inhibited or killed by GCV and Astragalus Membranaceus in vitro.

An accurate RP-HPLC method for the determination of 10-hydroxy-3, 9-dimethoxypeterocarpan, (3R) 8,2'-dihydroxy-7,4'-dimethoxyisoflavan, formonenetin (7-hydroxy-4'-methoxyisoflavone), 8, 3'-dihydroxy-7, 4'-dimethoxy-isoflavone, 2'-hydroxy-3', 4'-dimethoxyisoflavan-7-O-glucopyranoside and alycosin (7,3'-dihydroxy-4'-methoxyisoflavone) in the hairy root cultures of Astragalus membranaceus was developed. Among them, 10-hydroxy-3, 9-dimethoxypeterocarpan, (3R) 8,2'-dihydroxy-7,4'-dimethoxyisoflavan and 8,3'-dihydroxy-7,4'-dimethoxyisoflavone were new compounds in Astragalus membranaceus. The analytical column was Nucleosil C18. The mobile phases were methanol-water = 3:2 and 1:1 (v/v). The detection wavelengths were 254 nm and 280 nm. Calibration graphs were rectilinear between 2.5 micrograms and 12.5 micrograms. The recoveries were between 96.47% and 103.33%. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) of measurement precision test were 2.57%-6.52%. The flavonoid contents in the hairy root cultures were between 0.0005% and 0.0065% (dry weight).

Two new cycloartane-type triterpenoid saponins were isolated from the roots of Astragalus membranaceus (FISCH.) BGE. (Leguminosae) cultivated in Kangwon province, Korea. These saponins were named astramembranosides A and B and were established to be cycloastragenol 6,25-di-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (astramembranoside A) and cyclocanthogenin 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-->2)-beta-D-xylopyranoside (astramembranoside B) on the basis of chemical and spectral evidence. In addition, 12 known saponins were also isolated from the same materials. Although cycloastragenol 3-O-xyloside and agroastragalosides I and II have already been isolated from A. membranaceus adventitious roots, these three saponins together with brachyoside B and azukisaponin V methyl ester were isolated for the first time from this plant.

OBJECTIVE

To observe the effects of Stragalus membranaceus injection on nitric oxide and endothelin levels of intestinal mucosa in reperfusion injury after hemorrhage shock.

METHODS

32 SD rats were randomly divided into four groups: normal group, model group, low dosage group, (treated with Astragalus membranaceus 10 g x kg(-1)); high dosage group (treated with Astragalus membranaceus 20 g x kg(-1)). Models of hemorrhagic shock for 60 minutes and reperfusion for 90 minutes were created. The animals were administrated 3 mL therapeutic solution before reperfusion. At the end of study, intestinal pathology was observed, and the concentration of lactic acid (LD), nitric oxide (NO), endothelin (ET) of intestinal mucosa were detected.

RESULTS

The intestinal pathology showed that intestinal mucosa epithelial cells damage in model group was severe, in low dosage group was medium, in high dosage group was slight, and no obvious damage was found in normal group. The concentration of LD and NO of small intestine mucous membrane in model group and low dosage group were significantly higher than those in high dosage group and normal group (P < 0.05), but there were no significant differences between high dosage group and normal group (P>> 0.05). The concentration of ET of small intestine mucous membrane in model group was the highest of the four groups (P < 0.05). The concentration of ET in low dosage group was significantly higher than that in high dosage group and normal group (P < 0.05), but there were no significant differences between high dosage group and normal group (P>> 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Stragalus membranaceus injection can reduce small intestine mucous damage by protecting endothelium function in injury after hemorrhage shock-reperfusion.

Plant cytochrome P450 enzymes play vital roles in the biosynthesis of plant secondary metabolites, including phenylpropanoids and phytoalexins. Isoflavone-2'-hydroxylase (AmI2'H) from Astragalus membranaceus Bge. Var. mongolicus (Bge.) Hsiao is a membrane protein and an eukaryotic cytochrome P450 enzyme involved in isoflavonoid biosynthesis. We cloned the AmI2'H gene by employing RACE methods and modified the gene sequence to facilitate protein expression and increase protein solubility. Two vectors, pET-28a(+) and pCW ori(+), were used to express AmI2'H in Escherichia coli. The expression efficiency and purity of target protein were analyzed and demonstrated that pET-28a(+) vector containing the AmI2'H gene could produce larger amounts of target proteins with higher purity than pCWori(+). The purified proteins were identified as AmI2'H by LC-ESI-MS/MS analysis and their proper folding was assessed by CO difference spectrum.

