Astragalus polysaccharide-containing 3D-printed scaffold for traumatized skin repair and proteomic study.

Astragalus polysaccharide-containing 3D-printed scaffold shows great potential in traumatic skin repair. This study aimed to investigate its repairing effect and to combine it with proteomic technology to deeply resolve the related protein expression changes. Thirty SD rats were divided randomly into three groups (n = 10 per group): the sham-operated group, the model group and the scaffold group. Subsequently, we conducted a comparative analysis on trauma blood perfusion, trauma healing rate, histological changes, the expression of the YAP/TAZ signalling pathway and angiogenesis-related factors. Additionally, neonatal skin tissues were collected for proteomic analysis. The blood perfusion volume and wound healing recovery in the scaffold group were better than that in the model group (p < 0.05). The protein expression of STAT3, YAP, TAZ and expression of vascular-related factor A (VEGFA) in the scaffold group was higher than that in the model group (p < 0.05). Proteomic analysis showed that there were 207 differential proteins common to the three groups. Mitochondrial function, immune response, redox response, extracellular gap and ATP metabolic process were the main groups of differential protein changes. Oxidative phosphorylation, metabolic pathway, carbon metabolism, calcium signalling pathway, etc. were the main differential metabolic pathway change groups. Astragalus polysaccharide-containing 3D-printed scaffold had certain reversals of protein disorder. The Astragalus polysaccharide-containing 3D-printed scaffold may promote the VEGFs by activating the YAP/TAZ signalling pathway with the help of STAT3 into the nucleus, accelerating early angiogenesis of the trauma, correcting the protein disorder of the trauma and ultimately realizing the repair of the wound.

Modulation of PD-L1 by Astragalus polysaccharide attenuates the induction of melanoma stem cell properties and overcomes immune evasion.

BACKGROUND: Melanoma is a highly aggressive form of skin cancer. The existence of cancer stem cells (CSCs) and tumor immune evasion are two major causes of melanoma progression, but no effective treatment has been found at present. Astragalus polysaccharide (APS) is a principal active component derived from Astragalus membranaceus, showing anti-tumor effects in various tumors including melanoma. However, the underlying mechanism is still unclear. METHODS: The regulation of APS on self-renewal ability and CSC markers expression in melanoma stem cells (MSCs) was measured by tumor sphere formation and tumorigenicity assays, RT-qPCR, and western blot. Flow cytometry was conducted to evaluate the activation of immune system by APS in melanoma mice. Further, the mechanism was explored based on PD-L1 overexpression and knock-down B16 cells. RESULTS: APS attenuated the tumor sphere formation of MSCs in vitro as well as the tumorigenicity in vivo. It also decreased the expression of CD133, BMI1 and CD47. Based on the PD-L1 overexpression and knock-down B16 cells, it was confirmed that APS inhibited the induction of MSCs by down-regulating PD-L1 expression. Meanwhile, APS increased the infiltration of CD4+ and CD8+T cells in tumor tissues because of its inhibitory effect on PD-L1. CONCLUSIONS: APS inhibited MSC induction and overcame tumor immune evasion through reducing PD-L1 expression. This study provided compelling evidence that APS could be a prospective therapeutic agent for treating melanoma.

Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α/vascular endothelial growth factor signaling pathway-based ulcer-healing mechanism of Astragalus Aqueous extract in diabetic foot rats.

