Las plantas medicinales chinas se estudian farmacológicamente cada vez más. A medida que los investigadores identifican y aíslan los compuestos bioactivos, nuestra comprensión de sus acciones fisiológicas, terapéuticas y clínicas aumentan. Estas plantas han sido utilizadas tradicionalmente con efectividad y seguridad en el tratamiento de muchas enfermedades y, aunque clásicamente forma parte de combinaciones con otras plantas, el análisis de sus principios activos nos permite conocer mejor sus acciones farmacológicas individuales.
El Astrágalus membranáceus forma parte de la medicina China desde hace muchos años, pero solo recientemente occidente ha comenzado a comprender sus posibilidades farmacológicas y aplicaciones clínicas. |
PRESIONE LA BOTELLA PARA CONOCER LA PLANTA |
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En la medicina tradicional china, el Astrágalus usualmente es combinado con otras plantas para lograr el efecto deseado. Se cree que fortalece el “chi” (energía vital), un concepto poco comprendido por la cultura occidental. Quizás lo más cerca que podemos llegar a este concepto es que se trata de una planta adaptogénica con muchas acciones.
Aunque Astragalus tiene una larga historia de uso medicinal, estudios de investigación han demostrado un amplio rango de efectos inmunoestimulantes, cardioprotectores y se ha comprobado su eficacia como coadyuvante en el tratamiento del cáncer.
La parte utilizada de la planta es la raíz seca, que se recolecta cuando llega a los 4-7 años durante la primavera. Existen más de 2.000 tipos de esta planta mundialmente, pero la versión china es la que ha sido estudiada más exhaustivamente, tanto clínica como farmacológicamente. |
Principios activos:
1) Flavonoides del tipo isoflavonas (kumatakenina, formononetina, astraisoflavona, astrapterocarpan, 2'-3'-dihidroxi-7, 4'-dimetoxi-isoflavona, calicosina, isoliquiritigenina) y sus derivados glucósidos.
2) Junto a los polisacáridos, las saponinas son los compuestos más abundantes en los extractos acuosos o alcohólicos de Astrágalo. Dos derivados del oleanano (astragalósido VIII y soyasaponina I) y doce derivados del cicloastragenol denominados astramembraninas (I-II) y astragalósidos (astragalósidos I-X, acetilastragalósido I, isoasatragalósidos I-II). |
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3) Polisacáridos: Del extracto acuoso de las raíces de Astragalus membranaceus se han aislado una serie de polisacáridos. Dos de ellos formados únicamente por D-glucosa, astragalano II de peso molecular 122.300 y astragalano III de peso molecular 34.000, mientras que el tercero, astragalano I es un polisacárido de 36.300 de peso molecular compuesto de D-glucosa, D-galactosa y D-arabinosa en la proporción (1,75:1,63:1). Además se han identificado dos alfa-glucanos y dos heterosacáridos, uno ácido constituido mayoritariamente por una mezcla de ácido D-galacturónico y ácido D-glucurónico, con una pequeña proporción de azúcares |
| neutros (D-glucosa L-ramnosa y L-arabinosa), y el segundo neutro formado por D-glucosa y L-arabinosa en proporción (1:0,15). También se ha descrito un polisacárido ácido compuesto de L-arabinosa, D-galactosa, ácido D-galacturónico y ácido D-glucurónico en proporción (18:18:1:1). Estos polisacáridos son responsables de su actividad inmunoestimulantes
4) Otros compuestos: Glúcidos (sacarosa) y fitoesteroles, como el beta-sitosterol.
Indicaciones tradicionales: Según la medicina tradicional china, Astragalus afecta los meridianos del bazo y pulmones. Es indicada en casos de diarrea, fatiga, sudoración excesiva o espontánea y pérdida del apetito. También en gripes a repetición y dificultad respiratoria, úlceras cutáneas crónicas, parálisis o paresia de miembros y edema. Clásicamente es prescrito en combinación con otras plantas, dependiendo de los efectos terapéuticos deseados y la enfermedad. |
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| Acción Farmacológica:
Los estudios farmacológicos de raíz de astrágalo se han realizado fundamentalmente con extractos acuosos o fracciones enriquecidas en saponinas o polisacáridos. Se han descrito propiedades hepatoprotectoras, antioxidantes, inmunoestimulantes, antivirales, cardiotónicas y otras.
La raíz de Astrágalo tiene propiedades inmunoestimulantes, sin suprimir la función inmune con el uso prolongado. La actividad está relacionada con su contenido en polisacáridos, ya que la fracción glucídica estimula las células NK, aumentan las funciones de las células T e incrementan la producción de interferón.
La administración de raíz de Astrágalo mejora la oxigenación tisular periférica y la respuesta al estrés por incremento de la actividad adrenal. La respuesta farmacológica ha sido relacionada con la presencia de triterpenos y saponinas, ya que esta fracción es la responsable del incremento de la actividad adrenal.
La raíz de Astrágalo tiene también propiedades radioprotectoras.
1.- Propiedades hepatoprotectoras. El extracto de la raíz de Astrágalo protege el hígado del daño producido por tetracloruro de carbono (CCl4), previene el descenso del glucógeno hepático, e incrementa el nivel de proteínas séricas y albúmina. Se han realizado estudios clínicos con extractos de Astrágalo. En 1 a 2 meses los síntomas de la enfermedad disminuyen, mejora el estado de bienestar y el apetito del paciente, y los niveles de GPT vuelven a los valores normales. En pacientes con hepatitis crónica tratados con Astrágalo mejora la inmunidad celular y se estimula la fagocitosis de las células reticuloendoteliales.
2.- Propiedades anti-inflamatorias. Tanto el extracto metanólico de la raíz de Astrágalo como astramembranina I (saponina aislada a partir de la raíz), tienen propiedades anti-inflamatorias en algunos modelos experimentales in vivo, tanto oral como vía intravenosa.
3. Propiedades antioxidantes. En un estudio in vitro, Astragalus demostró inhibir la peroxidación lipídica en 40%, en una suspensión de mitocondrias cardiacas de rata. La actividad antioxidante es común a los flavonoides y explica, en parte, sus propiedades cardioprotectoras.
4.- Propiedades inmunoestimulantes. Una de las propiedades más importantes de esta especie es su capacidad de incrementar la respuesta inmune. En ensayos in vivo realizados con los polisacáridos de Astrágalo se observó el incremento de la respuesta en ratones tras la administración parenteral de un polisacárido purificado a partir del extracto acuoso. Los astragalanos I y II tienen una gran variedad de efectos en ratones cuando se administran parenteralmente, como son el incremento del peso y número de células del bazo, así como su respuesta frente a glóbulos rojos de cordero y estímulo de la actividad fagocítica de mácrofagos peritoneales. La administración de extractos de Astrágalo mejora la respuesta citotóxica de células especializadas, incrementando de 5 a 6 veces su respuesta. También se intensifica la fagocitosis de células del sistema reticulo-endotelial, aumenta la actividad de los linfocitos T, estimula la producción natural de interferón y potencia su actividad. Mejora la respuesta en pacientes tratados con antineoplásicos, ya que potencia la respuesta al fármaco y disminuye los efectos indeseables del mismo. En experimentos con astragalán, se obtuvo una supervivencia mayor en el grupo de animales tratados con el polisacárido. Astrágalus disminuye la hiperactividad inmune en pacientes con lupus eritematoso sistémico y miastenia gravis, dos enfermedades autoinmunes severas. Astrágalus mejora la inmunidad contra infecciones de las vías respiratorias y otras, cuando se ingiere antes del pleno desarrollo de estas infecciones.
La utilización de interleuquina-2 recombinante (rIL-2) en inmunoterapia se ve limitada por la toxicidad asociada a las altas dosis. Se administró Astragalus con 100 u/ml de rIL-2 versus 1.000 u/ml de rIL-2 sola en un estudio in vitro de carcinoma renal en ratones. El grupo que recibió Astragalus+rIL-2 mostró una mayor lisis de células tumorales. Estos resultados fueron confirmados en otro estudio en el cual Astragalus potenció la actividad inductora de rIL-2 de las célulass LAK contra células de melanoma. Cincuenta u/ml de rIL-2 con extracto de Astragalus fue más efectiva que 500 u/ml de rIL-2 sola.
Una combinación de Astrágalus con otras dos plantas medicinales fue ofrecida a ratones a razón de 9 g/kg o 20 g/kg durante 7 días. El peso del timo y del bazo aumentaron, al compararse con los del grupo control. Los niveles séricos de IgG aumentaron 41-47 % y el porcentaje de conversión de linfocitos también se incrementó. La combinación de plantas aumentó la resistencia a los efectos inmunosupresores de la ciclofosfamida estimulando a los macrófagos para producir interleuquina-6 y factor de necrosis tumoral.
Veintiocho pacientes con lupus eritematoso sistémico mostraron significativamente menor actividad de las células natural killer, comparadas con controles normales. La incubación previa de mononucleares de sangre periférica con Astrágalus estimuló la citotoxicidad natural de las células natural killer en los pacientes con lupus y también en los pacientes control.
5.- Propiedades antivirales. Astragalán tiene propiedades antivirales, ya que actúa inhibiendo la replicación de algunos virus, como el coxsackie, causante de miocarditis. En otras virosis como la hepatitis viral crónica o VIH, se ha demostrado el efecto positivo, pero debido al incremento de la respuesta inmunológica, no al efecto antiviral. Puede beneficiar a pacientes con hepatitis viral crónica y personas infectadas con el virus HIV, sin embargo se requieren más estudios para confirmar esta posibilidad.
Al ofrecer un extracto de Astrágalus por vía oral a pacientes con miocarditis viral, se demostró el aumento de linfocitos T3, T4 y la relación T4/T8, lo que sugiere mejoría de la respuesta inmune. En ratones infectados con el virus coxsackie B-3, agente causal de la miocarditis viral, Astragalus inhibió la replicación viral en el tejido miocárdico, mejorando también la actividad eléctrica miocárdica.
6.- Propiedades antibacterianas. No inhibe directamente el crecimiento de la bacteria, pero protege frente a los efectos de la endotoxina de Escherichia coli, también actúa incrementando las respuestas inmunes en infecciones por Shigella, Streptococcus, Diplococcus y Staphylococcus.
7. Actividad antineoplásica. Aumenta significativamente la potencia de la Interleukina-2 (rIL-2) recombinante, sustancia que actúa contra células cancerosas, mejorando la sobrevida en algunas personas con cáncer. Los animales con cáncer inducido experimentalmente sobrevivieron por mayor tiempo cuando fueron tratados con el principio activo Astragalán. En los pacientes tratados por cáncer, las fórmulas con Astrágalus potenciaron los efectos de los agentes antineoplásicos pero protegieron al paciente de los efectos tóxicos de esos medicamentos.
Se evaluó la capacidad de disminuir los efectos tóxicos secundarios causados por agentes antineoplásicos de 116 fórmulas herbarias chinas. La fórmula Shi-Quan-Da-Bu-Tang que incluye Astragalus, fue seleccionada como la más efectiva en relación a la estimulación de los factores hematopoyéticos y producción de interleuquinas. También se demostró la potenciación de la actividad de los agentes antineoplásicos, inhibición de las recurrencias, aumento del tiempo de sobrevida y reducción de la toxicidad causada por la quimioterapia.
Dos estudios aleatorios sobre ratones que recibieron implantes de células de carcinoma renal. Uno grupo fue tratado intraperitonealmente con 500 mg de Astragalus y Ligusticum lucidum diariamente durante 10 días. El otro grupo recibió solución salina como control. La tasa de curación en el grupo Astragalus/Ligusticum fue 57% cuando la carga tumoral fue 2 x 105 y 100% cuando la carga tumoral fue de 1 x 105.
En otro estudio, 10 de 12 pacientes con carcinoma de células pequeñas del pulmón, incluyendo 4 con enfermedad diseminada ganaron entre 3 y 17 años de tiempo de sobrevida, cuando recibieron Astragalus junto a la quimio y radioterapia.
8.- Efectos cardiovasculares. Entre otras se pueden destacar las propiedades hipotensoras de astramembranina I. Las saponinas poseen propiedades anticoagulantes. Existen referencias sobre el empleo de la raíz de Astrágalo en medicina tradicional china en casos de infartos, insuficiencia cardiaca congestiva y angina de pecho, con buenos resultados. En estudios preliminares se utilizó esta planta después de infartos cardiacos.
La actividad antioxidante explica, en parte, la acción cardiotónica de Astrágalus. En un estudio, se administró Astrágalus a 43 pacientes, luego de infarto miocárdico agudo. Astragalus mejoró significativamente la función de ventrículo izquierdo, comparado con controles.
En otro estudio, se trató a 20 pacientes con angor durante 2 semanas con Astragalus, demostrándose una mejoría significativa en el gasto cardiaco, por medio del ecocardiograma. En otro estudio, 92 pacientes con cardiopatía isquémica tratados con Astragalus mostraron mejoría marcada del angor, así como mejoría significativa de los electrocardiogramas, comparados con los controles.
Una de las saponinas del Astragalus, el Astragalosido IV, fue inyectada en 19 pacientes con insuficiencia cardiaca congestiva, demostrando mejorar significativamente la función del ventrículo izquierdo, el volumen sistólico final y el volumen diastólico final. Luego de 2 semanas de tratamiento, 79% de los pacientes manifestaron la desaparición del dolor precordial y la disnea. Además, la frecuencia cardiaca disminuyó significativamente.
Noventa y dos pacientes con cardiopatía isquémica fueron tratados con Astragalus, demostrando una significativa mejoría del dolor anginoso. Los electrocardiogramas mejoraron significativamente en el 82,6% de los pacientes. En otro estudio, 20 pacientes recibieron astrágalus durante dos semanas, demostrando un aumento del gasto cardiaco. A diferencia de los digitálicos, la actividad de la adenosin trifosfatasa no se vio inhibida.
Las saponinas del Astrágalus demostraron ofrecer un efecto positivo en la función cardiaca, a través de la inhibición de la formación de peróxidos lipídicos en el miocardio así como disminuyen los mecanismos de coagulación.
9. Otros efectos:
· Estimula la actividad hipófisis-corteza adrenal.
· Restaura la formación de células rojas en la médula ósea.
· Glomerulonefritis: Astrágalus demostró su efectividad en la glomerulonefritis inducida experimentalmente en ratas, especialmente en el tratamiento de la proteinuria. Las ratas que recibieron altas dosis de Astragalus mostraron menor proteinuria y menores cambios titulares patológicos que el grupo control.
· Infertilidad masculina: Los extractos de Astragalus demostraron un efecto estimulante sobre el número y motilidad espermática, en estudios animales.
· Hipolipemiante: disminuye niveles de Colesterol, triglicéridos, apoproteínas y lipoproteína-a
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| Indicaciones |
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La raíz de Astrágalo está indicada en el tratamiento de enfermos con el sistema inmune comprometido, infecciones víricas y pacientes con hipertensión arterial. Puede disminuir la hiperactividad inmune en pacientes con lupus eritematoso sistémico y miastenia gravis por lo que se recomienda su utilización en estos casos.
Además se puede indicar a enfermos con SIDA, hepatitis viral y enfermedad vascular periférica. También se emplea en casos de asma, úlcera péptica, trastornos respiratorios, diarrea e infecciones en general producidas por Diplococcus, Staphylococcus y Streptococcus. En medicina china también se utiliza en diabetes, cardiopatías y en la enfermedad de Alzheimer.
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| Contraindicaciones:
No se ha establecido su seguridad en embarazadas y mujeres en período de lactancia, ni en pacientes con disfunción renal o hepática severa, por lo que no es conveniente su utilización durante el embarazo ni lactancia..
No tiene efectos mutagénicos. Según los datos experimentales y clínicos disponibles no existen limitaciones en su utilización, aunque se debe emplear con precaución en pacientes que reciban tratamiento con inmunosupresores (trasplantados o con enfermedades autoinmunes).
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| Efectos Secundarios/ Toxicidad:
No se han descrito efectos secundarios a las dosis terapéuticas. Astrágalus no parece producir ninguna toxicidad, y no produce efectos secundarios cuando se utiliza según las recomendaciones. Las reacciones secundarias son muy raras y se limitan generalmente a leves molestias gastrointestinales o reacciones alérgicas.