Chemical composition of the essential oils derived from Atractylodes macrocephala (AMA), Astragalus membranaceus (AME) and AMA-AME herb pair was investigated using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Antioxidant activities were evaluated by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picyrlhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging and Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) assays. Forty-five, ten and forty-three components were identified in AMA, AME and AMA-AME essential oils, respectively. AMA-AME essential oil exhibited a significantly higher radical scavenging capacity than the theoretical sum of those of the respective herb essential oils (P < 0.05). Principal component analysis showed that twenty-three components contributed to the scavenging activities against DPPH and ABTS*+ radicals. Moreover, the concentrations of these major components exhibited various increases to some extent when compared with the theoretical sum of the respective herb essential oils. These findings suggest that combination of two or more herbs might be used as a promising source of natural antioxidants in the pharmaceutical and food industries.

Astragalus membranaceus BUNGE (AM; huáng qí) has been widely used as a medicinal herb for different kinds of diseases. AM treatment in vitro enhance sperm motility and ameliorates testicular toxicity, it has demonstrated the ability as a potential treatment for male infertility. In order to gain further insights on the molecular understanding of how AM enhances spermatogenesis, this study investigated whether AM has an affect on sperm parameters associated with cAMP response element modulator (CREM) and activator of CREM in testis (ACT) expression. Five-week-old male ICR mice were divided into four groups; control group and three different concentrations of AM treated groups. Each group was treated for 5 days a week for 5 weeks. Testis samples were collected for real time quantitative PCR and western blot analysis. Epididymis was taken out and used for sperm analysis using the computer assisted semen analysis (CASA) system. To facilitate expression of genes required for spermatogenesis, it is controlled by fine-tuning of CREM and its coactivator, ACT. AM treatment promotes CREM and ACT mRNA expression and also protein expression compared to control. AM enhances sperm values such as sperm count and motility compared to control. Overall, the study highlights, the ability of AM to increases CREM and ACT expression to facilitate sperm development and semen quality.

Arabino-3,6-galactan (AMA-1-b-PS2), an intestinal immunomodulatory compound, was purified from the above-ground portion of Astragalus membranaceus (Bunge). Its structure was characterized using sequential enzymatic digestion with exo-α-L-arabinofuranosidase (AFase) and exo-β-D-(1 → 3)-galactanase (GNase), producing small amounts of intermediate-sized and shorter oligosaccharide (AF-PS2-G2 and AF-PS2-G3) fractions, and a large GNase-resistant fraction (AF-PS2-G1). Simultaneous AFase and GNase digestion of the enzyme-resistant fraction produced two long fragments (AF3-PS2-G1-1-1 and AF3-PS2-G1-1-2). Products of GNase digestion of the upper fractions showed decreased intestinal immunomodulatory activity; the GNase-resistant fraction (AF-PS2-G1) retained significant activity. Sugar component, methylation, and FAB-MS analyses indicated that the oligosaccharides consisted of hexosyl tri- to hexa-decasaccharides and hexosyl di- to hepta-saccharides mainly comprising 6-linked Gal(f) and Gal(p); some were partially mono- or di-arabinosylated. These oligosaccharide fractions were attached to the non-reducing terminus of the β-D-(1 → 3)-galactan backbone as side chains at position 6. AMA-1-b-PS2 likely modulates both the systemic and gastric mucosal immune systems.