The main objective of this work was to investigate the mechanism of Astragalus aqueous extract ulcer healing in diabetic foot model rats through the hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1ɑ)/vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signalling pathway. Fifty specific-pathogen-free male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into blank (A), model control (B), Astragalus extract (C) and mupirocin (D) treatment groups. Group A received a regular diet, whereas the other groups received a high-fat/high-sugar diet and intraperitoneal streptozotocin injections to induce diabetes. Diabetic foot ulcers were created via skin excision. Subsequently, ulcers were debrided daily. Groups B, C and D received wet saline gauze, wet gauze with Astragalus extract and gauze with mupirocin, respectively, on the affected area. Group A received no treatment. After 14 days, the rats were assessed for ulcer healing and general condition. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect HIF-1ɑ and VEGF levels in the dorsalis pedis artery, and ELISA was used to determine serum IL-6 and CRP levels. The results revealed that Groups C and D had significantly faster ulcer healing compared with Group B (p < 0.01), and ulcer healing was faster in Group C than in Group D (p < 0.01). Group C exhibited notably higher HIF-1ɑ and VEGF protein expression levels compared with Groups B and D (p < 0.01). IL-6 and CRP expression levels in Groups C and D were significantly lower than those in Group B (p < 0.01). In summary, Astragalus aqueous extract effectively treats diabetic foot ulcers by up-regulating HIF-1ɑ and VEGF expression, activating the HIF-1ɑ/VEGF pathway, improving local tissue ischaemia and hypoxia, promoting collateral circulation and enhancing dorsalis pedis artery formation, thereby accelerating ulcer repair in diabetic rats.

Organic amendments increased Chinese milk vetch symbiotic nitrogen fixation by enriching Mesorhizobium in rhizosphere.

Symbiotic nitrogen fixation of Chinese milk vetch (Astragalus sinicus L.) can fix nitrogen from the atmosphere and serve as an organic nitrogen source in agricultural ecosystems. Exogenous organic material application is a common practice of affecting symbiotic nitrogen fixation; however, the results of the regulation activities remain under discussion. Studies on the impact of organic amendments on symbiotic nitrogen fixation have focused on dissolved organic carbon content changes, whereas the impact on dissolved organic carbon composition and the underlying mechanism remain unclear. In situ pot experiments were carried out using soils from a 40-year-old field experiment platform to investigate symbiotic nitrogen fixation rate trends, dissolved organic carbon concentration and component, and diazotroph community structure in roots and in rhizosphere soils following long-term application of different exogenous organic substrates, i.e., green manure, green manure and pig manure, and green manure and rice straw. Remarkable increases in rate were observed in and when compared with that in green manure treatment, with the greatest enhancement observed in the treatment. Moreover, organic amendments, particularly pig manure application, altered diazotroph community composition in rhizosphere soils, therefore increasing the abundance of the host-specific genus Mesorhizobium. Furthermore, organic amendments influence the diazotroph communities through two primary mechanisms. Firstly, the components of dissolved organic carbon promote an increase in available iron, facilitated by the presence of humus substrates. Secondly, the elevated content of dissolved organic carbon and available iron expands the niche breadth of Mesorhizobium within the rhizosphere. Consequently, these alterations result in a modified diazotroph community within the rhizosphere, which in turn influences Mesorhizobium nodulation in the root and symbiotic nitrogen fixation rate. The results of the present study enhance our understanding of the impact of organic amendments on symbiotic nitrogen fixation and the underlying mechanism, highlighting the key role of dissolved organic carbon composition on diazotroph community composition in the rhizosphere.

Evaluation of Phytochemistry and Antidiabetic Potential of an Astragalus Species (Astragalus kurdicus Boiss.).

Astragalus kurdicus Boiss. roots are used in folk medicine for antidiabetic purposes. Different Astragalus plant metabolites have a notable potential for antidiabetic activity through varying mechanisms. Herein, this study is designed to assess the antidiabetic activity of Astragalus kurdicus total (AKM: methanol extract, yield: 14.53 %) and sub-extracts (AKB: n-butanol, AKC: chloroform, AKW: water, AKH: hexane extracts), utilizing a range of diabetes-related in vitro methodologies, and to investigate the chemical composition of the plant. The highest astragaloside and saponin content was seen in AKB extract. Among the measured saponins, the abundance of Astragaloside IV (27.41 µg/mg in AKM) was the highest in high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) analysis. Furthermore, flavonoid-rich AKC was found to be mostly responsible for the high antioxidant activity. According to the results of the activity tests, AKW was the most active extract in protein tyrosine phosphatase 1 B (PTP1B), dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP4), and α-amylase inhibition tests (percent inhibitions are: 87.17 %, 82.4 %, and 91.49 % respectively, at 1 mg/mL). AKM and AKW demonstrated the highest efficacy in stimulating the growth of prebiotic microorganisms and preventing the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs). Thus, for the first time, the antidiabetic activity of A. kurdicus was evaluated from various perspectives.