La DL50 intraparenteral para el Astrágalo en ratas es superior a 40 g/kg. Dosis de hasta 100 gramos por kilo han sido administradas a animales sin mostrar efectos adversos. |
| Interacciones medicamentosas:
Potencia los efectos de aciclovir, interleuquina 2 (IL-2) recombinante y del interferón alfa recombinante (IFN alfa-1 e IFN alfa-2).
Puede presentar incompatibilidad con agentes inmunosupresores (ciclosporina, azatioprina y metotrexato).
Con agentes anticoagulantes, antiagregantes plaquetarios y antitrombóticos, Astrágalo puede incrementar el riesgo de hemorragia.
Puede disminuir el efecto de los hipoglucemiantes orales.
Otras interaciones posibles descritas son: con fenobarbital, beta-bloqueantes y algunos descongestionantes nasales.
Posología:
La farmacopea china recomienda de 9 a 30 g/día de polvo. En condiciones extremas se puede incrementar la dosis hasta 30-60 g de polvo de raíz diarios. Sin embargo, estudios realizados demuestran que la dosis adecuada para mejorar la actividad de los macrófagos es de 4-7 g diarios para un adulto de 80 kg, pero la dosis no debe sobrepasar los 28 g día.
Recomendamos la ingestión de 2 a 3 cápsulas de 450 mg, 3 veces por día.
En niños mayores de 2 años, se recomienda ingerir una cápsula 2 veces por día. En menores de esta edad: vaciar una cápsula en un poco de puré de fruta y suministrar la mezcla una sola vez por día.
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Referencias
1: Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 2003 Oct;23(10):753-6.
[Study on effects of astragalus, angelica and their combination on vascular endothelial cell proliferation in vitro]
Lei Y, Gao Q, Li YS. Xiyuan Hospital , China Academy of TCM , Beijing 100091.
OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of Astragalus membranaceus (AM), Angelica sinensis (AS) and their combination on human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) proliferation and cells cycle. METHODS: The effects were observed and studied by means of taking the cultured HUVECs as model to determine the cell proliferation with MTT method, cell cycle was analyzed with cytometry, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression with SABC method. The regulatory effects of AM, AS and their combination on the HUVEC proliferation promoting were observed and studied. RESULTS: AM and AS, used singly or in combination, could promote the growth of endothelial cells, increase the cell population in S phase, the effects showed more significant when used in combination (P < 0.05 or P < 0.001). Meanwhile, VEGF expression in all the medicated group was up-regulated, but in the PBS control group, it showed only weak expression (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: AM and AS have effect in promoting vascular endothelial cell proliferation and DNA synthesis, and showed synergistic effect when they were used in combination, suggesting that these two Chinese herbs could have certain effect on the genesis and development of neogenetic vascularization in ischemic myocardium. |
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2: J Pharm Pharmacol. 2003 Sep;55(9):1275-82.
Influence of traditional Chinese anti-inflammatory medicinal plants on leukocyte and platelet functions.
Prieto JM, Recio MC, Giner RM, Manez S, Giner-Larza EM, Rios JL.
Departament de Farmacologia, Facultat de Farmacia, Universitat de Valencia, Av. Vicent Andres Estelles, s/n. 46100 Burjassot, Valencia, Spain. |
| The enzymes 5-lipoxygenase and elastase are therapeutic targets in dermatological disorders such as psoriasis. Fifteen extracts from traditional Chinese medicinal plants used to treat topical inflammations were screened for their inhibitory effect on lipoxygenase, cyclooxygenase and elastase activity in intact leukocytes and platelets. Astragalus membranaceus, Forsythia suspensa and Poria cocos inhibited 5-lipoxygenase, with IC50 values of 141, 80 and 141 microg mL(-1), respectively. The latter two species, along with Angelica dahurica and Angelica pubescens, also inhibited elastase (IC50 values of 80, 123, 68 and 93 microg mL(-1), re-spectively), while A. pubescens, Atractylodes macrocephala, Lentinus edodes, Rehmannia glutinosa and Paeonia lactiflora selectively inhibited 12-(S)-HHTrE production, a valid marker of cyclooxygenase activity. The inhibition of phospholipase A(2) activity by P. cocos is discussed. Dehydrotumulosic and pachymic acids, which have been isolated from P. cocos, were shown to inhibit leukotriene B(4) release. The results indicate that both P. cocos and F. suspensa are potentially valuable species in the management of skin pathologies involving chronic inflammation. |
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3: Thromb Haemost. 2003 Nov;90(5):904-14.
Antiinflammatory activity of astragaloside IV is mediated by inhibition of NF-kappaB activation and adhesion molecule expression.
Zhang WJ, Hufnagl P, Binder BR, Wojta J. Department of Internal Medicine II, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria. |
The regulated expression of adhesion molecules on the surface of endothelial cells is a key process in the pathogenesis of inflammation. The saponin astragaloside IV (AS-IV), a 3-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-6-O-beta-D-glucopyranosylcycloastragenol purified from the Chinese medical herb Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch) Bge. has been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects in vivo. In this study we have investigated the effect of AS-IV on cytokine-and LPS-stimulated expression of adhesion molecules in and leukocyte adhesion to endothelial cells. We have demonstrated that AS-IV significantly reduced the adhesion promoting activity of LPS-stimulated HUVECs for polymorph-nuclear leukocytes (PMNs) and the monocytic cell line THP-1. Furthermore, by using specific cell ELISAs we could show that AS-IV decreased the LPS-induced expression of E-selectin and VCAM-1 on the surface of HUVECs in a dose and time dependent manner, whereas the expression of ICAM-1 was not affected by AS-IV. AS-IV also inhibits TNFalpha-induced VCAM-1 expression. The saponin octyl-D-glucopyranoside had no effect on the LPS-induced expression of E-selectin and VCAM-1 excluding an unspecific detergent-like effect of AS-IV. Moreover, AS-IV significantly inhibited LPS- and TNFalpha-induced specific mRNA levels for E-selectin and VCAM-1. Finally, we could show that AS-IV completely abolished LPS- and TNFalpha-induced nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB and NF-kappaB DNA binding activity in endothelial cells. We conclude that the ability of AS-IV to inhibit the NF-kappaB pathway might be one under-lying mechanism contributing to its anti-inflammatory potential in vivo.
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4: Z Naturforsch [C]. 2003 Jul-Aug;58(7-8):602-4.
Flavonoids and phenol carboxylic acids in the oriental medicinal plant Astragalus membranaceus acclimated in Poland .
Matkowski A, Wozniak D, Lamer-Zarawska E, Oszmianski J, Leszczynska A. Department of Pharmaceutical Biology and Botany, Medical University in Wroclaw, A1. Jana Kochanowskiego 10, 51-601 Wroclaw , Poland .
Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge has been was successfully acclimated in Central Europe . We report the content of isoflavones and some other polyphenolic compounds in roots and aerial parts that have been analyzed by means of TLC and HPLC. The total amount of isoflavones in leaves, was 0.55 mg g(-1) dry weight, and of the flavonols--up to 3.54 mg g(-1). In the roots isoflavonoid content was extremely variable, but reached 3.04 mg g(-1), whereas flavonols content was 0.49 mg g(-1). |
5: J Tongji Med Univ. 1999;19(3):206-8, 214.
Effect of astragalus on the endothelin in rats with acute lung injury.
Liu X, Huang C.
Department of Respiratory Diseases, Tongji Hospital , Tongji Medical University , Wuhan
The effect of astragalus on the endothelin in serum and lung of the rats with acute lung injury was studied. The results demonstrated that the concentration of endothelin in the lung of the rats in therapy group was lower than that of the injured rats (64.36 +/- 5.37 ng/L vs 103.32 +/- 4.99 ng/L, P < 0.001), and level of serum endothelin was also lower than that of the injured rats (85.35 ng/L vs 113.35 ng/L, P < 0.01). PaO2, serum SOD, lung coefficient, ratio of lung wet weight/dry weight in two groups were also significantly different (P < 0.01) respectively, and the lung pathological injury in the treatment group were less than that of injury group. So it is concluded that astragalus could inhibit the increase of serum and lung endothelin, thereby playing a protective role in the rats with acute lung injury.
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6: J Tongji Med Univ. 1999;19(1):20-2, 30.
The effect of astragapolysaccharide on the lymphocyte proliferation and airway inflammation in sensitized mice.
Xue J, Xu Y, Zhang Z, Shen G, Zeng G.
Department of Respiratory Diseases, Tongji Medical University, Wuhan 430030.
In order to investigate the regulating role of Astragapolysaccharide (APS) in the mice model of asthmatic airway inflammation, the airway eosinophil number, spleen T lymphocyte proliferation, level of IL-2 production and their relationships were studied in sensitized mice and sensitized mice treated with different concentrations of APS. The results showed that the number of eosinophils as well as lymphocytes in the airway of the sensitized animals were significantly increased, and a marked positive correlation between the inflammation cells and spleen T lymphocyte proliferation was found. Moreover, there was a positive correlation between inflammation cells and the level of IL-2 production. The APS of given dosage could significantly reduce the number of eosinophils in the airway of the sensitized animals. At the same time the level of IL-2 secreted by spleen T lymphocytes stimulated with ConA was also significantly decreased and there was a marked positive correlation between them. Our results suggested that APS of given dosage could prevent antigen-induced the number of eosinophils infiltrating into the airway of sensitized mice and inhibit the proliferation and activation of lymphocyte and IL-2 production. Through its immuno-regulating effect, APS can be helpful in the treatment of asthma. |
7: Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 2001 Sep;26(9):617-20.
[Protection against paracetamol-induced hepatic damage using total flavonoids of Astragalus]
Wang DQ, Critchley JA, Ding BG, Ma YQ, Zhao HL, Thomas GN, Tian YP, Tomlinson B,
Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Department of Biochemistry, PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853.
OBJECTIVE: To study the mechanism of the protection by total flavonoids of Astragalus protection against paracetamol-induced hepatic damage. METHOD: Analysing paracetamol and its metabolites in mice urine by HPLC and studying the mechanism of anti-damage induced by paracetamol using experiment module of pentobarbital-induced sleeping time. RESULT: Administration of large doses of paracetamol to C57BL/6J mice produced significant hepatic injury with marked elevation in serum ALT activity and severe hepatocellular necrosis. TFA showed a good protective capability against paracetamol-induced hepatic injury. TFA had no marked effect on paracetamol and its metabolites except for the mercapturate-conjugate. The concentration of mercapturate change decreased with increasing TFA dose. TFA had no effect on the pentobarbital metabolites (P > 0.05). However, paracetamol (400 mg.kg-1) prolonged the sleeping time (by 110 min relative to the controls, P < 0.001). The TFA (P < 0.005) caused significant reduction in paracetamol-prolonged pentobarbital-induced sleep. CONCLUSIONS: The mechanism of TFA's protective effect against the paracetamol-induced damage may be related to the inhibition of some metabolism progress of paracetamol and the reduction of the toxicity metabolite such as mercapturate-conjugate.
8: Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 2001 Jul;26(7):483-6.
[Studies on protective effect of total flavonoids of Astragalus on liver damage paracetamol-inducedby]
Wang DQ, Ding BG, Ma YQ, Zhao HL, Neil TG, Brian T, Tian YP, Wang CB, Critchley JA.
Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China.
OBJECTIVE: To study the protective effect of total flavonoids of Astragalus (TFA) on the liver against large doses of paracetamol in mice. METHOD: After oral administration of TFA or Vitamin C 1 h prior to giving large dose of paracetamol in mice, the changes of paracetamol-induced mortality rate, serum enzyme level and liver damage degree were observed. RESULT: Paracetamol produced 80% mortality, within 24 hours of the administration of a dose of 1000 mg.kg-1 to the mice. Pre-treatment of the animals with TFA (100 mg.kg-1) or Vitamin C (1,000 mg.kg-1) reduced the death rate to 20% and 0% respectively. There was also a significant rise in the serum enzyme level of alanine transaminase (P < 0.001) and the area of liver necrosis (P < 0.001), 24 h after paracetamol (400 mg.kg-1) treatment. With pre-treatment with either TFA or Vitamin C, there was an obvious dose-dependent decrease in ALT levels and the area of hepatocellular necrosis. CONCLUSION: TFA has potential protecting effect against the paracetamol-induced hepatic damage.
9: Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 2001 Dec;26(12):850-3.
[Effect of astragaloside IV on the increase of microvascular permeability induced by histamine in pial microvessels of rat]
Wu DZ, Hu ZB. Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200032, China .
OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of satragaloside IV on the microvascular permeability induced by histamine in pial microvessels. METHOD: The microvascular permeability was expressed by changes in the transendothelial electrical resistance which was measured with technique using microelectrode impaled into the vascular lumen and based on cable analysis of vessels in rat. RESULT: The transendothelial electrical resistance of microvessels superfused with artificial cerebrospinal fluid was about 2500 omega.cm2, indicating a tight barrier with extremely low ion permeability, and application of 10(-4) mol.L-1 histamine in superfusate caused a rapid and reversible decrease in transendothelial electrical resistance. In paired experiment, the decrease of transendothelial electrical resistance induced by 10(-4) mol.L-1 histamine was inhibited by adding 0.8 x 10(-4) mol.L-1 satragaloside IV in superfusate. CONCLUSION: The results indicated that increases in the microvascular permeability induced by histamine, and satragaloside IV can inhibit the increases in the microvascular permeability induced by histamine. It is necessary that the cellular mechanism of permeability response induced by satragaloside IV be further elucidated. |
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10: J Chromatogr A. 2003 Apr 11;992(1-2):193-7.
Preparative isolation and purification of two isoflavones from Astragalus membranaceus Bge. var. mongholicus (Bge.) Hsiao by high-speed counter-current chromatography.
Ma X, Tu P, Chen Y, Zhang T, Wei Y, Ito Y.
Peking University Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China. |
| Two isoflavones, calycosin-7-O-beta-D-glycoside and formononetin-7-O-beta-D-glycoside, were separated from n-butanol extract of the root of Astragalus membranaceus Bge. var. mongholicus (Bge.) Hsiao by high-speed counter-current chromatography in two steps using two different solvent systems composed of ethyl acetate-ethanol-n-butanol-water (30:10:6:50, v/v) and ethyl acetate-ethanol-water (5:1:5, v/v). From 200 mg of crude extract, calycosin-7-O-beta-D-glycoside (12 mg) and formononetin-7-O-beta-D-glycoside (10 mg) were isolated at over 95% purity by HPLC analyses, and their structures were identified by MS, 1H NMR and 13C NMR. |
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11: Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 2002 Jul;22(7):515-7.
[Clinical study on effect of Astragalus in efficacy enhancing and toxicity reducing of chemotherapy in patients of malignant tumor]
Duan P, Wang ZM. Chengdu First Peopte's Hospital, Chengdu 610016.
OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of Astragalus membranaceus efficacy enhancing and toxicity reducing on chemotherapy in patients of malignant tumor. METHODS: One hundred and twenty tumor patients were randomly divided into the treated group and the control group. Both groups were treated with chemotherapy, but to the treated group, Astragalus injection was given additionally by intravenous dripping, 20 ml in 250 ml of normal saline once per day for 21 days as one course and 4 courses were given successively. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the treated group showed a lower progressive incidence, lesser decrease of peripheral WBC and platelet count (P < 0.05), accompanied with CD8 significantly lowered (P < 0.05), CD4/CD8 ratio significantly increased (P < 0.01), IgG and IgM levels raised (P < 0.05) and Karnofsky scores elevated more than those in the control group. IgA level was unchanged in both groups. CONCLUSION: Astragalus injection supplemented with chemotherapy could inhibit the development of tumor, decrease the toxic-adverse effect of chemotherapy, elevate the immune function of organism and improve the quality of life in patients.
Publication Types: Clinical Trial, Randomized Controlled Trial
12: Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 2002 Jun;22(6):453-6.