We used the next-generation Illumina/Solexa HiSeq2000 platform on RNA analysis to investigate the transcriptome of Astragalus membranaceus hairy roots in response to 100 μM methyl jasmonate (MeJA). In total, 77,758,230 clean reads were assembled into 48,636 transcripts (average length of 1398 bp), which were clustered into 23,658 loci (genes). Of these, 19,940 genes were annotated by BLASTx searches. In addition, DESeq analysis showed that 2127 genes were up-regulated, while 1247 genes were down-regulated by MeJA. Seventeen novel astragaloside (AST) biosynthetic genes and seven novel calycosin and calycosin-7-O-β-D-glucoside (CG) biosynthetic genes were isolated. The accumulation of ASTs, calycosin, and CG increased significantly in MeJA-treated hairy roots compared with control hairy roots. Our findings will provide a valuable resource for molecular characterization of AST, calycosin, and CG biosynthetic pathways and may lead to new approaches to maximize their production and biomass productivity in the hairy roots of A. membranaceus.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the effects of Astragalus membranaceus (AM) on the cytokines secretion of peripheral dendritic cells (DC), including interleukin-10, -12, and -18 (IL-10, IL-12 and IL-18), in children with Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) in the acute phase; and to study the immunological regulation mechanism of AM.

METHODS

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were obtained from 28 children with acute HSP by density gradient centrifugation, and each sample was divided into two parts, one untreated and one treated with AM. All cells were developed to mature DC through treating with recombinant human granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interleukin-4 (IL-4) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). Expression of CD83 in the surface of mature DC was detected by flow cytometry, and levels of IL-10, IL-12 and IL-18 in the supernatant were measured by ELISA.

RESULTS

The supernatant level of IL-12 was higher [(141.58 +/- 100.19) ng/L vs (96.18 +/- 76.65) ng/L, t = 3.90, P<0.01], while levels of IL-10 and IL-18 were lower (t = 2.70, P<0.05; t = 4.07, P<0.01) in AM treated PBMCs than those in the untreated ones.

CONCLUSIONS

AM can correct the immunologic dysfunction of HSP children through increasing the IL-12, and decreasing the IL-10 and IL-18 secretions of PBMCs.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the expressions of hypothalamic arginine vasopressin (AVP) mRNA, renal AVP V2 receptor mRNA, and AVP-dependent aquaporin-2 (AQP2) mRNA in rats with adriamycin-induced nephrotic syndrome. Effects of Chinese herb Astragalus membranaceus (AM) were also tested.

METHODS

Sprague-Dawley rats with four weeks of adriamycin-induced nephrotic syndrome (NS) were used in this study. Another group NS + AM was set to testify the effects of AM given 0.5 g/kg daily on NS. Hypothalamic AVP mRNA expression was examined by dot blot method. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was applied for detection of renal cortical and medullary V2 receptor and AQP2 mRNA. The results were normalized by mRNA of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase from the same sample.

RESULTS

All rats receiving adriamycin presented typical nephrosis. No obvious difference in plasma osmolality was detected among NS, NS + AM, and normal control (NC) rats. Hypothalamic AVP mRNA expression was higher in NS rats than NC (53.59 +/- 5.49 vs 25.72 +/- 1.96, P < 0.01). AM completely reversed this up-regulated expression (21.88 +/- 1.25). In both cortex and medulla of the kidney, nephrotic rat had increased AVP V2 expressions by 169% and 55%, respectively, compared with normal control rat. The increment of expression of AQP2 mRNA was consistent with that of V2 receptor in NS rat. AM could partially however significantly correct these up-regulations of V2 and AQP2 mRNA expressions (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

The up-regulated mRNA expressions of hypothalamic AVP, renal V2 receptor and AQP2 might play a role in edema formation in adriamycin-induced nephrotic rats. AM exerts its therapeutical effects on nephrosis partially through this mechanism.

Astragali Radix, the root of Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge. var. mongholicus (Bge.) Hsiao or Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge., is widely used as a tonic decoction pieces in the clinic of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Astragali Radix has various processed products with varying pharmacological actions. There is no modern scientific evidence to explain the differences in pharmacological activities and related mechanisms. In the present study, we explore the changes in chemical components in Astragali Radix after processing, by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS) combined with novel informatics UNIFI platform and multivariate statistical analysis. Our results showed that the crude and various processed products could be clearly separated in PCA scores plot and 15 significant markers could be used to distinguish crude and various processed products by OPLS-DA in UNIFI platform. In conclusion, the present study provided a basis of chemical components for revealing connotation of different processing techniques on Astragali Radix.