Screening of active components in Astragalus mongholicus Bunge and Panax notoginseng formula for anti-fibrosis in CKD: nobiletin inhibits Lgals1/PI3K/AKT signaling to improve renal fibrosis.

The Astragalus mongholicus Bunge and Panax notoginseng formula (A&P) has been clinically shown to effectively slow down the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and has demonstrated significant anti-fibrosis effects in experimental CKD model. However, the specific active ingredients and underlying mechanism are still unclear. The active ingredients of A&P were analyzed by Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-HR-MS). A mouse model of CKD was constructed by 5/6 nephrectomy. Renal function was assessed by creatinine and urea nitrogen. Real-time PCR and Western Blot were performed to detect the mRNA and protein changes in kidney and cells. An in vitro fibrotic cell model was constructed by TGF-ß induction in TCMK-1 cells. The results showed that thirteen active ingredients of A&P were identified by UPLC-HR-MS, nine of which were identified by analysis with standards, among which the relative percentage of NOB was high. We found that NOB treatment significantly improved renal function, pathological damage and reduced the expression level of fibrotic factors in CKD mice. The results also demonstrated that Lgals1 was overexpressed in the interstitial kidney of CKD mice, and NOB treatment significantly reduced its expression level, while inhibiting PI3K and AKT phosphorylation. Interestingly, overexpression of Lgals1 significantly increased fibrosis in TCMK1 cells and upregulated the activity of PI3K and AKT, which were strongly inhibited by NOB treatment. NOB is one of the main active components of A&P. The molecular mechanism by which NOB ameliorates renal fibrosis in CKD may be through the inhibition of Lgals1/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

A Rapid and Accurate UHPLC Method for Determination of Monosaccharides in Polysaccharides of Different Sources of Radix Astragali and Its Immune Activity Analysis.

With the escalating demand for Astragalus polysaccharides products developed from Radix Astragali (RA), the necessity for quality control of polysaccharides in RA has become increasingly urgent. In this study, a specific method for the simultaneous determination of seven monosaccharides in polysaccharides extracted from Radix Astragali (RA) has been developed and validated using ultra-performance liquid chromatography equipped with an ultraviolet detector (UHPLC-UV) for the first time. The 1-phenyl-3-methyl-5-pyrazolone (PMP) derivatizations were separated on a C18 column (Waters ACQUITYTM, Milfor, MA, USA, 1.8 µm, 2.1 × 100 mm) using gradient elution with a binary system of 5 mm ammonium formate (0.1% formic acid)-acetonitrile for 24 min. Additionally, seven monosaccharides showed good linear relationships (R2, 0.9971-0.9995), adequate precision (RSD < 4.21%), and high recoveries (RSD < 4.70%). The established method was used to analyze 109 batches of RA. Results showed that the Astragalus polysaccharides (APSs) mainly consist of mannose (Man), rhamnose (Rha), glucose (Glu), galactose (Gal), arabinose (Ara), xylose (Xyl); and fucose (Fuc); however, their composition was different among RA samples from different growth patterns, species, growth years, and origins, and the growth mode of RA and the age of wild-simulated RA can be accurately distinguished by principal component analysis (PCA). In addition, the immunological activity of APSs were also evaluated jointly by measurement of the NO release with RAW264.7, with the results showing that APSs have a promoting effect on the release of NO and exhibit a significant correlation with Man, Glu, Xyl, and Fuc contents. Accordingly, the new established monosaccharides analytical method and APS-immune activity determination in this study can provide a reference for quality evaluation and the establishment of quality standards for RA.

The Antioxidant Action of Astragali radix: Its Active Components and Molecular Basis.