[Extracorporeal experimental study on immuno-modulatory activity of Astragalus memhranaceus extract]
Wang RT, Shan BE, Li QX. Department of Immunology, Institute of Basic Medicine, Hebei Medical University , Shijiazhuang
OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of Astragalus membranaceus extract (AME) in regulating the immune function of human peripheral blood immune cells (PBIC) in vitro. METHODS: Effects of AME on the proliferation activity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and the tumor cell phagocytosis of peripheral blood adherent monocytes (PBAM) were measured by using 3H-TdR incorporation. Effect of the tumor-killing activity of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) was determined by using 51Cr-releasing assay. Effects on production of IgG by peripheral blood B cells (PBBC) and IL-6 by PBAM were tested by means of ELISA, and effect on production of TNF-alpha by PBAM was studied by means of biological method. Besides, the protein elements of AME were analysed by SDS-PAGE. RESULTS: AME could promote the proliferation of human PBMC, elevate the tumor cell-killing activity of CTL, strengthen the tumor cell phagocytosis and cytokines (TNF-alpha and IL-6) production of PBAM, and promote the IgG production of PBBC. AME contained multiple protein elements. CONCLUSION: AME has effect in enhancing human immuno-function and anti-tumor activity, it could be applied in clinical practice for immuno-modulation and tumor treatment.
13: Yao Xue Xue Bao. 2001 Jul;36(7):523-7.
[Characterization and recognition key components in Astragalus membranaceus]
Zhang ZZ, Liang XM, Zhang Q, Lu PZ. Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116011, China .
AIM: To separate, identify and quantify multi-components in complex traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) Astragalus membranaceus by unified analysis for systematic study of its relative contents. METHODS: The analytical method was reverse-phase HPLC/photodiode array detector. Based on the comparison of UV spectra, software of UV database to assist recognition has been established. Key components have been found and recognized in two reference Astragalus membranaceus and three samples from different sources. With the unified analytical project, relative peak heights of key components were recognized and contrasted. RESULTS: The water-soluble components can be separated by solvent system A, a gradient program with mobile phase of methanol-water. The liposoluble components can be separated with the solvent system B, a gradient program of mobile phase of 2-propanol-acetonitrile-water. UV detection wavelength was set at 202 nm and the flow rate was 1 mL.min-1 on a Hypersil ODS column. Twenty-nine components in the four Astragalus membranaceus were recognized using characteristic parameters of chromatography and UV spectroscopy. All of the 29 key components in two reference samples and three samples from different sources were shown in their chromatograms to be the same. The concentrations of some the key components in different samples were similar while those of the others were different. The chromatographic peaks of the reference Astragalus membranaceus and two samples were matched with each other. Many different fingerprints were found and differences were shown on their chromatograms. Not only there were differences among three samples from different source, but also there were differences in the two reference samples. CONCLUSION: To find out the key components and recognize them are the basis of quantitative recognition and are very useful when standards are not available. The method of multi-component quantitative recognition in Astragalus membranaceus was developed. The method is convenient and reproducible. It can be widely used for the quality control of the Astragalus membranaceus.
14: Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 2002 May;22(5):376-8.
[Comparative study on effect of recipe for activating blood circulation and replenishing Qi on left ventricular remodeling in rats with left heart failure after myocardial infarction]
Wang ZT, Wang SR, Zhao MJ. Dongzhimen Hospital , Beijing University of TCM , Beijing 100700.
OBJECTIVE: Comparative study to the effect of Chinese herbal medicine on left ventricular remodeling in rats with left heart failure after myocardial infarction (MI). METHODS: Rat's model of left heart failure after myocardial infarction was treated with injection for activating blood circulation (ABCI, consisted of R. Salviae miltiorrhizea; Rh. Ligusticum wallichii and F1. Carthamus tinctorius) and injection for replenishing Qi (RQI, consisted of R. Codonopsis Pilosulae and R. Astragalus membranaceus) respectively. The effect of treatment were evaluated by observing and comparing the changes of heart morphological structure, collagen element, heart weight/body weight ratio (HW/BW), left intraventricular area (LVA), ratio of ventricular wall thinning in MI area and myocardial nuclei number (MNN) per square area. RESULTS: In comparison with the model group, the reduction of collagen tissue around myocardial cells in living area of MI, HW/BW and LVA of ABCI and RQI group were lower, and MNN per square area was higher significantly (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Both ABCI and RQI, though without positive myodynamia, showed certain inhibitory effect of left ventricular remodeling in rats with left heart failure after MI.
15: Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 2001 May;21(5):351-3.
[Influence of Salvia miltiorrhizae and Astragalus membranaceus on hemodynamics and liver fibrosis indexes in liver cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension]
Tan YW, Yin YM, Yu XJ. Zhenjiang Municipal Third People's Hospital, Jiangsu 212003.
OBJECTIVE: To observe the influence of Salvia miltiorrhiza (SM) and Astragalus membranaceus (AM) on hemodynamics and liver fibrosis indexes in patients of liver cirrhosis with portal hypertension. METHODS: Eighty-four cases of liver cirrhosis were enrolled and divided randomly into two groups, 42 in each. The control group was treated with conventional therapy and the tested group treated with SM and AM. The parameters, including diameter of portal vein and splenic vein (Dpv and Dsv), speed of blood flow in portal vein and splenic vein (Spv and Ssv), quantity of blood flow in portal vein and splenic vein (Qpv and Qsv) as well as liver fibrosis indexes, such as HA, PC III and LN, were determined before, 1, 2 and 3 months after treatment. RESULTS: After treatment, in the tested group, Dpv and Dsv decreased, Spv and Ssv increased, and Qpv and Qsv reduced, showing a significant difference in comparison with those in the control group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The liver fibrosis indexes were improved significantly in the tested group, also showed significant difference from those in the control group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: SM and AM could improve portal hypertension effectively in liver cirrhosis patients, one of the mechanism may be related with the improvement of liver fibrosis.
Publication Types: Clinical Trial, Randomized Controlled Trial
16: Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 2001 Jan;21(1):43-6.
[Therapeutic effect of Astragalus and Angelica on renal injury induced by ischemia/reperfusion in rats]
Sheng MX, Li JZ, Wang HY. Institute of Nephrology , First Affiliated Hospital of Beijing Medical University , Beijing 100034.
OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of Astragalus and Angelica on acute renal injury. METHODS: Using the ischemia/reperfusion model established by blocking blood flow through clamping of bilateral renal artery for 45 min, the changes of glomerular filtration rate (GFR), renal plasma flow (RPF), fractional excretion of sodium (FENa), urinary volume (UV) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) as well as the morphological change of kidney before and after ischemia/reperfusion were observed. RESULTS: Astragalus and Angelica could promote recovery of RPF and GFR after ischemia/reperfusion, prevent the oliguria or shorten the oliguria period, reduce the increment of FENa and improve the histomorphological injury of kidney. CONCLUSION: Astragalus and Angelica have certain effect in protecting kidney from acute renal injury.
17: Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 2001 Apr;21(4):274-6.
[Effect of Astragalus injection on platelet function and plasma endothelin in patients with early stage diabetic nephropathy]
Liu ZQ, Li QZ, Qin GJ. Affiliated Huaihe Hospital , Kaifeng Medical School , Henan 475000.
OBJECTIVE: To study the therapeutic effect of Astragalus injection (AI) in treating early stage diabetic nephropathy (DN) patients. METHODS: The total of 136 early diabetic nephropathy patients were randomly divided into two groups, 50 cases in the conventional treated group and 86 in the AI treated group, the therapeutic course being 3 weeks. Levels of plasma endothelin-1 (ET-1), 24 hrs urinary albumin excretion rate (uAER), and platelet granule membrane protein (GMP-140), 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha(6-keto-PGF1 alpha), and thromboxane B2(TXB2) before and after treatment were determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) respectively. Moreover, the above-mentioned criteria in 26 healthy subjects were also measured for control. RESULTS: The plasma ET-1, GMP-140, TXB2 and uAER levels in DN patients were higher, but 6-keto-PGF1 alpha level was lower than those in healthy subjects. The above elevated criteria in DN patients could be lowered by AI treatment. CONCLUSION: The pathogenesis and development of DN might be closely associated with the changes of plasma ET-1 level and platelet function. Astragalus could improve the above-mentioned changes in patients of early stage DN.
18: Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 2001 Apr;21(4):254-6.
[Observation on collaborative treatment of dilated cardiomyopathy]
Yang YZ, Chen RZ, Zhang JN. Zhongshan Hospital , Medical School of Fudan University , Shanghai 200032.
OBJECTIVE: To observe the therapeutic effect of integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine (TCM-WM) in treating dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). METHODS: Patients of DCM were randomly divided into two groups, the 164 patients in the TCM-WM group were treated with combination therapy of traditional Chinese and western medicine, consisting of conventional western medicine, such as cardiac diuretic, vasodilative agents, taurine, coenzyme Q10, antiarrhythmics, beta blockers and Chinese herbal preparations such as Astragalus membranaceus and Shengmai injection; while the 156 cases in the control group were treated with conventional western medicine alone, including polarized liquid therapy, etc. RESULTS: The improvement of clinical symptoms and heart function in the TCM-WM group was significantly better than that in the control group. Although the total number of deceased cases in the two groups were similar, the dead number in 3-6 months in the TCM-WM group was less than that in the control group. Moreover, 1 year later, the deceased number of patients insisted with TCM-WM treatment for over 1 year was significantly less than in those treated for only 3-6 months (1 case vs 11 cases). CONCLUSION: Under the condition that there is no specific effective drugs, TCM-WM therapy can yet be regarded as an acceptable therapy for treatment of dilated cardiomyopathy.
Publication Types: Clinical Trial, Randomized Controlled Trial
19: Zhong Yao Cai. 2000 Oct;23(10):625-7.
[Effect of AMI on proliferative cycle phase of bone marrow cells in mice]
Zhu X, Zhu B. West China University of Medical Sciences, Chengdu 610041.
By using culture of bone marrow cells in vitro and flowcytometry, effect of Astragalus membranaceus injection (AMI) on proliferative cycle phase of bone marrow cells in normal and anemic mice was studied. AMI 40 micrograms/ml (concentration in culture system) can promote normal murine bone marrow cells (BMC) entering proliferative cycle phase (S + M/G2 phase), so do AMI 40 micrograms/ml and AMI 400 micrograms/ml to anemic murine BMC. The results suggested AMI maybe enhance hematopoietic function in mice. |
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20: Arch Pharm Res. 2003 Jan;26(1):34-9.
Induction of growth hormone by the roots of Astragalus membranaceus in pituitary cell culture.
Kim C, Ha H, Kim JS, Kim YT, Kwon SC, Park SW.
Drug Research and Development Team, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Seoul, Korea. |
| The traditional Asian medicinal herb, roots of Astragalus (A.) membranaceus (Leguminosae), is used for many purposes, some of which are purported to stimulate the release of growth hormone in vivo. Extracts of A. membranaceus were tested to determine whether they stimulate the release of growth hormone in rat pituitary cell culture. A. membranaceus was extracted sequentially with 80% ethanol (fraction A), n-hexane (fraction B); the test compound from the herbal extraction was isolated using silica gel column chromatography and was identified with spectral data. Test compound was also extracted by traditional boiling water methods. Induction of growth hormone in pituitary cell culture was conducted with isolated compounds and extracted fractions of A. Radix (dried roots of A. membranaceus). The fraction A was not active in the rat pituitary cell culture, but the fraction B derived from the ethanol fraction stimulated the release of growth hormone in culture. Six compounds from fraction B (1-6) were isolated and identified previously. The compounds 1,2-benzendicarboxylic acid diisononylester (1), beta-sitosterol (2), and 3-O-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-beta-sitosterol (5) did not induce growth hormone release in the culture. Formononetin (3), 9Z,12Z-octadecadienoic acid (4), stigmast-4-en-6beta-ol-3-one (6) and 98-E, a mixture of 1'-9,12-octadecadienoic acid (Z,Z)-2',3'-dihydroxy-propylester (7) and 1'-hexadecanoic acid-2',3'-dihydroxy-propylester (8) stimulated the release of growth hormone in the rat pituitary cell culture significantly compared to the control. In conclusions, four compounds isolated from extracts of A. Radix induced growth hormone release in the rat pituitary cell culture. The 98-E isolate was the most active inducer of growth hormone release. |
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21: Life Sci. 2003 Feb 21;72(14):1563-71.
The collagenolytic effects of the traditional Chinese medicine preparation, Han-Dan-Gan-Le, contribute to reversal of chemical-induced liver fibrosis in rats.
Li C, Luo J, Li L, Cheng M, Huang N, Liu J, Waalkes MP.
Department of Pharmacology, Guiyang Medical College , China . |
| Han-Dan-Gan-Le (HDGL), a Chinese herb preparation composed of Stephaniat tetrandra, Salvia miltorrhiza, Radix paeoniae, Astragalus membranaceus, and Ginkgo biloba, has been used to treat human liver fibrosis. This study was designed to examine the therapeutic effect of HDGL on chemical-induced liver fibrosis in adult Wistar rats. Liver fibrosis was produced in rats by carbon tetrachloride (1.2 ml CCl(4)/kg, 2 times/week, after an initial dose of 5.0 ml CCl(4)/kg, sc), plus a diet of 20% fat, 0.05% cholesterol (continuous) and 30% alcohol in the drinking water ad libitum (every other day) for 8 weeks. HDGL (0.5 and 1.0 g/kg, ig, daily for 6 weeks) was administered to rats 72 hrs after the last dose of CCl(4) to examine its therapeutic effects on chemical-induced liver fibrosis. Upon pathological examination, the HDGL treatment had significantly reversed chemical-induced liver fibrosis and other hepatic lesions. Hepatic collagen accumulation induced by CCl(4) was markedly reduced by HDGL treatment, as evidenced by hepatic collagen content and by immunohistochemical analysis of type-I collagen in liver. HDGL appeared to stimulate the collagenolytic process in the liver, as a 30-50% increase in urinary excretion of hydroxyproline was observed with HDGL treatment as compared to rats only given CCl(4). In conclusion, HDGL can effectively reverse chemically induced liver fibrosis, and this appears to be due, at least in part, to the stimulation of hepatic collagenolysis, resulting in a resolution of hepatic fibrosis. |
22: Hua Xi Yi Ke Da Xue Xue Bao. 2001 Dec;32(4):590-2.
[Effect of Astragalus membranaceus injection on megakaryocyte hematopoiesis in anemic mice]
Zhu X, Zhu B. Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu , China .
OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of Astragalus membranaceus injection (AMI) on megakaryocyte hematopoiesis in anemic mice and explore its mechanism. METHODS: Anemic models of mice were randomly divided into two groups: treatment group and anemic control group. Intraperitoneal doses of AMI (20 mg/(ml.20 g) q.d x 6) were given to the treatment group, and equal doses of physiological saline were given to the anemic control group. On days 8, 11 and 14 after treatment, blood platelet and bone marrow cells were determined, and the numbers of CFU-Meg (colony forming unit-megakaryocyte) and Meg-CSA (megakaryocyte colony-stimulating activity) were determined by using technique of hematopoietic progenitor cells culture in vitro. RESULTS: Serum Meg-CSA of the treatment group was significantly higher than that of the anemic control group. The abovementioned indices of the treatment group recovered to normal by day 11, which was markedly earlier than the day of recovery observed in the anemic control group. CONCLUSION: AMI can increase serum Meg-CSA of anemic mice and accelerate the recovery of megekaryocyte hematopoiesis after bone marrow suppression.
23: Zhonghua Shi Yan He Lin Chuang Bing Du Xue Za Zhi. 1998 Sep;12(3):269-71.
[Study on the anti-herpes simplex virus activity of a suppository or ointment form of Astragalus membranaceus combined with interferon alpha 2b in human diploid cell culture]
Zhang L, Liu Y, Yu Z. Biotech Center for New Pharmaceutical Development, Chinese Academy of Preventive Medicine, State Key Laboratory for Molecular Virology and Genetic Engineering, Beijing China .
A study on the anti-herpes simplex virus activity of the suppository or ointment form of Astragalus membranaceus(AM) combined with recombinant human interferon alpha 2b(IFN) was carried out in human diploid cell culture. AM is a Chinese herb medicine and have been used in China as a tonic for thousands of years and the IFN was produced from E. coli with 95% purity. Obtained results indicated that the placebo suppository and ointment(without AM and IFN) seemed not to decrease markedly the anti-viral activity of IFN in WISH/VSV assay system. The anti-herpes simplex virus activities of suppository and ointment forms of AM and IFN were shown to be significantly higher than that of IFN alone. It is well known that chronic cervicitis is closely related to papillomavirus, cytomegalovirus as well as herpes virus infections. The AM-IFN suppository is suggested to be used in the treatment of cervicitis and the ointment in the treatment of skin herpes.
24: Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 2000 May;25(5):300-2.