Astragali radix is a traditional medicinal herb with a long history and wide application. It is frequently used in prescriptions with other medicinal materials to replenish Qi. According to the classics of traditional Chinese medicine, Astragali radix is attributed with properties such as Qi replenishing and surface solidifying, sore healing and muscle generating, and inducing diuresis to reduce edema. Modern pharmacological studies have demonstrated that some extracts and active ingredients in Astragali radix function as antioxidants. The polysaccharides, saponins, and flavonoids in Astragali radix offer beneficial effects in preventing and controlling diseases caused by oxidative stress. However, there is still a lack of comprehensive research on the effective components and molecular mechanisms through which Astragali radix exerts antioxidant activity. In this paper, we review the active components with antioxidant effects in Astragali radix; summarize the content, bioavailability, and antioxidant mechanisms; and offer a reference for the clinical application of Astragalus and the future development of novel antioxidants.

Electronic eye and electronic tongue data fusion combined with a GETNet model for the traceability and detection of Astragalus.

BACKGROUND: Astragalus is a widely used traditional Chinese medicine material that is easily confused due to its quality, price and other factors derived from different origins. This article describes a novel method for the rapid tracing and detection of Astragalus via the joint application of an electronic tongue (ET) and an electronic eye (EE) combined with a lightweight convoluted neural network (CNN)-transformer model. First, ET and EE systems were employed to measure the taste fingerprints and appearance images, respectively, of different Astragalus samples. Three spectral transform methods - the Markov transition field, short-time Fourier transform and recurrence plot - were utilized to convert the ET signals into 2D spectrograms. Then, the obtained ET spectrograms were fused with the EE image to obtain multimodal information. A lightweight hybrid model, termed GETNet, was designed to achieve pattern recognition for the Astragalus fusion information. The proposed model employed an improved transformer module and an improved Ghost bottleneck as its backbone network, complementarily utilizing the benefits of CNN and transformer architectures for local and global feature representation. Furthermore, the Ghost bottleneck was further optimized using a channel attention technique, which boosted the model's feature extraction effectiveness. RESULTS: The experiments indicate that the proposed data fusion strategy based on ET and EE devices has better recognition accuracy than that attained with independent sensing devices. CONCLUSION: The proposed method achieved high precision (99.1%) and recall (99.1%) values, providing a novel approach for rapidly identifying the origin of Astragalus, and it holds great promise for applications involving other types of Chinese herbal medicines. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Study of the multitarget mechanism of Astragalus (HUANGQI) in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease based on network pharmacology and molecular docking technology.

CONTEXT: In China, HUANGQI is widely used for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, a comprehensive understanding of its mechanism of anti-AD effects is lacking. OBJECTIVE: To explore the active ingredients of HUANGQI and its potential targets and mechanisms of action in AD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The active ingredients and targets of HUANGQI were screened from databases (TCSMP, ETCM, and BATMan), and AD-related genes were obtained from DrugBank and GeneCards. The same target genes were screened, and a drug-target disease network was constructed. The PPI network was constructed and GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses of the targets. The Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was used to determine suitable HUANGQI treatment concentrations for HT-22 cells between 0-480 µg/mL. CCK-8, FITC-phalloidin and propidium iodide (PI) assays were used to examine the protective effect of (0, 60, 120, 240 µg/mL) of HUANGQI on 20 µM Aß1-42-induced HT-22 cell cytotoxicity. RESULTS: Twelve active ingredients of HUANGQI were selected, with 679 common targets associated with AD. GO and KEGG analysis revealed that the therapeutic mechanisms of HUANGQI involve TNF, AGE, the NF-κB pathway, and nuclear receptor activity-related processes. The CCK-8 assay indicated that HUANGQI was not cytotoxic to HT-22 cells at concentrations less than 240 µg/mL and was able to attenuate Aß1-42-induced cellular damage (EC50 = 83.46 µg/mL). FITC-phalloidin and PI assays suggested that HUANGQI could alleviate 20 µM Aß1-42-induced neuronal cell cytotoxicity in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSION: HUANGQI has a protective effect on Aß1-42-induced nerve cell injury; further mechanism research was needed.

Evidence of immunogenic cancer cell death induced by honey-processed Astragalus polysaccharides in vitro and in vivo.

Honey-processed Astragalus is a dosage form of Radix Astragalus mixed with honey by a traditional Chinese medicine processing method which improves immune activity. This pharmacological activity of honey-processed Astragalus polysaccharide (HP-APS) might be due to structural changes during the honey roasting process. Previously, we have prepared and characterized HP-APS and preliminarily found its anti-inflammatory effects. However, whether the pharmacodynamic activity of HP-APS induces tumor cell apoptosis and the mechanisms responsible for the immunogenic death (ICD) have not been elucidated. Here, A549, MC38 and B16 cells were used to evaluate the cells viability, apoptosis and cell cycles, respectively. Cellular immunogenic cell death-related molecules calreticulin (CRT), Heat Shock Proteins (HSP)70, major histocompatibility complex I (MHC-I), and co-stimulator molecules CD80/CD86 were determined by flow cytometry. The extracellular ATP release was also detected. B16-OVA and MC38-OVA cells were treated with HP-APS and co-cultivated with OT1 mouse of CD3+T cells for assessment of proliferation, in mice model, and the establishment of C57BL/B6 mouse model bearing B16 cells for assessment of HP-APS the regulation of immune activity in vivo. Our results showed that HP-APS has an inhibitory effect on tumor cell proliferation, which induces tumor cell apoptosis, preventing cells-transforming from G1 phase to S phase in cell cycles. Furthermore, HP-APS could effectively increase the expression of HSP70, CRT, MHC-I, CD86, CD80 and ATP release. T cell proliferation index is significantly improved. CD3 cell proliferation in OT1 mice was significantly increased from the 4th generation to the 5th generation. Moreover, the results have also shown that HP-APS could inhibit tumor growth by increasing immune cell infiltration in the tumor tissues. In the mouse melanoma model with HP-APS treatment, the tumor weight and volume were significantly reduced, and the growth of melanoma was inhibited. CD8+ T is significantly increased. The ratio of CD4+ T and CD8+ T cells numbers are also significantly increased in mouse spleen, but it is less than PD-1 alone treatment separately. Altogether, these findings suggest that HP-APS exerts anti-tumor effects, and that its underlying mechanisms might be associated with the expression of immunogenicity cell death related molecules and the immunomodulatory effects of immune cells.

Quality assessment of Astragali Radix based on pseudo-targeted metabolomics and chemometric approach.

Astragali Radix is widely used because of its dual use in medicine and food, and its quality evaluation is of great importance. In this study, a pseudo-targeted metabolomics approach based on scheduled multiple reaction monitoring was developed, and a total of 114 compounds with good linearity, sensitivity, and reproducibility were selected for relative quantification, and the chemical differences between Astragali Radix of different growth patterns were further compared by chemometric analysis. With the help of multivariate and univariate analysis, 26 differential compounds between wild/semi-wild Astragali Radix and cultivated Astragali Radix were determined. Then five marker compounds were screened out by lasso regression, and further verified by systematic clustering, random forest, support vector machine, and logistic regression. In addition, malonyl-substituted flavonoids showed relatively higher content in wild/semi-wild Astragali Radix. Thus, the malonyl substitution was characteristic for flavonoids in wild/semi-wild Astragali Radix. In conclusion, the application of pseudo-targeted metabolomics and various statistical methods could offer multi-dimensional information for the holistic quality evaluation of Astragali Radix.