[Effects of components isolated from Astragalus membranaceus Bunge on cardiac function injured by myocardial ischemia reperfusion in rats]
Zhou JY, Fan Y, Kong JL, Wu DZ, Hu ZB. Scientific Research Office, Shanghai University of TCM, Shanghai 200032, China .
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of components isolated from Astragalus membranaceus on myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury. METHODS: The myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury model was created by the left anterior descending coronary artery occlusion from the oracotouated rats, and the total saponins, total flavonids and astragaloside i.v. isolated from A. membranaceus on hemodynamics during acute myocardial ischemia, Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity, cAMP and malondialdehyede (MDA) contents in the ischemic myocardium were observed. RESULTS: The total saponins, total flavonids and astragaloside i.v. attenuated the declines of the amplitudes of LVSP and +/- LVdp/dtmax in rat heart injured by ischemia reperfusion in vivo, and decreased Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity in the ischemic myocardium. Otherwise, the total saponins increased the cAMP content and the total flavonids decreased the level of MDA production in the ischemic myocardium. CONCLUSION: The effects of different components isolated from A. membranaceus on protecting the cardiac function in the process of ischemia reperfusion may be related to the mechanism of improving energy metabolism, scavenging the oxygen free radicals and inhibiting the production of free radicals in the ischemic myocardium. |
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25: Cancer Chemother Pharmacol. 2003 Jan;51(1):75-80. Epub 2002 Nov 26.
Suppressive effect of Astragalus membranaceus Bunge on chemical hepatocarcinogenesis in rats.
Cui R, He J, Wang B, Zhang F, Chen G, Yin S, Shen H. Molecular Carcinogenesis Unit, International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France. |
| Astragalus membranaceus (AM) has been widely used for treating liver diseases in traditional Chinese medicine. Experimental evidence indicates that it has antitumor potential. In this study, the effect of AM on hepatocarcinogenesis induced by diethylnitrosamine (DEN), two-thirds partial hepatectomy, and 2-acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF) (DEN-PH-AAF) was evaluated using glutathione S-transferase placenta form (GST-P) as marker. First, rats were injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) with DEN (200 mg/kg in saline), a two-thirds partial hepatectomy was carried out 2 weeks later, and the rats were then placed on a basal diet containing 0.02% AAF from week 3 to week 8 to induce hepatocarcinogenesis. The rats were given AM (90 mg/kg or 180 mg/kg body weight) by gavage from week 3 to week 8 (treatment groups). The formation of GST-P-positive foci and the expression of GST-P protein and mRNA caused by DEN-PH-AAF were reduced in the treatment groups, which clearly suggests that AM is effective in delaying DEN-PH-AAF-induced hepatocarcinogenesis. |
26: Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 1999 Mar;24(3):176-80, 192.
[Antiviral action of combined use of rhizoma Polygoni cuspidati and radix Astragali on HSV-1 strain]
Wang Z, Cheng Z, Fang X. Department of Oncogenic Virus, Virus Research Institute, Hubei Medical University , Wuhan
OBJECTIVE: The clinical action of combined use of Rhizoma Polygoni Cuspidati and Radix Astragali on HSV-1 was investigated with a view to developing a new antiviral drug. METHOD: The action was analyzed by way of plaque reduction assay and median-effect principle. RESULTS: In the HEp-2 cell system, if the combination ratio of Rhizoma Polygoni Cuspidati and Radix Astragali was 1(ED50):1(ED50) then, (1) In directly annihilating HSV- 1 F strain, when the plaque reduction rate was 20%-80%, and the combination index was < 1.0, there was synergism. (2) In inhibiting the multiplication of HSV- 1 F strain, when the plaque reduction rate was 20%-60%, and the combination index was < 1.0, there was also synergism. (3) In blockading HSV- 1 F strain infection, when the plaque reduction rate was 20%-90% and the combination index was < 1.0, there was synergism. So this ratio of 1(ED50):1(ED50) should be the first choice for combination. CONCLUSION: The treatment index of the above two Chinese medicinal herbs equals 10(3), and the cytotoxicity is not potentiated, indicating that the combination is helpful as a virucide for HSV- 1 F strain.
27: Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 1999 Oct;24(10):619-21, 639.
[Studies on pharmacological junctions of hairy root of Astragalus membranaceus]
Jin R, Zhang X, Chen C, Sun Z, Shen Y, Liu D, Hu Z.
Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200032.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of hairy root of Astragalus membranaceus(HRA). METHOD: HRA were given 10 g/kg per day for 50 days to aged mice treated with D-galactose, and the effect on memory and antioxidant functions were estimated. After administration of HRA 10 g/kg for four days, anti-ischemia-reperfusion kidney model of rat was prepared. The kidney function, activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and content of malondialdehyde(MDA) in kidney were examined. Mice with immunosuppression induced by cyclophosphamide were given orally HRA 10 g/kg for 12 days. The activity of natural killer (NK) cells was measured. RESULT: HRA improved the memory, raised SOD activity in brain and liver, decreased the MDA content in the liver of aged mice, reduced the MDA content in ischemia-reperfusion kidney, decreased the creatinine level in blood of rats, and promoted the activity of NK cells in immunosuppressed mice. CONCLUSION: Similar to the natural A. membranaceus, HRA has senility-preventing, antioxidizing and immunomodulating functions.
28: Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 2000 Mar;25(3):166-8.
[Determination of astragaloside IV in radix Astragali by HPLC with evaporative light scattering detector]
Zhou CL, Lu J. Liaoning Provincial Institute for Drug Control, Shenyang 110023, Liaoling , China .
OBJECTIVE: To develop a new method for the determination of astragaloside IV in Radix Astragali. METHOD: A HPLC-ELSD method was set up, using Hypersil C18 column ( 150 mm x 4.6 mm ), acetonitrile-water(1:2) as mobile phase with a flow rate of 1.0 ml.min-1. The parameters of drift tube and gas flow rate of the detector were set at 105 degrees C and 2.96 L .min-1 respectively. RESULT: The calibration curve was linear in the range of 2.02-10.12 micrograms. The average recovery was 100.5%. CONCLUSION: The active constituent astragaloside IV in Radix Astragali can be separated effectively. ELSD detection is appropriate for the determination of constituents with end absorption at low ultra-violet wavelengths. |
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29: J Chromatogr A. 2002 Jul 12;962(1-2):243-7.
Preparative isolation and purification of calycosin from Astragalus membranaceus Bge. var. mongholicus (Bge.) Hsiao by high-speed counter-current chromatography.
Ma X, Zhang T, Wei Y, Tu P, Chen Y, Ito Y.
Peking University Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China. |
| Calycosin was purified from an ethyl acetate extract of the root of Astragalus membranaceus Bge. var. mongholicus (Bge.) Hsiao by high-speed counter-current chromatography. The separation was performed in two steps with a two-phase solvent system composed of n-hexane-chloroform-methanol-water (1:3:3:2, v/v). From 200 mg of the crude extract, 14.8 mg of calycosin was obtained at over 99% purity as determined by HPLC analysis, and its chemical structure was confirmed by MS, 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance. |
30: Zhonghua Shi Yan He Lin Chuang Bing Du Xue Za Zhi. 2001 Sep;15(3):236-8. [Influence of a triplex superimposed treatment on HBV replication and mutation during treating chronic hepatitis B]
Wu L, Liu H, Xue P, Lu ZG, Du KF. The 401 Hospital of PLA, Qingdao 266071, China .
OBJECTIVE: To observe and evaluate the influence of a new antiviral treatment scheme on HBV replication and mutation during treating chronic hepatitis B. METHODS: In the test group, lamivudine, IFN alpha-2b, Astragalus membranaceus were chosen as a triplex superimposed treatment scheme for treating the patients who were on the state of HBV high replication and involved in the clinical condition of chronic hepatitis B. The control group was treated with lamivudine alone. The observed parameters percentage of patients in whom HBV DNA became undetectable (serum HBV DNA<1.6 ng/L), HBeAg/anti-HBe seroconversion rate; HBV DNA serum level; HBV YMDD mutation rate and pre-C region mutation rate. RESULTS: Compared with that of the control group, HBV DNA undetectable rate of the test group increased markedly at weeks 12, 36, 48(P <0.05), HBeAg negative rate of the group increased markedly at week 36, 48(P <0.05), while anti-HBe positive rate increased only at week 48 (31.58 vs.19.23%, P <0.05). After 4 weeks of treatment, HBV DNA serum level of both the test group and the control group reduced very remarkably (P <0.01), and at week 48, reduced more significantly (P <0.001). Compared with the control group, HBV DNA serum level of the test group reduced notably at week 12 (P <0.05) and very notable at week 36 and 48(P <0.01). At week 12, the pre-C region mutation occurred in the test group, and at week 24, 36,48, the pre-C region and YMDD mutations occurred in both the test group and the control group. CONCLUSIONS: As to anti-viral treatment of chronic hepatitis B, the triplex superimposed treatment had better efficacy than lamivudine alone.
31: Yao Xue Xue Bao. 1998;33(2):148-51.
[Determination of 6 isoflavonoids in the hairy root cultures of Astragalus membranaceus by HPLC]
Zheng Z, Song C, Liu D, Hu Z. Laboratory of Biotechnology of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy, Shanghai 200032.
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).
32: Int J Oncol. 2002 Apr;20(4):681-9.
Effects of herbal preparation Equiguard on hormone-responsive and hormone-refractory prostate carcinoma cells: mechanistic studies.
Hsieh TC, Lu X, Guo J, Xiong W, Kunicki J, Darzynkiewicz Z, Wu JM. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Brander Cancer Research Institute, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA.
The Equiguard is a dietary supplement comprised of standardized extracts from nine herbs, respectively, Herba epimedium brevicornum Maxim (stem and leaves), Radix morindae officinalis (root), Fructus rosa laevigatae michx (fruit), Rubus chingii Hu (fruit), Schisandra chinensis (Turz.) Baill (fruit), Ligustrum lucidum Ait (fruit), Cuscuta chinensis Lam (seed), Psoralea corylifolia L. (fruit), and Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge (root). This proprietary product, formulated according to Chinese traditional medicinal concepts, is aimed at restoring harmony in the <primordial (original) ying-yang> of the kidney, an organ which Chinese medicinal principles consider to be vital for invigorating as well as maintaining balance of the entire urological system. As the prostate is an integral component of the urological system, we performed in vitro studies to test the effects of ethanol extracts of Equiguard to modulate prostate growth and gene expression. These studies used prostate cancer cells mimicking the androgen-dependent (AD) and androgen-independent (AI) states of prostate carcinogenesis. Results show that Equiguard significantly reduced cancer cell growth, induced apoptosis, suppressed expression of the androgen receptor (AR) and lowered intracellular and secreted prostate specific antigen (PSA), and almost completely abolished colony forming abilities of prostate cancer cells. These data support the interpretation that this herbal formulation contains ingredients that collectively may be efficacious in preventing or treating AD and AI prostate carcinoma. The anti-prostatic activities of Equiguard may stem from its complex composition capable of targeting multiple signal transduction/metabolic pathways, to effectively correct, counteract or circumvent the impaired or dysfunctional mechanisms accompanying different stages of prostate carcinogenesis.
33: Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 1999 Nov;19(11):672-4.
[Effects of Astragaloside in treating myocardial injury and myocardial Sarco/Endoplasmic Ca(2+)-ATPase of viral myocarditis mice]
Lu S, Zhang J, Yang D. Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University , Nanjing (210029).
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects on myocardial injury and sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca(2+)-ATPase of viral myocarditis mice treated with Astragaloside (AS) and Astragalus Injection (AI). METHODS: Viral myocarditis model was created by intraperitoneal inoculation with coxsackievirus B3m (CVB3m) solution and were divided into model, AS, AI and normal control groups. The mortality, myocardial pathological changes, serum cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and the activity of myocardial Sarco/Endoplasmic Ca(2+)-ATPase (SERCA) were observed. RESULTS: The mortality of model was higher than that of the normal control (P = 0.0042), AS and AI (P < 0.05). The serum level of cTnI of model was significantly higher than that of the normal control (P < 0.001), AS (P < 0.025) and AI (P < 0.05). The myocardial necrosis and inflammatory changes of AS and AI groups were alleviated than that of model (P < 0.01). The activity of myocardial SERCA of model were significantly lower than that of normal control (P < 0.001), AS (P < 0.01) and AI (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: AS and AI have some protecting effects on myocardial injury of viral myocarditis mice. AS is the effective component of Astragalus membranaceus in treating viral myocarditis. One of the mechanisms of Astragalus membranaceus and AS for viral myocarditis mice depriving of the myocardial injury may be due to improve the activity of myocardial SERCA in the mice.
34: Chin Med J (Engl). 1999 Dec;112(12):1068-72.
Messenger RNA expressions of vasopressin system and aquaporin- 2 in adriamycin-induced nephrotic rats and effects of astragalus membranaceus.
Ma J, Fan S, Chen J, Gu Y, Lin S.
Division of Nephrology, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical University, Shanghai, China.
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). CONCLUSION: 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.
35: J Chromatogr Sci. 2001 Nov;39(11):459-62.
Determination of astragaloside IV in Radix astragali (Astragalus membranaceus var. monghulicus) using high-performance liquid chromatography with evaporative light-scattering detection.
Li W, Fitzloff JF. Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy , University of Illinois at Chicago , 60612, USA .
A reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method is developed for the determination of astragaloside IV, a characteristic constituent in Radix Astragali. Samples are analyzed by means of a reverse-phase column (Zorbax Eclipse XDB C18) using acetonitrile and water under gradient conditions as the mobile phase for 30 min. An evaporative light-scattering detector is used and set at an evaporating temperature of 43 degrees C with a nebulizing gas (compressed air) pressure of 3.4 bar. The detection limit (signal-to-noise ratio > 5) of astragaloside IV is 40 ng on-column.
36: Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 1998 Jun;23(6):371-3
[Protective effect of Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge. and Hedysarum polybotrys Hand.-Mazz. on experimental model of cerebral ischemia in rats]
Quan J, Du G. Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing
The experimental model of middle cerebral artery embolism in rats was made by inserting nylon thread. It was discovered that Astragalus membranaceus decoction(both 4.26 g .kg-1 and 7.1 g .kg-1) could reduce the capillary hyperpermeability and alleviate the dyskinesia caused by cerebral ischemia in rats. Purified Hedysarum polybotrys decoction (waste substances removed with alcohol after decocting with water) ( 12.5 g .kg-1) could reduce the water content in brain caused by occlusion of bilateral carotids in rats. Purified Hedysarum polybotrys decoction showed a tendency to reduce the water content in brain, but without statistical significance.
37: Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 1998 Aug;18(8):480-2.
[Experimental study on treatment of viral myocarditis in mice by integrated traditional Chinese and Western Medicine]
Xiong D, Yang Y, Su Y. Ministry of Health Key Laboratory of Viral Heart Diseases, Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Zhongshan Hospital of Shanghai Medical University , Shanghai . China .
OBJECTIVE: To clarify the effects of Astragalus Membranaceus (AM) combined with taurine and/or coenzyme Q10(CoQ10) on coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) murine myocarditis. METHODS: Viral myocarditis model was created by intraperitoneal inoculation with CVB3 solution and were treated by saline, AM, taurine, CoQ10, AM + taurine, AM + CoQ10, AM + taurine + CoQ10, respectively. The mortality, ECG, CVB3-RNA in myocardium and myocardial histopathologic changes were observed. RESULTS: AM combined with taurine and CoQ10 could significantly reduce the mortality of the mice and the incidence of abnormal ECG at acute stage. CVB3-RNA was significantly reduced in AM treated group, especially in AM + taurine group. No anti-virus effect was found in CoQ10 group. All drugs could lighten myocardial histopathologic changes and the effect could be enhanced by combined treatment. CONCLUSIONS: AM, taurine and CoQ10 have some curative effects on CVB3 murine myocarditis, AM combined with taurine and CoQ10 is the best.
38: Zhonghua Jie He He Hu Xi Za Zhi. 1998 May;21(5):287-8.
[The effect of herbal medicine including astragalus membranaceus (fisch) bge, codonpsis pilosula and glycyrrhiza uralensis fisch on airway responsiveness]
Wang H, Chang B, Wang B. Huai Ning County Hospital , Anhui Province 246100.
OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of astragalus membranceus(fisch) bge, codonpsis pilosula and glycyrrhiza uralensis fisch on airway responsiveness. METHOD: FVC, FEV1 and PEF of twenty-eight asthmatic patients were measured before and six weeks after treated with Astragalus membranceus(fisch) bge, codonpsis pilosual and glycyrrhiza uralensis fisch; methacholine challenge test with 0.033 mumol and 1.98 mumol. RESULT: After 28 asthmatic patients received the treatment of those herbs, the results showed that FVC value increased obviously (t = 2.217, P < 0.05) and the value of FEV1 and PEF was all higher compared with before treatment of the herbs (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The herbal medicine including astragalus memberanaceus (fisch) bge, codonpsis pilosual and glycyrrhiza uralensis fisch can decrease the airway responsiveness of the patients with asthma. |
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39: Phytother Res. 2000 Jun;14(4):294-6.
Inhibitory effects of astragali radix, crude drug in Oriental medicines on lipid peroxidation and protein oxidative modification of mouse brain homogenate by copper.
Toda S, Yase Y, Shirataki Y. Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Kansai College of Oriental Medicine, 2-22-1 Wakaba, Kumatori, Sen-nan, Osaka 590-04, Japan . |
| Astragali Radix, the root of Astragalus membranaceus Bunge, is a crude drug used widely in Oriental medicines. It is a major component of Ougi-Keishi-gomotsu-to, a traditional herbal medicine, used for neurop patients with abnormal sensations and neuropathic pain of the legs. It was shown to have inhibitory effects on lipid peroxidation and protein oxidative modification by copper. The effects were similar to and stronger than those of mannitol and superoxide dismutase as free radical scavengers. These results demonstrated that Astragali Radix has inhibitory effects on oxidative stress induced by metal. Copyright 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. |
40: Chin Med J (Engl). 1998 Jan;111(1):17-23.
Mechanisms of the therapeutic effect of astragalus membranaceus on sodium and water retention in experimental heart failure.
Ma J, Peng A, Lin S. Division of Nephrology, Huashan Hospital , Shanghai Medical University , China .
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the therapeutic effect of Astragali on sodium and water retention in aortocaval fistula-caused experimental congestive heart failure and its involved mechanisms. METHODS: In aortocaval fistula-caused chronic (5 wk), heart failure rats treated with and without Astragali 1.0 g/day intraperitoneally, changes of cardiac and renal function, renal response to atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) were examined. Dot blot analysis was used to determine the effect of Astragali on hypothalamic arginine vasopresin (AVP) mRNA expression, and mRNA expressions of aortic and renal AVP V1a receptor, renal AVP V2 receptor and aquaporin-2 (AQP2) were simultaneously detected by RT-PCR method. RESULTS: Rats with aortocaval fistula impaired cardiac and renal functions evidenced by higher right atrial pressure (RAP), left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP), lower + dP/dtmax of left ventricle, glomerular filtration rate (GFR), renal plasma flow (RPF), urine volume (UV), urinary sodium excretion (UNaV) and free water clearance (CH2O) compared with sham-operated control (P < 0.05). There was no change in serum sodium, hematocrit and plasma osmolality. Astragali could remarkably improve the cardiac and renal functions. Dot blot analysis demonstrated upregulated hypothalamic AVP mRNA expression in this experimental heart failure. The AVP V1a receptor mRNA level of aortic arch and renal medulla were reduced, while in renal cortex it was elevated. The mRNA expressions of AVP V2 receptor and AQP2 were increased in renal cortex while decreased in medulla. Astragali could partially or completely correct those abnormal mRNA expressions. Analysis on plasma atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), urinary cyclic guanidino monophosphate excretion (UcGMP V), urinary cyclic guanidino monophosphate excretion/plasma atrial natriuretic peptide (UcGMP V/pANP), and further correlation and linear regression analysis between UcGMP V and plasma ANP showed that there was blunted renal response to ANP in heart failure rat, and astragali could improve the renal reaction to ANP significantly. CONCLUSION: Chinese herb, astragali have therapeutic effects on sodium and water retention in aortocaval fistula-induced heart failure, the mechanisms of which might be the improvement of cardiac and renal functions, partly correction of abnormal mRNA expressions of AVP system and AQP2, and amelioration of blunted renal response to ANP.
41: Med Lav. 1998;89 Suppl 2:S136-41.
Antidotal effect of glucoside extracted from Astragalus membranaceus on dimethoate intoxication in guinea pigs.
Li Y, Liu X, Xue SZ. Department of Toxicology, Shanghai Medical University , China .
Therapeutic effect of the glucoside extracted from the root of Astragalus Membranaceus (AM) was studied in guinea pigs intoxicated with 600 mg/kg doses of Dimethoate (D). Four groups of guinea pigs, each consisting of two males and two females, were treated with (a) D, (b) D + Atropine, and (c) D + AM, (d) D + Atropine + AM. The survival time of the animals increased from an average of 70 minutes without AM to an average of 235 minutes with AM. Severe changes in ECG were observed prior to respiratory distress in groups without AM, and Atropine did not modify such changes. Differently, severe ECG disorders appeared only after respiratory distress in groups treated with AM. Prolongation of the Q-T interval and changing of the T wave configuration were significantly mitigated in the AM treated animals, while, arrhythmias were minimized and postponed. Moreover, muscular fasciculation and fibrillation, seizures and secretion in the respiratory tract were also significantly reduced by AM treatment. Results have shown that AM could be a promising drug to be used after cholinergic crisis in the treatment of cardiac complications with severe organophosphate intoxication.
42: Chin J Biotechnol. 1998;14(2):93-7.
Studies on chemical constituents and immunological function activity of hairy root of Astragalus membranaceus.
Zheng Z, Liu D, Song C, Cheng C, Hu Z. Laboratory of Biotechnology of Chinese Materia Medica, Chinese Materia Medica College, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Using a large-scale culture technique, the hairy roots of Astragalus membranaceus were produced with a yield reaching 10 g/L. The results from RP-HPLC detection showed that the contents of crude saponin and astragaloside i.v. in the hairy roots were 5.81% and 0.14%, respectively. Six isoflavonoid compounds were also determined. Polysaccharide analysis showed that the total polysaccharide content in the hairy roots was 22.97%; of this content, acidic 8.29% and soluble 14.88%. In comparison with the dry roots, the hairy roots contained higher crude saponin and soluble polysaccharide contents, similar astragaloside i.v. content and lower contents of 6 isoflavonoids, total and acidic polysaccharides, showing that the quality of both types of roots was similar. Regaining the immunity function of rats with low immunity after feeding the aqueous extract of the hairy roots produced by large-scale culture showed that its capacity was similar to the dry roots of A. membranaceus in increasing the immunity function. The results in this paper give evidence that the hairy roots may be a new source of A. membranaceus. |
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43: Am J Chin Med. 1998;26(3-4):325-32.
The protective effects of traditional Chinese medicine prescription, han-dan-gan-le, on CCl4-induced liver fibrosis in rats.
Li CX, Li L, Lou J, Yang WX, Lei TW, Li YH, Liu J, Cheng ML, Huang LH. Department of Pharmacology, Guiyang Medical College , Guizhou , China . |
| Han-Dan-Gan-Le, a Chinese medicine preparation composed of Salvia miltorrhiza, Radix paeoniae, Astragalus membranaceus, Stephania tetrandra, and dried leaves of Ginkgo biloba, has been used successfully to treat human liver fibrosis and cirrhosis for years. This study was designed to examine the mechanisms of the protection. Male Wistar rats were given CCl4 (1.2 ml/kg, 2 times/week), 20% fat diet, and 30% alcohol in drinking water (every other day) for 6 weeks. Han-Dan-Gan-Le (0.5 and 1.0 g/kg, p.o., daily for 6 weeks) was administered to rats simultaneously to examine the protective effects against CCl4-induced liver fibrosis. The experimentally-induced liver fibrosis and other morphological alterations were significantly ameliorated by Han-Dan-Gan-Le. Han-Dan-Gan-Le treatments decreased CCl4-induced hepatic collagen accumulation by more than 50%, and significantly increased urinary excretion of hydroxyproline. The CCl4-induced lipid peroxidation in liver and serum was ameliorated as a result of Han-Dan-Gan-Le treatment, possibly by restoring the activity of superoxide dismutase activity in liver and erythrocytes, In conclusion, Han-Dan-Gan-Le is effective in protecting against liver fibrosis. The mechanisms of the protection appear to be due to its antioxidant properties and the modulation of hepatic collagen metabolism. |
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44: Altern Med Rev. 1998 Dec;3(6):422-31.
Botanical influences on cardiovascular disease.
Miller AL. Alternative Medicine Review. P.O. Box 25 , Dover , ID 83825 , USA . |
Several botanicals, including Crataegus oxycantha, Terminalia arjuna, Inula racemosa, and Astragalus membranaceus, have been found to have therapeutic benefit for the treatment of cardiovascular disease. Crataegus oxycantha has been used traditionally as a cardiac tonic and current uses include treatment for angina, hypertension, arrhythmias, and congestive heart failure. Animal studies have also indicated that Crataegus extracts may also have potential use as anti-ischemic and lipid-lowering agents. The bark of the Terminalia arjuna tree has a long history of use as a cardiac tonic as well, and has been indicated in the treatment of coronary artery disease, heart failure, hypercholesterolemia and for relief of anginal pain. Additionally, it has been found to have antibacterial and antimutagenic properties. Inula racemosa, also known as Pushkarmoola, is another traditional Ayurvedic botanical that has potential cardioprotective benefit. In human trials, a combination of Inula racemosa and Commiphora mukul was shown to be superior to nitroglycerin in reducing the chest pain and dyspnea associated with angina. Astragalus membranaceus, a Chinese herb, is often used as a "Qi tonifier" and has been studied for its therapeutic benefit in treatment of ischemic heart disease, myocardial infarction, heart failure, and relief of anginal pain. Clinical studies have indicated that its in vitro antioxidant activity is the mechanism by which it affords its cardioprotective benefit.
Publication Types: Review, Review, Tutorial, |
45: Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 1996 Dec;16(12):713-6.
[A study on combination therapy of Western and traditional Chinese medicine of acute viral myocarditis]
Gu W, Yang YZ, He MX. Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Medical University .
To investigate the combination therapy of Western and traditional Chinese medicine on treatment of acute viral myocarditis, 48 patients were randomly divided into 2 groups. The 1st group consisted of 30 patients, receiving the combination therapy of Western and traditional Chinese medicine, including Astragalus membranaceus, taurine, coenzyme Q10 and antiarrhythmics, while the 2nd group consisted of 18 patients, receiving the conventional therapy, including glucose-insulin-potassium (GIK), coenzyme Q10 and also antiarrhythmics. RESULTS: The efficacy of combination therapy of western and traditional Chinese medicine was better than that of conventional therapy in improving the clinical manifestation, negative converting positive EVsRNA in peripheral leukocytes and controlling the premature beats. CONCLUSION: The combination therapy of western and traditional Chinese medicine was an effective method in treating acute viral myocarditis.
Publication Types:
• Clinical Trial
• Randomized Controlled Trial |
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46: Int J Immunopharmacol. 1997 Jul;19(7):359-70.
Immunomodulating activity of Chinese medicinal herbs and Oldenlandia diffusa in particular.
Yoshida Y, Wang MQ, Liu JN, Shan BE, Yamashita U.
Department of Immunology and Parasitology, Hiroshima University School of Medicine, Japan. |
| The effect of eight different Chinese medicinal herbs (CMHs) on lymphocytes was studied in vitro using murine spleen cells. Among the studied eight CMHs, Astragalus membranaceus and Oldenlandia diffusa markedly stimulated murine spleen cells to proliferate. The responder cells for CMHs were B cells, because the response was depleted by the treatment of spleen cells with anti-immunoglobulin (i.g.) antibody and complement and after purification by nylon wool column. This response was not due to contamination by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), because CMHs could stimulate C3H/HeJ spleen cells which are low responders to LPS. CMHs enhanced the production of Ig. CMHs also enhanced the induction of allo-antigen specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes. However, CMHs had no effect on natural killer cells. Furthermore, CMHs stimulated macrophages to produce interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor. The electroelution of the proteins from SDS-PAGE gel showed that the active components of Oldenlandia diffusa had an apparent molecular weight of 90-200 kD and were sensitive to pronase E and NaIO4 treatment, suggesting glycoproteins in nature. These results suggest that CMHs have immunomodulating activity in vitro and this activity could be used clinically for the modulation of immune responses. |
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47: J Vasc Res. 1997 Jul-Aug;34(4):273-80.
Regulation of the fibrinolytic potential of cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells: astragaloside IV downregulates plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and upregulates tissue-type plasminogen activator expression.
Zhang WJ, Wojta J, Binder BR. Department of Vascular Biology and Thrombosis Research, University of Vienna , Austria . |
| We have investigated whether the saponin astragaloside IV (AS-IV), a 3-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-6-O-beta-D-glucopyranosylcycloastragenol, purified from the Chinese herb drug Astragalus membranaceus, which is used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat cardiovascular diseases, might affect the fibrinolytic potential of cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). When HUVECs were conditioned with AS-IV, a dose (0.01-100 microg AS-IV/ml)- and time-dependent decrease in plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1) and an increase in tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) synthesis were observed, which were significant from 1 microg AS-IV/ml and from 12 h of incubation with 100 microg AS-IV/ml. PAI-1 antigen decreased from 641 +/- 86 to 318 +/- 18 ng/10(5) cells/24 h, whereas t-PA antigen increased from 4.1 +/- 0.3 to 9.7 +/- 0.4 ng/10(5) cells/24 h after addition of 100 microg AS-IV/ml. PAI-1 activity decreased to 30% of control level, whereas t-PA activity and t-PA-PAI-1 complexes reached a maximum stimulation of 3- and 5-fold over control levels, respectively, in the conditioned media of HUVECs treated with 100 microg AS-IV/ml for 24 h. PAI-1-specific mRNA expression decreased to 55% (2.2 kb) and 72% (3.2 kb), 66% (2.2 kb) and 88% (3.2 kb), and 19% (2.2 kb) and 41% (3.2 kb) of control values after incubation for 6, 12 and 18 h, respectively, whereas t-PA-specific mRNA increased 2-, 2.5- and 1.4-fold in HUVECs treated with 100 microg/ml AS-IV for 6, 12, and 18 h, respectively. In conclusion our data give evidence that in fact AS-IV can increase the fibrinolytic potential of cultured HUVECs not only by upregulating the expression of t-PA as NG-R1 does, but also by downregulating the expression of PAI-1. |
48: Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 1995 Dec;15(12):707-9.
[Nuclear cardiology study on effective ingredients of Astragalus membranaceus in treating heart failure]
Luo HM, Dai RH, Li Y. Huashan Hospital , Shanghai Medical University .
The experimental study has testified that among the various effective constituents gained from Astragalus membranaceus (AM) is the main component. Nineteen patients with heart congestive failure were treated with effective ingredient of AM, the astragaloside IV (XGA) injection. RESULTS: After 2 weeks of treatment the symptoms of chest distress, dispnea in 15 patients was alleviated, their capability of exercise reinforced. Radionuclide ventriculography showed that left ventricular modelling improved, left ventricular end-diastolic volume diminished by 11.74 +/- 18.39 ml, left ventricular end-systolic volume by 9.35 +/- 18.01 ml, with statistical significance. HR slowed from 88.21 +/- 17.19 to 64.55 +/- 13.06 beats/min, P < 0.05; PER increased from 1.80 +/- 0.86 to 1.95 +/- 0.85 u/second, P < 0.05. Left ventricular EF, PFR increased also at some extent without statistical significance. CONCLUSION: Effective ingredient of AM, XGA injection is efficient positive inotropic drug, and could improve the left ventricular modelling and ejection function in patients with congestive heart failure after continuous administration of XGA injection for two weeks.
Publication Types: Clinical Trial
49: Chin Med Sci J. 1995 Sep;10(3):146-50.
The inhibitory effect of astragalus membranaceus on coxsackie B-3 virus RNA replication.
Peng T, Yang Y, Riesemann H, Kandolf R. Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Zhong Shan Hospital of Shanghai Medical University.