Novel pH-responsive E-selectin targeting natural polysaccharides hybrid micelles for diabetic nephropathy.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is an important complication of diabetes and is the main cause of end-stage renal disease. The pathogenesis of DN is complex, including glucose and lipid metabolism disorder, inflammation, and so on. Novel hybrid micelles loaded Puerarin (Pue) based on Angelica sinensis polysaccharides (ASP) and Astragalus polysaccharide (APS) were fabricated with pH-responsive ASP-hydrazone-ibuprofen (BF) materials (ASP-HZ-BF, SHB) and sialic acid (SA) modified APS-hydrazone-ibuprofen materials (SA/APS-HZ-BF, SPHB) by thin-film dispersion method. The SA in hybrid micelles can specifically bind to the E-selectin receptor which is highly expressed in inflammatory vascular endothelial cells. The loaded Pue could be accurately delivered to the inflammatory site of the kidney in response to the low pH microenvironment. Overall, this study provides a promising strategy for developing hybrid micelles based on natural polysaccharides for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy by inhibiting renal inflammatory reactions, and antioxidant stress.

Rapid chemical characterization of Danggui Buxue decoction using processed Astragali Radix and Angelicae Sinensis Radix based on diagnostic ion and molecular network.

Danggui Buxue decoction (DBD), a classic prescription of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for invigorating qi and generating blood, contains honey-processed Astragali Radix (HAR) and wine-processed Angelicae Sinensis Radix (WDG) in its original prescription. In this study, the compositions of DBD, WDG, and HAR were characterized using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with the quadrupole-time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry technique in combination with molecular network and diagnostic ion strategies. Finally, 200 compounds were identified in DBD, 114 compounds were identified in WDG, and 180 compounds were identified in HAR; there were 48 common compounds in total. The results demonstrated that compatibility led to changes in the chemical composition of TCM, and the qualitative method used in this study provided an effective data processing strategy for the characterization of components and the database for the study of the compounding mechanism of TCM.

A comprehensive strategy for prediction and quality evaluation of standardized planting herbs based on plant metabolomics coupled with extreme learning machine: Astragali Radix as an example.

INTRODUCTION: Standardizing the planting process is an effective way to control the quality stability of herbal resources, which are susceptible to external environmental factors (e.g., moisture, soil, etc.). However, how to scientifically and comprehensively assess the effects of standardized planting on plant quality and quickly test unknown samples has not been addressed. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine and compare the metabolite levels of herbs before and after standardized planting, to quickly distinguish their sources, and to evaluate their quality, using the typical herb Astragali Radix (AR) as an example. METHODS: In this study, an efficient strategy using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) based on plant metabolomics combined with extreme learning machine (ELM) has been developed to efficiently distinguish and predict AR after standardized planting. Moreover, a comprehensive multi-index scoring method has been developed for the comprehensive evaluation of the quality of AR. RESULTS: The results confirmed that AR after standardized planting was significantly differentiated, with a relatively stable content of 43 differential metabolites, mainly including flavonoids. An ELM model was established based on LC-MS data, and the accuracy in predicting unknown samples could reach more than 90%. As expected, higher total scores were obtained for AR after standardized planting, indicating much better quality. CONCLUSION: A dual system for evaluating the impact of standardized planting on the quality of plant resources has been established, which will significantly contribute to innovation in the quality evaluation of medicinal herbs and support the selection of optimal planting conditions.

Structural Characterization and Immunobiological Activity of Polysaccharides from Astragalus Oyster Mushroom.

When added to mushroom growing substrates, edible and medicinal herbs affect the mushrooms' nutritional and medicinal value. In this study, polysaccharides (P0OP-I and P15OP-I) were extracted and purified from oyster mushrooms grown on substrates supplemented with 0% and 15% Astragalus roots (P0 and P15), respectively, and their chemical structure and immunobiological activities were compared. P15OP-I and P0OP-I were extracted using ultrasound-assisted hot water and deproteinized with the Sevage method, depigmented with 30% H2O2, desalted with dialysis, and purified using DEAE-52 cellulose and Sephadex G-100 dextran column chromatography. The molecular weight of P0OP-I and P15OP-I was 21,706.96 and 20,172.65 Da, respectively. Both were composed of monosaccharides D-mannose, galacturonic acid, D-glucose, D-galactose, and L-arabinose but in different molar ratios, and both were connected by a pyranoside linkage. P15OP-I consisted of higher contents of mannose, glucose, galactose and arabinose and lower content of galacturonic acid as compared to P0OP-I. Both P0OP-I and P15OP-I induced NO and TNF-α production but did not show cytotoxic effect or induce ROS generation in RAW264.7 cells. P15OP-I showed a stronger ability to promote NO and TNF-α production relative to P0OP-I. In vitro experiments showed that the immunomodulatory activity of P0OP-I and P15OP-I in RAW264.7 macrophages were mediated by the JNK/MAPK, Erk/MAPK, and NF-κB signaling pathways. The results would be helpful for elucidation of the health promoting mechanism of Astragalus oyster mushrooms as a source of neutraceuticals.