Using mice infected with coxsackie B-3 virus (CVB3) as a viral myocarditis model, we observed the inhibitory effect of Astragalus membranaceus (AM) on CVB3-RNA replication in myocardial tissue of mice by RNA-RNA in situ hybridization with negative-strand RNA probes labelled with 35S and quantitative imaging analysis of positive signals. The mechanism of its effect on CVB3-RNA replication has been investigated by detection of beta-interferon (beta-IFN) as well. Results showed that the copy numbers of CVB3-RNA as well as the histologic scores (necrosis) in myocardial tissues of infected-AM treated mice were significantly lower than those in infected and normal saline treated mice, suggesting that AM could inhibit the replication of CVB3-RNA, but its effect on CVB3-RNA replication had no correlation with induction of beta-IFN.
50: Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 1995 Aug;15(8):483-5.
[Effect of Astragalus membranaceus on Ca2+ influx and coxsackie virus B3 RNA replication in cultured neonatal rat heart cells]
Guo Q, Peng TQ, Yang YZ. Zhongshan Hospital , Shanghai Medical University , Shanghai .
The effect of Astragalus membranaceus (AM) on Ca2+ influx across the myocardial plasma membrane and coxsackie virus B3(CVB3)-RNA replication in cultured neonatal rat heart cells infected with CVB3 was investigated. It was found that the Ca2+ influx could be inhibited significantly (P < 0.01) by AM after infection of heart cells for 48 h. In addition, when the cultured heart cells infected with CVB3 and treated with AM for 48 h, the Ca2+ influx of infected heart cells also could be inhibited by AM (P < 0.05) and the amounts of CVB3-RNA in myocytes were significantly decreased than that in infected control group (P < 0.001). These phenomena suggested that AM could exert the effects of decreasing the secondary Ca2+ damages, and improving the abnormal myocardial electric activity, and inhibiting replication of CVB3-RNA in myocardium. Thus, it is a rational choice to treat patients with AM in viral myocarditis.
51: Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 1995 Jun;15(6):328-30.
[Effect of Astragalus membranaceus on T-lymphocyte subsets in patients with viral myocarditis]
Huang ZQ, Qin NP, Ye W. Zhejiang provincial TCM Hospital , Hangzhou .
The efficacy of Astragalus membranaceus (AM) oral liquor combined with routine therapy and routine therapy alone on T-lymphocyte subsets of peripheral blood in viral myocarditis patients have been studied. The results showed that the T-lymphocyte subsets profile and OKT4/OKT8 ratio of peripheral blood were significantly lower in viral myocarditis patients than that in healthy control (P < 0.05, 0.01). Routine therapy combined with AM could significantly enhance OKT3, OKT4 and OKT4/OKT8 ratio in the above-mentioned patients (P < 0.05, 0.01). The possible pharmacodynamic mechanism of improved cell immunity in viral myocarditis patients by combining routine therapy with AM was discussed.
Publication Types: Clinical Trial, Randomized Controlled Trial
52: Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 1995 May;104(5):374-80.
Effects of compound injection of Pyrola rotundifolia L and Astragalus membranaceus Bge on experimental guinea pigs' gentamicin ototoxicity.
Xuan W, Dong M, Dong M. Department of Otolaryngology, Guangxi Traditional Chinese Medical College , Nanning , People's Republic of China .
In attempting to find drugs effective in preventing and remedying ototoxic injury caused by aminoglycoside antibiotics, we relied on the theory that the induction of ototoxic injury by aminoglycoside antibiotics is related to a decrease of cyclic adenosine monophosphate and RNA content in the cochlea or a dysfunction of the kidney. We selected Pyrola rotundifolia L and Astragalus membranaceus Bge from traditional Chinese herbal medicine, made a compound injection of them, and observed the effect on the pattern of gentamicin ototoxicity in guinea pigs. By electrocochleography and morphology by scanning electron microscopy, the experimental results indicated that the Chinese herbal compound possessed the definite effect of protecting the guinea pig cochlea. The determination of blood urea nitrogen, urinary N-acetyl-D-aminoglucosidase, and urinary protein and observation of renal morphology showed that it also protected the kidney against nephrotoxic nephritis of gentamicin. The conjecture that protection of the kidney by the Chinese herbs may be one of the important factors in preventing ototoxicity supports some explanations of ototoxic mechanisms induced by aminoglycoside antibiotics.
Publication Types: Clinical Trial, Randomized Controlled Trial
53: Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 1995 Mar;15(3):165-7.
[Comparison of effect of Astragalus membranaceus and huoxuefang on thromboxane, prostacyclin and adenosine cyclic monophosphate in cerebral reperfusion injury in rabbits]
Deng CQ, Ge JW, Wang Q. Hunan College of TCM, Changsha .
The cerebral ischemia rabbit model was made by using the occlusion of four vessels. The results showed that TXB2 and cAMP contents in brain tissues and the latter in plasma markedly increased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), the 6-keto-PGF1 alpha in brain tissues significantly lowered (P < 0.05) in ischemia formed 30 minutes and 45 minutes after reperfusion. After intravenous injection of Astragalus membranaceus (AM) extracts (3.3 g/kg), Huoxuefang (HXFO and Yiqi Houxue Fang (YQHXF) consisted of AM and HXF before ischemia, the marked increase of TXB2 contents after reperfusion was inhibited (P < 0.05) and the 6-keto-PGF1 alpha in brain tissues after reperfusion were increased (P < 0.01) in HXF and YQHXF group, which change the AM extracts didn't have (P < 0.05). HXF could markedly inhibit the increase of cAMP in brain tissues after reperfusion P < 0.05), while the AM extracts and YQHXF couldn't (P > 0.05). All above-mentioned suggested that the above-mentioned suggested that the balance disorder of TXA2/PGI2 in brain tissues might participate in the occurrence of cerebral reperfusion injury and YQHXF might act against this injury by means of improving the balance of TXA2/PGI2 in brain tissues, which was mainly released by HX drugs of it.
54: Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 1995 Mar;15(3):141-3.
[Effects of Astragalus membranaceus on left ventricular function and oxygen free radical in acute myocardial infarction patients and mechanism of its cardiotonic action]
Chen LX, Liao JZ, Guo WQ. Dongzhimen Hospital , Beijing University of TCM.
Dynamic observations for 4 weeks were made on left ventricular function and oxygen free radical (OFR) in 43 patients first suffering from acute myocardial infarction and hospitalized in Coronary Care Unit with an attack less than 36 hours. The results showed that the Astragalus membranaceus (AM) could strengthen the left ventricular function and had an effect of anti-OFR. After administration of AM, the ratio of pre-ejection period/left ventricular ejection time (PEP/LVET) was decreased, the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity of red blood cell was increased, and the lipid peroxidation (LPO) content of plasma was reduced. There was a significant difference between the AM group and the control group in the parameters above-mentioned. The study demonstrated that the PEP/LVET ratio was closely correlated with the SOD and LPO. It suggested that the anti-OFR effect of AM was one of the mechanisms of its cardiotonic action.
Publication Types: Clinical Trial
55: Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 1995 Feb;15(2):77-80.
[Clinical observation on the treatment of ischemic heart disease with Astragalus membranaceus]
Li SQ, Yuan RX, Gao H. Affiliated Hospital of Jinzhou Medical College , Liaoning .
92 patients suffering from ischemic heart disease was successfully treated with Astragalus membranaceus (AM). The effect of the treatment was compared with that of Nifedipine and Tab. Salviae miltiorrhizae. The clinical practice showed that the group treated with AM yielded better results. After having administered the drug, the patients were markedly relieved from angina pectoris (heart stroke). Meanwhile the improvement of clinical objective index such as electrocardiogram (EKG) and impedance cardiogram can also be observed. The effective rate of EKG improvement was 82.6%. The treatment of ischemic heart disease with AM was significantly more effective in comparing with control group (P < 0.05).
Publication Types: Clinical Trial, Controlled Clinical Trial
56: Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 1995 Feb;15(2):101-3.
[Effects of shi-ka-ron and Chinese herbs in mice treated with anti-tumor agent mitomycin C]
Jin R, Wan LL, Mitsuishi T. Dept. of Medical Technology, College of Medical Care and Technology, Cunma University, Maebashi, Japan.
The Shi-ka-Ron, and its constituent Chinese herbs Lithospermum erythrorhizon, Astragalus membranaceus and Ligusticum Wallichii were administered with antitumor agent, mitomycin C (MMC) to ICR mice, and their effects on murine macrophages and lymphocytes were studied. Peritoneal macrophages were significantly inhibited both in their number and chemotactic activity by MMC treatment. Splenic weight and blastogenic responsiveness to Concanavalin A of spleen lymphocytes also decreased significantly in MMC-treated mice. NK cell activity was also suppressed by MMC treatment. When these mice were orally treated with extracts of Shi-ka-ron or each Chinese herbs mentioned above, it showed protective effects to immunosuppressive mice on all 5 items studied. The number of macrophages, and the functions of macrophages and lymphocytes maintained the same or more than normal levels in MMC plus each group of these extracts treated mice. These results suggest that the Shi-Ka-Ron and Chinese herbs could resist immunosuppression induced by antitumor agent MMC, and its mechanisms might be correlated with stimulation of the RES (reticuloendothelial system), activation of T cell blastogenesis and NK cell cytotoxicity.
57: Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 1994 Nov;19(11):687-8, 704.
[Memory-improving effect of aqueous extract of Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge.]
Hong GX, Qin WC, Huang LS. Guangxi Institute of Traditional Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nanning .
The study shows that the aqueous extract of Astragulus membranaceus (AMWE) can improve the anisodine-induced impairment on memory acquisition as well as the alcohol-elicited deficit of memory retrieval (number of errors were reduced and latent period was prolonged) in step down, and can also prolong the gasping duration of mice after decapitation at doses of 50g/kg (ig) for 7 days. |
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58: Phytochemistry. 1994 Nov;37(5):1403-7.
Cycloartane triterpene glycosides from the hairy root cultures of Astragalus membranaceus.
Hirotani M, Zhou Y, Rui H, Furuya T. School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kitasato University, Tokyo, Japan. |
| Agroastragaloside II, a new astragaloside was isolated from the hairy root culture of Astragalus membranaceus. Its structure was established as 3-O-beta-(2'-O-acetyl)-D-xylopyranosyl-6-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(24S)- 3 beta,6 alpha,16 beta,24,25-pentahydroxy-9,19-cyclolanostane on the basis of spectroscopic data. Three known astragalosides, astragaloside II, isoastragaloside I and 3-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-cycloastragenol were also isolated. |
59: Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 1994 Nov;14(11):664-6.
[Effect and mechanism of Astragalus membranaceus on coxsackie B3 virus RNA in mice]
Peng TQ, Yang YZ, Kandolf R. Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Zhong Shan Hospital , Shanghai Medical University .
Using Balb/c mice infected with Coxsackie virus B3 (CVB3) as a model, the effect of Astragalus membranaceus (AM) on CVB3-RNA has been observed in myocardial tissues of mice by RNA-RNA in situ hybridization with negative-strand RNA probes leballing with 35S and quantitative imaging analysis of positive hybridization signals. The mechanism of its effect on CVB3-RNA has also been investigated by induction with AM and detection of beta-interferon (beta-IFN). Results showed that the copy numbers of CVB3-RNA as well as the histologic necrotic sizes in myocardial tissues of AM treated infected mice were significantly smaller than that in infected normal saline treated mice (P < 0.01, P < 0.05) respectively, suggesting that AM could inhibit the replication of CVB3-RNA, but its effect on CVB3-RNA was not correlated with induction of beta-IFN.
60: Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 1994 Oct;14(10):598-600.
[Intervention of lidocaine and Astragalus membranaceus on ventricular late potentials]
Shi HM, Dai RH, Fan WH. Hua Shan Hospital , Shanghai Medical University .
16 and 22 patients with positive ventricular late potentials (LP) recorded on signal-averaged electrocardiograms (SAECG) were treated with lidocaine 100 mg iv. or Astragalus membranaceus 24 g iv. drip for 2 weeks respectively. As a result, the SAECGs of 2 (12.5%) and 3 (13.6%) of them normalized respectively. Compared with baseline, there were no significant changes in average HFQRSD, LAS and RMS 40 after treatment of lidocaine. HFQRSD and LAS were shortened significantly 115.9 +/- 29.9 vs 125.1 +/- 29.4 ms (P < 0.001); and 44.8 +/- 15.4 vs 52.8 +/- 15.4 ms (P < 0.001), and RMS 40 was enlarged 20.0 +/- 18.6 vs 12.8 +/- 19.0 microV (P < 0.05) only after treatment of Astragalus membranaceus. It is suggested that the duration of LP was shortened.
61: Zhonghua Nei Ke Za Zhi. 1994 Jul;33(7):462-6.
[Non-surgical treatment of small cell lung cancer with chemo-radio-immunotherapy and traditional Chinese medicine]
Cha RJ, Zeng DW, Chang QS. General Hospital of PLA, Beijing .
54 consecutive cases of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) were treated with longterm short-interval combined treatment modalities of chemotherapy, radiotherapy (55-65 GY), immunotherapy, traditional Chinese medicine (leaf of Asiatic Ginseng, root of Astragalus membranaceus Bge, etc) and other adjuvants. Chemotherapy consisted of vincristine, cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and carmustine. A complete response of 59.2%, partial response of 38.9% and an overall response of 98.1% were achieved. According to Kaplan-Meier, the survival rates of SCLC with limited disease for 1, 3, 5 and 10 years were 78.1%, 42.6%, 32.1% and 21.4% respectively; while those with extensive disease for 1, 3, and 5 years 90.5%, 13.4% and 13.4%. According to classification of international TNM staging (1988), the survival rates of stage II SCLC for 1, 3, 5 and 10 years were 92.9%, 61.9%, 53.1% and 31.8% respectively; of stage IIIa for 1, 3 and 5 years 80.0%, 30.0% and 20.0%, and of stage IIIb 83.3%, 20.8% and 15.6%. Our combined modalities raised the survival rates considerably; the improved effect was mainly due to the long-term (especially more than 2 years or 10 courses), short-interval, effective and timely combined treatment with chemotherapy, radiotherapy and adjuvants such as traditional Chinese medicine and immunotherapy. By using the above therapeutic strategy, 10 out of 12 SCLC patients including 4 with extensive disease, who were relatives of our hospital staffs, have gained more than 3-17 years of survival. Therefore small cell lung cancer even with extensive disease was a hopeful curable disease.
62: Zhonghua Zhong Liu Za Zhi. 1994 May;16(3):167-71.
[The in vitro potentiation of LAK cell cytotoxicity in cancer and aids patients induced by F3--a fractionated extract of Astragalus membranaceus]
Chu DT , Lin JR, Wong W. Cancer Hospital , Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing .
The in vitro induction of LAK cell activity was studied in cancer and AIDS patients. F3, an immuno-regulatory component of Astragalus membranaceus was shown capable of potentiating the LAK cell inducing activity of rIL-2. The killing activity against Hs294T melanoma cell line of LAK cells induced by 50 U/ml rIL- 2 in the presence of F3 (55 micrograms/ml) reached 64% which was comparable to that (60%) induced by 500 u/ml of rIL-2 alone. With F3 plus rIL-2, the effector to target cell ratio could be reduced to one-half in order to obtain an equivalent level of cytotoxicity when rIL-2 was used alone. In some patients, whose peripheral blood lymphocytes were relatively inert to rIL-2, F3 could make them responsive to rIL-2. These results imply that F3 may be useful to potentiate LAK cell activity, reduce the amount of rIL-2 and thus minimize the later's toxic side effects when used in vivo.
63: Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 1994 May;14(5):292-4, 262.
[Effect of Astragalus membranaceus on electrophysiological activities of acute experimental Coxsackie B3 viral myocarditis in mice]
Rui T, Yang YZ, Zhou TS. Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Disease.
A murine model for observing the effect of Astragalus membranaceus (AM) on electrophysiological activity of the right ventricular myocardium was developed in 4 week-old male BALB/c mice infected with Coxsackie B3 virus (CB3V). The conventional microelectrode technique and real-time microcomputer data processor system was used. The survival rate in infected-AM treated mice was significantly higher and the percentage of abnormal action potential was much lower than those in control mice (P < 0.05 and < 0.01 respectively). Some abnormal electrophysiological parameters, such as APA, OS and Vmax in infected myocardium were found to be improved by AM treatment. Single dose of AM did not show beneficial effect in murine myocardium infected with CB3V. The results suggested that AM might be valuable in the prevention and treatment of acute myocarditis involving Coxsackie B3 virus.
64: Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 1994 May;14(5):268-70, 259.