Purification, Structural Analysis and Cardio-Protective Activity of Polysaccharides from Radix Astragali.

Two polysaccharides, named APS2-I and APS3-I, were purified from the water extract of Radix Astragali. The average molecular weight of APS2-I was 1.96 × 106 Da and composed of Man, Rha, GlcA, GalA, Glc, Gal, Xyl, and Ara in a molar ratio of 2.3:4.8:1.7:14.0:5.8:11.7:2.8:12.6, while the average molecular weight of APS3-I was 3.91 × 106 Da and composed of Rha, GalA, Glc, Gal, and Ara in a molar ratio of 0.8:2.3:0.8:2.3:4.1. Biological evaluation showed APS2-I and APS3-I had significant antioxidant activity and myocardial protection activity. Furthermore, total polysaccharide treatment could significantly enhance hemodynamic parameters and improve cardiac function in rat ischemia and reperfusion isolated heart models. These results provided important information for the clinical application of APS in the field of cardiovascular disease and implied that Astragalus polysaccharides (APS) could be considered as a reference for the quality control of Radix Astragali.

Residue of Chlormequat and Regulatory Effects on the Specialized Metabolites of Astragali Radix.

Presently, the utilization of chlormequat in Astragalus mongholicus Bunge (Leguminosae) cultivation is prevalent for augmenting rhizome (Astragali Radix) yield. However, indiscriminate and excessive chlormequat employment can detrimentally influence Astragali Radix quality and safety. This research aimed to comprehensively comprehend chlormequat risks and its influence on Astragali Radix metabolites. Diverse chlormequat concentrations were employed in Astragalus mongholicus cultivation, with subsequent analysis of residual chlormequat levels in Astragali Radix across treatment groups. Astragali Radix metabolic profiling was conducted through UPLC-QTOF-MS, and thirteen principal active components were quantified via UFLC-MS/MS. Findings revealed a direct correlation between chlormequat residue levels in Astragali Radix and application concentration, with high-dose residue surpassing 5.0 mg/kg. Metabolomics analysis identified twenty-six distinct saponin and flavonoid metabolites. Notably, the application of chlormequat led to the upregulation of seven saponins (e.g., astragaloside I and II) and downregulation of six flavonoids (e.g., methylnissolin-3-O-glucoside and astraisoflavan-7-O-ß-d-glucoside). Quantitative analysis demonstrated variable contents of active ingredients due to differing chlormequat concentrations, leading to astragaloside I increase (14.59-62.55%) and isoastragaloside II increase (4.8-55.63%), while methylnissolin-3-O-glucoside decreased (22.18-41.69%), as did astraisoflavan-7-O-ß-d-glucoside (21.09-47.78%). In conclusion, chlormequat application influenced multiple active components in Astragali Radix, causing constituent proportion variations. Elevated chlormequat concentrations led to increased active components alongside heightened chlormequat residues in Astragali Radix. Consequently, prudent chlormequat application during Astragali Radix production is imperative to avert potential detriments to its quality and safety.

Structural changes of polysaccharides from Astragulus after honey processing and their bioactivities on human gut microbiota.

BACKGROUND: Astragali Radix (also known as Astragulus) is a traditional medicinal and edible homologous plant for tonifying Qi. Honey-processed Astragalus is a dosage form of Astragali Radix processed with honey, which exhibited better efficacy of tonifying Qi than the raw product. Polysaccharides are their main active components. RESULTS: APS2a and HAPS2a were initially isolated from Astragulus and honey-processed Astragulus. Both of them are highly branched acidic heteropolysaccharides containing ɑ-configuration and ß-configuration glycosidic bonds. The molecular weight and the molecular dimension of HAPS2a decreased and the GalA contained in APS2a was converted to Gal in HAPS2a. The α-configuration galactose residue 1,3,4-α-Galp in the backbone of APS2a was converted to the corresponding ß-configuration galactose residue 1,3,4-ß-Galp in the backbone of HAPS2a and the uronic acid residue T-α-GalpA in the sidechain of APS2a was converted to the corresponding neutral residue T-α-Galp in the side chain of HAPS2a. Bioactivity results showed that HAPS2a had better probiotic effects on Bacteroides ovatus, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, Bifidobacterium longum and Lactobacillus rhamnosus strains than APS2a. After degradation, the molecular weights of HAPS2a and APS2a decreased with the changes in their monosaccharide composition. The contents of total short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and other organic acids in HAPS2a group were higher than APS2a group. CONCLUSIONS: Two novel high-molecular-weight polysaccharides named APS2a and HAPS2a had different probiotic activities in vitro, which might be due to their structural differences before and after honey processing. Both of them might be possibly used as an immunopotentiator in healthy foods or dietary supplement. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Changes in immune genes expression, immune response, digestive enzymes -antioxidant status, and growth of catla (Catla catla) fed with Astragalus polysaccharides against edwardsiellosis disease.

The effect of four level of Astragalus polysaccharides (APs) supplementation diets, (CD: control diet and three experiment diet (E), EA: 100 mg kg-1 APs; EB: 200 mg kg-1 APs; EC: 300 mg kg-1 APs) on growth, changes in haemato-biochemical parameters and metabolic-digestive enzymes, enhancement of antioxidant activity, innate-adaptive immune response, and cytokine gene expression were studied in catla (Catla catla) against Edwardsiella tarda. The healthy and challenged groups fed the CD displayed no mortality, while fish fed EA or EC revealed 10% mortality, but the mortality was only 5% in diet EB. Fish fed diet EB and EC revealed significantly better growth rates and high RBC count during the experimental period. Albumin and globulin levels were significant improved when fish were fed the diet EB and EC from weeks 6-8. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) was significant ameliorated by EB feeding from weeks 4-8. In contrast, serum myeloperoxidase (MPO), catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA)/lipid peroxidation (LPO), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), respiratory burst activity (RBA), bactericidal action (BCA), serum lysozyme activity (SLA), nitric oxide synthase (NOS), head kidney leukocytes response proliferation (HKLP), hemolytic action (HLA), hydrogen peroxides (H2O2), and immunoglobulin (Ig) were significantly improved from week 6-8. Groups fed the APs enriched diets had significant ameliorated interleukin (IL)-1ß and interferon (IFN)-γ mRNA expression after 6 and 8 weeks of feeding. However, IL-10 and major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-1 mRNA expressions were significant enhanced in catla fed all APs diets on week 8. APs enriched diets revealed significant improved tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and TNF receptor-associated factor-6 (TRAF6) mRNA expression on week 4, but toll-like receptor-2 (TLR2) and TLR4 mRNA expression were significant enhanced by diet EB and EC after weeks 6 and 8. Similarly, the lysozyme (Lyz)-C and Lyz-G mRNA levels in the head kidney (HK) increased by APs feeding on weeks 6 and 8, whereas the EB diet, the expression of nucleotide binding oligomerization domain-1 (NOD1) was significantly improved on weeks 6 and 8, but NOD2 mRNA expression was only significant enhanced after 8 weeks of diet EB. By feeding healthy catla and E. tarda challenged fish fed diet EB, resulted in significantly increased growth, haemato-biochemical indices, metabolic-digestive enzymes, antioxidant activities, innate-adaptive immune responses, and cytokine gene expression mainly between 6 and 8 weeks.