[Clinical study of baoyuan dahuang decoction in the treatment of chronic renal failure]
Sheng ZL, Li NY, Ge XP. Shangcheng District People's Hospital, Hangzhou .
The quality of life of 56 chronic renal failure (CRF) patients using two kinds of treatment has been observed. 36 of them were taken as Group A with BUN 21.62 +/- 5.96 mmol/L, Cr 528.63 +/- 176.3 mumol/L and Hb 65 +/- 13 g/L were treated with Baoyuan Dahuang Decoction consisted of Panax ginseng, Astragalus membranaceus, Cassia cinnamomi, Glycyrrhiza uralensis and Rheum palmatum. Result: Six symptoms were observed, that were: fatigue, lassitude in loin and legs, aversion of cold, anorexia, sexual dysfunction and mental depression. Five of them improved markedly, from 12.5 +/- 2.91 before treatment to 5.58 +/- 4.68 after treatment in terms of symptom scores, P < 0.001. Furthermore, dihydrothelin (E2), testosterone (T) and pregnendione (P) were regulated significantly, the elevated level of creatine phosphokinase (CPK) before treatment lowered to near normal. The other 20 patients, BUN 20.24 +/- 6.57 mmol/L, Cr 487.08 +/- 238.68 mumol/L and Hb 68 +/- 13g/L formed Group B using comprehensive treatment of Western medicine as control. The main drug was coated aldehyde oxystarch. After treatment, the symptoms didn't show marked improvement, symptom scores being 12.55 +/- 2.0 compared with 10.05 +/- 2.72 before treatment, P > 0.05. E2, T, P and CPK were of insignificant differences (P > 0.05); Hb remained almost unchanged, even though BUN and Cr lowered for 22% and 29% respectively. It is assumed that Baoyuan Dahuang decoction could improve CRF patients' quality of life, and the mechanism of which was not only to reduce the urea nitrogen, but also to adjust the anemia and regulate the membrane function.
Publication Types: Clinical Trial, Controlled Clinical Trial
65: Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 1994 Apr;14(4):199-202, 195.
[Action of Astragalus membranaceus on left ventricular function of angina pectoris]
Lei ZY, Qin H, Liao JZ. Dongzhimen Hospital , Beijing College of TCM.
The action on left ventricular function of Astragalus Membranaceus (AM), a Qi-tonic, in 20 patients with angina pectoris was studied by means of Doppler Echocardiogram (DEC). It showed that cardiac output increased from 5.09 +/- 0.21 to 5.95 +/- 0.18 L/min 2 weeks after AM was administered (P < 0.01), and no improvement of left ventricular diastolic function appeared. Adenosine triphosphatase activity was not inhibited by using AM, which was different from that of digitalis.
Publication Types: Clinical Trial
66: Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 1994 Mar;14(3):142-4, 131-2.
[Effect of jian yan ling on serum lipids, apoprotein and lipoprotein-a]
Lu DC , Su ZJ, Rui T. Affiliated Hospital of Zhenjiang Medical College .
Effect of Jian Yan Ling (JYL, mainly consisted of Succinum, Pteria margaritifers and Astragalus membranaceus etc.) on serum lipids was studied by double-blind method in 128 hyperlipemia patients. Patients were divided randomly into two groups, the test groups (64 cases) treated with JYL, while the other 64 cases treated with placebo as control for 3 months. Serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), TC-high density lipolipid-cholesterol (TC-HDL-C), apoproteins were observed before and after treatment. Results showed that the TC, TG, apoproteins and lipoprotein-a of test group were all dropped significantly after JYL treatment (P < 0.01). The results suggested that JYL could regulate the blood lipids and could also exert an effect of antiatherosclerosis through reducing blood lipoprotein-a level. It is worth while to use JYL as an antihyperlipemic agent clinically.
Publication Types: Clinical Trial, Randomized Controlled Trial |
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67: Am J Chin Med. 1994;22(1):63-70.
Astragalus membranaceus and Polygonum multiflorum protect rat heart mitochondria against lipid peroxidation.
Hong CY, Lo YC, Tan FC, Wei YH, Chen CF. Institute of Traditional Medicine, Yang-Ming Medical College, Taipei, Taiwan. |
| We isolated rat heart mitochondria and induced lipid peroxidation with ADP and FeSO4. Oxygen consumption and MDA formation were measured for quantitating the amount of lipid peroxidation. Using these methods, we screened the water extracts of 14 Chinese medicinal herbs for their effect on lipid peroxidation. It was found that Astragalus membranaceus inhibited 42.1 +/- 3.4% of oxygen consumption and 39.8 +/- 3.2% of MDA production at concentration of 2 mg dried herb/ml mitochondrial suspension. At the same concentration, Polygonum multiflorum inhibited 52.1 +/- 7.3% of oxygen consumption and 50.9 +/- 5.3% of MDA production. Other herbs did not inhibit lipid peroxidation to 50% of control at concentration up to 6 mg dried herb/ml mitochondrial suspension. Purification and identification of the active component(s) in Astragalus membranaceus and Polygonum multiflorum as well as their clinical application await further studies. |
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68: Cancer Biother. 1994 Summer;9(2):153-61.
Chinese medicinal herbs inhibit growth of murine renal cell carcinoma.
Lau BH, Ruckle HC, Botolazzo T, Lui PD. Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, California 92350. |
Tumors are known to produce factors suppressing immune functions. We previously showed that a murine renal cell carcinoma (Renca) suppressed macrophage function in vitro and that this suppression was abolished by co-incubation with extracts of two Chinese medicinal herbs. We now report that these phytochemicals are capable of inhibiting growth of Renca in vivo. BALB/c mice were transplanted intraperitoneally (IP) with 1-2 x 10(5) Renca cells. One day after tumor transplant, mice were randomized into two groups. One group was treated IP, daily for 10 days, with 100 microliters of phytochemicals containing 500 micrograms each of Astragalus membranaceus and Ligustrum lucidum, while the other group received saline as controls. A cure rate of 57% was obtained with these phytochemicals when the initial tumor load was 2 x 10(5), and 100% when the initial tumor load was 1 x 10(5). Additional experiments were performed to investigate the mechanisms involved in this protection. Splenic macrophages from tumor-bearing mice were shown to have depressed chemiluminescent oxidative burst activity, and this depression was restored with phytochemical treatment. Splenocytes from mice transplanted with Renca responded less favorably to interleukin-2 (IL-2) in generating lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells; again this depression was restored with phytochemical treatment. Our data suggest that these phytochemicals may have exerted their antitumor effects via augmentation of phagocyte and LAK cell activities.
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69: Chin Med Sci J. 1993 Dec;8(4):203-6.
Effect of Astragalus membranaceus on electrophysiological activities of acute experimental Coxsackie B-3 viral myocarditis in mice.
Rui T, Yang Y, Zhou T, Zhang J, Yang X, Chen H. Affiliated Hospital of Zhenjiang Medical College .
A murine model for observing the effect of Astragalus membranaceus (AM) on electrophysiological action of the right ventricular myocardium was developed in 4-week-old male BALB/c mice infected with coxsackie B-3 virus (CB3V). The conventional microelectrode technique and a real-time data processor system were used. The survival rate in AM-treated mice was much higher and the percentage of abnormal action potential was much lower than those in infected control mice (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, respectively). Some abnormal electrophysiological parameters, such as APA, OS and Vmax, in infected myocardium were found to be improved by AM treatment. The results suggest that AM may be valuable in the prevention and treatment of acute viral myocarditis involving coxsackie B viruses.
70: Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 1993 Oct;13(10):616-7, 582.
[Effect of Astragalus membranaceus on myoelectric activity of small intestine]
Yang DZ. Nanjing Railway Medical College .
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.
71: Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 1993 Oct;13(10):597-9, 580.
[Clinical and experimental study on yi-gan-ning granule in treating chronic hepatitis B]
Zhang BZ, Ding F, Tan LW. Hunan Academy of TCM and Pharmacology, Changsha .
This paper reports that 320 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) were treated with Yi-ganning Granule (YGNG) and the pharmacodynamics of YGNG in the animal study. As control, another 70 patients with CHB receiving oleanolic acid granule (OAG) were compared to 68 patients in YGNG group. YGNG is consisted of Astragalus membranaceus , Artemisia capillaris, Codonopsis pilosula, et al. Each patient has taken YGNG or OAG for 3 months. The result showed YGNG was effective on recovering the liver function and OAG had similar effect. The sero-negative conversion rates of HBsAg, HBeAg, HBcAb and positive conversion rate of HBeAb in the YGNG group were 33.1%, 40.5%, 10.5% and 15.5% respectively, which were much better than that in OAG group (P < 0.05-0.001). The result of 6 months follow up showed that 60 of 62 patients receiving YGNG were in stabilized state. The result in the animal study demonstrated that YGNG had significant protection from the liver damage caused by CCl4. YGNG could decrease serum ALT level and protect the liver function of carbohydrate, fat, protein metabolism and detoxication. YGNG could induce interferon in vivo and play an important role in seroconversion of negative DHBV-DNA and improvement of pathological morphology in viral hepatitis B.
72: Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 1993 Oct;13(10):591-3, 579.
[Clinical and experimental studies of effects of huayu decoction on scavenging free radicals]
Zong PP, Yan TY, Gong MM. Beijing Friendship Hospital .
Infantile pneumonia has been treated successfully with Huayu decoction (HYD) in our department for more than ten years. According to the principles of Huoxue Huayu of TCM, the composition of Huayu decoction is as follows: Angelica sinensis, Paeonia lactiflora, Ligusticum wallichii, Spathollobus suberectus, Hirudo nipponica, Tabanus bivittatus, Paeonia suffroticosa, Astragalus membranaceus . 49 cases of infantile pneumonia were treated with HYD. The activity of erythrocyte superoxide dismutases (ESOD) was measured in these patients. The results showed that the activity of ESOD reduced in the acute stage and returned to normal in convalescence. There was significant statistical difference in activity of ESOD between the patient's group. In experimental studies, the producing of free radicals was induced by inhaling ozone in mice. It was found that HYD had the effect of scavenging free radicals in these animal models. The action of anti-oxidate of HYD was also detected in vitro. The mechanism of HYD in treating infantile pneumonia might be elucidated in some respects by these clinical and experimental studies.
73: Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 1993 Oct;18(10):621-3, 640.
[Effects of the combination of Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge. (AM), tail of Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels. (TAS), Cyperus rotundus L. (CR), Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. (LC) and Paeonia veitchii Lynch (PV) on the hemorrheological changes in normal rats]
Xue JX, Jiang Y, Yan YQ. Institute of Traditional Chinese Materia Medica, China Pharmaceutical University , Nanjing .
The results showed that AM and TAS had significant effects of enriching the blood. CR, a Qi-regulating drug, LC and PV, two blood-activating drugs, could improve all hemorrheological indexes, such as the whole blood specific viscosity, the plasma specific viscosity, erythrocyte electrophoresis, etc. The combination of Qi-regulating drug and blood-activating drug displayed more favorable effect. This experiment has provided some pharmacological evidence for the theory of "Qi Xue Xiang Guan" (correlation of vital energy with blood circulation) in traditional Chinese medicine.
74: Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 1993 Aug;13(8):471-2, 453.
[Positive modulating action of shengmaisan with Astragalus membranaceus on anti-tumor activity of LAK cells]
Zhao TH. Chengde Medical College .
Enhancing the anti-tumor activity of LAK cells is one of problems which are expected to be solved in tumor clinic at present. The effects of Shengmaisan with Astragalus membranaceus (SMAM) on anti-tumor activity of LAK cells with the 3H release assay were studied. The LAK cells taken from 43 persons showed obvious killing activity to acute leukemia cells from 8 patients in different types. The results showed that the activity of LAK cells could be enhanced markedly by the synergic action of SMAM in proper concentration (100 micrograms/ml) with IL-2. The effect of ginsenoside with appropriate concentration (10 micrograms/ml) was slightly better than that of SMAM. The treatment for malignant tumor using SMAM assisting LAK cells could replace the application of some cell factors which were expensive and toxic at present.
75: Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 1993 May;13(5):263-5, 259.
[Effect of Astragalan on secretion of tumor necrosis factors in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells]
Zhao KW, Kong HY. Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Xi'an .
The extracts of Astragalus membranaceus have been further isolated by liquid chromatography. One of the fractions (Astragalan, M.W. 20,000-25,000) could enhance the secretion of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in vitro. After isolation of adherent and nonadherent mononuclear cells from PBMC, Astragalan increased the secretion of TNF-alpha and TNF-beta respectively. These results suggest further study of Astragalan would promote the application of Astragalan in cancer immunotherapy.
76: Nippon Eiseigaku Zasshi. 1993 Feb;47(6):1021-31.
[Effects of exercise in the growing stage in mice and of Astragalus membranaceus on immune functions]
Sugiura H, Nishida H, Inaba R, Iwata H. Department of Hygiene, Gifu University School of Medicine.
A study was carried out to examine the effects of forced running exercise in the growing stage in male ICR mice and of Astragalus membranaceus (As) on their immune functions. The mice were divided at 4 weeks of age into 4 groups. The first group of mice received forced running exercise (E-group), the second group was given As (As-group), the third group received the forced running exercise and was given As (E+As-group) and the fourth group was a control receiving no treatment. The exercise received was forced running at 15 m/min on a flat floor without any slope for 60min a day. The mice of groups E and E+As were exercised 5 times a week for 12 weeks. The mice of groups As and E+As were given As p. o. at 200 mg/kg per day (5 days/week) for 12 weeks. The results obtained were as follows: 1. After 12 weeks of forced running exercise, the weight of the anterior tibialis muscle and succinate dehydrogenase activity in the anterior tibialis muscle increased significantly in groups E and E+As compared with the control group. Thymus weight showed a tendency to increase in groups E and E+As as compared with the control group. 2. The potentiation of the phagocytic function of the reticuloendothelial system examined by the carbon clearance method was seen in groups E, As and E+As. 3. Superoxide anion production of peritoneal macrophages significantly increased in groups As and E+As, but not in group E. 4. The acid phosphatase activity of peritoneal macrophages in groups E, As and E+As significantly increased compared with the control group. 5. Interleukin 1 production by macrophages remained in all groups. 6. The proliferation of splenocytes induced by Con A in groups E, As and E+As significantly increased compared with the control group. These results suggested that forced running exercise in the growing stage in mice and the administration of As enhanced immune functions and that they might also intensify the functioning of the host defense system.
77: Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 1992 Nov;12(11):669-71, 645.
[Effects of Astragalus membranaceus and Tripterygium hypoglancum on natural killer cell activity of peripheral blood mononuclear in systemic lupus erythematosus]
Zhao XZ. Dept. of Dermatology, General Hospital of Air Force, Beijing .
Natural killer (NK) activity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 28 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was measured using enzyme-release assay. The SLE patients had significantly decreased NK activity in comparing with normal controls. The levels of NK activity correlated with disease activity. Pre-incubation of PBMC separately with Astragalus membranaceus and Tripterygium hypoglaucum or with their mixture considerably stimulated NK cytotoxicity both in SLE patients and healthy donors. The extent of enhancement was dose-dependent and relevant to pre-incubation periods. The release of a soluble natural killer cytotoxic factor (NKCF) by peripheral blood mononuclear cells was tested by cytotoxicity assay induced in K562 cells. Natural killer cytotoxic factor release was significantly lower in SLE patients than in controls. The levels of natural killer cytotoxic factor were correlated well with NK activities, but correlated negatively with clinical activity. Pre-incubated supernatants from peripheral blood mononuclear cells with above-mentioned agents caused much higher percentage of lysis on K562 targets than that of without pre-incubation.
78: Mol Biother. 1992 Sep;4(3):143-6.
Phytochemicals potentiate interleukin-2 generated lymphokine-activated killer cell cytotoxicity against murine renal cell carcinoma.
Wang Y, Qian XJ, Hadley HR, Lau BH. Department of Urology, School of Medicine , Loma Linda University , CA 92350.
The success of adoptive immunotherapy using recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) and lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells in several cancers has been hampered by severe toxicity associated with high doses of rIL-2. Methods that reduce the dosage of rIL-2 without loss of clinical efficacy are needed. In this study we determined the in vitro effect of a phytochemical immune modulator, Astragalus membranaceus (AM), and two fractions isolated by high-performance liquid chromatography on the cytotoxicity of rIL-2-generated LAK cells against a murine renal cell carcinoma. Our results indicated a 10-fold potentiation of rIL-2-generated LAK cell cytotoxicity manifested by tumor cell lysis of 88% in the group with 100 U/ml of rIL-2 plus AM versus 86% in the group with 1,000 U/ml of rIL-2 alone. Potentiation was obtained with the purified fractions as well. A significantly reduced number of LAK cells was required to achieve the tumor cytotoxicity after LAK cell generation with rIL-2 plus the phytochemicals as compared with rIL-2 alone. Our data indicate that AM is an effective immune modulator, capable of potentiating in vitro the antitumor activity of rIL-2-generated LAK cells.
79: Hua Xi Yi Ke Da Xue Xue Bao. 1992 Sep;23(4):408-11.
[Effects of mixture of Astragalus membranaceus, Fructus Ligustri lucidi and Eclipta prostrata on immune function in mice]
He J, Li Y, Wei S, Guo M, Fu W.
A Chinese medicine mixture containing Astragalus membranaceus, Fructus Ligustri Lucidi and Eclipta prostrata(AFE), was fed to mice 9g/kg, 20g/kg, respectively for seven days. Observe the effects of AFE on the immune function in mice. The experiment showed that the two dosages of AFE could obviously raise the conversion percentage of lymphocytes (P < 0.01) and serum IgG level (41%-47%) of the mice. The weights of the thymus and spleensed increased in the two groups compared with those in the normal control. The larger dosage of AFE could also raise activity of Adenosine Deaminase (ADA) obviously (P < 0.01). AFE turned out a resistance to the immunosuppressive effect caused by cyclophosphamide.
80: Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 1992 Sep;17(9):557-9, inside backcover.
[Inotropic action of Astragalus membranaceus Bge. saponins and its possible mechanism]
Wang Q. Jilin Province , Central Hospital of Changchun City .
Astragalus membranaceus saponins (AMS) 50-200 micrograms/ml had a positive inotropic action on the isolated working heart of rats, but in the case of 30 micrograms/ml the inotropic action turned negative. The contractility recovered after washing out the AMS. Strophanthin K performed in a similar manner as AMS. AMS 500 micrograms/ml decreased the resting potential of cultured rat heart cells by 10 mV. The results suggest that AMS plays its inotropic role through influencing the Na-K-ATPase.
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81: Mutat Res. 1992 Jun 1;279(3):209-16.
Chinese medicinal herbs modulate mutagenesis, DNA binding and metabolism of aflatoxin B1.
Wong BY, Lau BH, Tadi PP, Teel RW. Department of Natural Science Graduate School , School of Medicine , Loma Linda University , CA 92350 . |
Oldenlandia diffusa (OD) and Scutellaria barbata (SB) have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for treating liver, lung and rectal tumors while Astragalus membranaceus (AM) and Ligustrum lucidum (LL) are often used as an adjunct in cancer therapy. In this study, we determined the effects of aqueous extracts of these four herbs on aflatoxin B1 (AFB1)-induced mutagenesis using Salmonella typhimurium TA100 as the bacterial tester strain and rat liver 9000 x g supernatant as the activation system. The effects of these herbs on [3H]AFB1 binding to calf-thymus DNA were assessed. Organosoluble and water-soluble metabolites of AFB1 were extracted and analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Mutagenesis assays revealed that all of these herbs produced a concentration-dependent inhibition of histidine-independent revertant (His+) colonies induced by AFB1. At a concentration of 1.5 mg/plate, SB and OD in combination exhibited an additive effect. The trend of inhibition of these four herbs on AFB1-induced mutagenesis was: SB greater than LL greater than AM. LL, OD and SB significantly inhibited AFB1 binding to DNA, reduced AFB1-DNA adduct formation, and also significantly decreased the formation of organosoluble metabolites of AFB1. Our data suggest that these Chinese medicinal herbs possess cancer chemopreventive properties.
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82: Yao Xue Xue Bao. 1992;27(1):5-9.
[The effect of Astragalus polysaccharide on endotoxin-induced toxicity in mice]
Wang LX, Han ZW. Department of Pharmacology, Inner Mongolia Medical College , Huhehaote.
Astragalus Polysaccharide (APS), an active component, was isolated from the radix of Astragalus membranaceus Bge var. mongholicus (Bge) Hsiao, and the effects of APS on E. coli endotoxin-induced liver damage were investigated in mice. The results showed that when mice were pretreated with APS (30, 60, 100 mg.kg-1.d-1 x 7d, ip), the survival rate of endotoxin intoxicated mice was increased the lowering of ATP levels and adenylate energy charge in mouse liver could be prevented. APS 100 mg.kg-1 could protect the mice from death on endotoxin (25 mg.kg-1) intoxication; and the level of ATP, the value of adenylate energy charge in the protected mouse liver were almost recovered to normal range. The effects of APS were shown to be dose-dependent. Concomitantly, the increase of MDA and decrease of GSH in mouse liver could be corrected by APS pretreatment. The results revealed that APS has an antioxidative action. An ultramicroscopic examination showed that the injury of the bio-membrane and the crest of mitochondria were ameliorated by APS pretreatment. These findings suggest that the protective effects of APS on E. coli endotoxin intoxicated mice may be due to its antioxidative action to protect the mitochondria bio-membrane, therefore, the adenylate metabolism is improved in mouse liver.
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83: Am J Chin Med. 1992;20(3-4):289-94.
Astragalus membranaceus stimulates human sperm motility in vitro.
Hong CY, Ku J, Wu P. Institutes of Traditional Medicine and Clinical Medicine, National Yang-Ming Medical College, Taipei, Taiwan. |
| Poor sperm motility is an important cause of male infertility. In an attempt to identify Chinese medicinal herbs that might improve human sperm motility in vitro, we screened water extracts of 18 herbs with a trans-membrane migration method which measured the percentage of sperm that moved across the 5 micron pores of a Nucleopore membrane from a semen-drug mixture into phosphate buffered saline during 2 hours incubation. Astragalus membranaceus was the only herb that showed a significant stimulatory effect. At 10 mg/ml, it increased the motility of sperm in semen to 146.6 +/- 22.6% of control. It also increased the motility of washed sperm to 138.2 +/- 13.8% of control. Purification of the active component(s) from this herb as well as its application in assisted reproduction technology await further investigation. |
84: Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 1991 Nov;11(11):651-3, 643.
[Effect of Astragalus membranaceus on erythrocyte sodium content and sodium transport in the coronary heart disease]
Jin C, Dai RH. Huashan Hospital , Shanghai Medical University .
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Astragalus membranaceus (AM) on erythrocyte sodium content and sodium transport in the coronary heart disease(CHD). 67 cases of CHD was randomly divided into treatment group (TG) and control group (CG), TG (45 cases) were treated with AM intravenous 24 g/d infused into 5% glucose 250 ml, CG (22 cases) with 5% glucose 250 ml. After a curable stage of 14 days, results showed that the erythrocyte sodium content was markedly decreased and the sodium pump activity was significantly increased (P less than 0.01 respectively) in TG; but no significant difference in membrane permeability to sodium was observed. There were no difference in erythrocyte sodium content and sodium transport in CG. It was suggested that AM had the effects to increase erythrocyte activity of sodium pump.
Publication Types: Clinical Trial, Randomized Controlled Trial |
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85: J Urol. 1991 Aug;146(2):486-90.
Chinese medicinal herbs reverse macrophage suppression induced by urological tumors.
Rittenhouse JR, Lui PD, Lau BH. Departments of Urology School of Medicine, Loma Linda University , California 92350. |
Tumors are known to produce factors suppressing macrophage function. In this study we demonstrated in vitro suppression of macrophage chemiluminescent oxidative burst associated with viable cells and cell-free extracts of two urological neoplasms--murine renal cell carcinoma (Renca) and murine bladder tumor (MBT). Suppression was reversed by extracts of two Chinese medicinal herbs, Astragalus membranaceus (AM) and Ligustrum lucidum (LL). Murine macrophage cell line J774 was incubated with either the viable tumor cells or the cell-free tumor extract for 18 hours at 37C and 5% CO2. Chemiluminescent oxidative burst as an indicator of macrophage function was triggered by adding zymosan A suspension containing luminol and assayed in an automated luminometer. Photon emission over time was counted and the results were expressed as integrated photon emission. Significant dose-related depression of oxidative burst occurred with either the viable tumor cells or the cell-free tumor extracts. Depression was partially or completely reversed by the presence of 50-100 micrograms./ml. of either the AM or the LL extract. AM and LL have previously been shown to modulate immune response. Data from this study suggest that they may also exert their antitumor activity via abolition of tumor-associated macrophage suppression.
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86: Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 1991 Aug;11(8):468-70, 452.
[Clinical and experimental study of the effect of kang er xin-I on viral myocarditis]
Yan HJ. Yunnan College of TCM, Kunming .
Kang Er Xin-I (KEX-I) is a proved recipe used to treat viral myocarditis. It consists of Lonicera japonica, Ophiopogon japonicus, Astragalus membranaceus mainly and possesses the effect of clearing away heat and toxic materials and supplementing the vital energy and nourishing. The clinical study was carried out with KEX-I according to a random, paired and cross-over design. Coenzyme Q10 was used as a control and left ventricular function was observed. The result showed: after being treated with KEX-I for two weeks, the 26 patients' chief cardiac functional indexes assessed with STI improved markedly, the value of PEP/LVET and ICT/LVCT all decreased and the difference between the two groups was significant. The experimental study showed that KEX-I can inactivate directly the virus of Coxsackie B3, protect the heart cells in mice, prevent attack by Coxsackie B3, promote the growth of internal interferon and increase the NK cell's function to regulate immunity in experimental mice.
Publication Types: Clinical Trial, Randomized Controlled Trial
87: Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 1991 May;11(5):265-7, 259.
[Primary research on the clinical significance of ventricular late potentials (VLPs), and the impact of mexiletine, lidocaine and Astragalus membranaceus on VLPs]
Shi HM, Dai RH, Wang SY.
Department of Internal Medicine, Hua Shan Hospital , Shanghai Medical University .
The body surface signal-averaged electrocardiogram (SAECG) was recorded on 316 cardiac patients, 84% (266 patients) of whom were also taken 24-hour Holter ECG. VLPs were detected positively in 6.1%, 25%, 25.7%, 14.3% and 5.5% of patients with angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, myocarditis, cardiomyopathy and arrhythmia of unknown origin respectively, and the patients with complex ventricular arrhythmia had more VLPs positive determination definitely (P less than 0.05). The specificity of VLPs in the prediction of complex ventricular arrhythmia was greater than 80%, and the positive predictive accuracy was 70-80%. 5, 5 and 10 patients with VLPs were treated with Mexiletini Hydrochloridum, Lidocaini Hydrochloridum and Injection of Astragalus membranaceus respectively. As a result of treatment, the transfer of VLPs positive to negative was unsuccessful, but only the intervention of Astragalus membranaceus Injection made the duration of VLPs shortened significantly (39.8 +/- 3.3 ms versus 44.5 +/- 5.9 ms, P less than 0.01).
88: Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 1991 Mar;11(3):150-2, 133.
[Effect of fu-zheng qu-xie on gastric disease infected with Campylobacter pyloridis]
Fang JY. Jiangsu Provincial Hospital of TCM, Nanjing .
Chinese herbal medicine and gentamycin were used separately in the treatment of 75 cases of gastric disease by campylobacter pyloridis (CP). Surveying the changes of the gastrofiberscope, pathological test, bacteriology and immunology. This study, found that in the Chinese herbal medicine group clinical symptoms were obviously improving the effective rate for CP being 80% (24/30), the death rate for CP 30% (9/30), and the effective rate for patho-histological changes 50% (15/30). Differences of curative effective rate between the two groups were statistically insignificant (P greater than 0.05). This text pointed out that the principle of Chinese herbal medicine treatment of gastric disease by campylobacter pyloridis was fu-zheng qu-xie. Fu-zheng was achieved by Astragalus membranaceus, Atractylodes macrocephala and Paeonia lactiflora, whereas qu-xie by Taraxacum monogolicum and Oldenlandia diffusa. Chinese herbal medicine for fu-zheng played an important role in modulating immune function. Qu-xie was directly disinfective and indirectly anti-bacterial. Chinese herbal medicine combined with western drugs will decrease the side effects and enhance the curative effect at the same time.
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89: Immunopharmacology. 1990 Nov-Dec;20(3):225-33.
Enhancement of the immune response in mice by Astragalus membranaceus extracts.
Zhao KS , Mancini C, Doria G. Laboratory of Pathology, ENEA C.R.E., Rome , Italy . |
Astragalus membranaceus extracts injected into normal mice or mice immunodepressed by cyclophosphamide or radiation treatment or by aging are able to enhance the antibody response to a T-dependent antigen. Optimal conditions for maximum effect have been established in normal C3H/HeJ and (C57B1/10 x DBA/2)F1 mice. Enhancement of the antibody response was associated with increase of Th cell activity in normal and immunodepressed mice. The biological activity of endotoxin-free extracts is dependent on the carbohydrate content.
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90: J Ethnopharmacol. 1990 Sep;30(2):145-9.
Hepatoprotective effects of astragalus root.
Zhang ZL, Wen QZ, Liu CX. Tianjin Institute of Pharmaceutical Research, State Pharmaceutical Administration of China . |
Oral administration of an ethanol extract of the root of Astragalus membranaceus alleviated liver injury induced by stilbenemidine. Pre-administration in mice reduced elevated SGPT levels and subacute toxicity of stilbenemidine, decreased pentobarbital-induced loss of righting reflex and protected hepatic cells from pathological changes.
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91: Zhonghua Wai Ke Za Zhi. 1990 Sep;28(9):562-5, 574-5.
[The combined modulating effects of cerium nitrate with certain Chinese traditional drugs on altered cell-mediated immunities in scald mice]
Luo ZH. Burned Institute, Third Military Medical College , Chongqing .
Altered cell-mediated immunities (CMI) is one of the important causes of increased susceptibility to infection and, high mortality of burned patients. This paper presents the experimental work on mice with scald injury to restore their altered CMI by local application of cerium nitrate (CE) or systemic administration of Astragalus membranaceus (AM) or Lonicera japonica Thunb (LJT), as well as combination use of these drugs. The proliferative response to Con A and the ability of IL-2 production of murine spleen cells and the delayed hypersensitivity test using DNFB as sensitizer were chosen as the parameters of CMI. Results showed that CMI of untreated scald mice was suppressed to 50-60% of normal control 11 days following scald injury. While either CE used locally or AM or LJT given by oral with different dosages might bring up the depressed CMI to various degrees, near the normal level and some even above normal. When CE was used accompanied with AM or LJT, their effects on restoration of CMI were significantly better than that when any single drug was administered alone.
92: Chin Med J (Engl). 1990 Aug;103(8):647-51.
Viral etiology of chronic cervicitis and its therapeutic response to a recombinant interferon.
Qian ZW, Mao SJ, Cai XC, Zhang XL, Gao FX, Lu MF, Shao XS, Li YY, Yang XK, Zhuo YA, Beijing Tian Tan Hospital.
Chronic cervicitis was shown to be related to papillomavirus type 16(HPV-16), herpes simplex virus type 2 and cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections as demonstrated by DNA hybridization technique and virus isolation method from samples taken from erosive and normal cervices. After one course of treatment with recombinant interferon alpha 1 (rIFN-alpha 1), 93.8% of cases showed clinical improvement and 60% marked improvement. The HPV-16 and HSV detection rates dropped down significantly after rIFN-alpha 1 treatment as compared with those before treatment. Astragalus membranaceus, a Chinese herbal drug, was shown to be synergic to interferon therapy.
93: Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 1990 May;10(5):278-9, 260.
[Preliminary study of traditional Chinese medicine treatment of minimal brain dysfunction: analysis of 100 cases]
Zhang H, Huang J. Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou College of TCM .
This paper reports the clinical treatment of 100 patients with minimal brain dysfunction (MBD), their age ranged from 7-14.2 years, and the average age was 10.5. Patients were divided into TCM and WM group randomly. The TCM group (80 cases) were treated with the therapy of subdueing hyperactivity of the Liver and invigorating the function of the Spleen by using: Bupleurum chinense, Scutellaria baicalensis, Astragalus membranaceus, Codonopsis pilosula, Ligustrum lucidum, Lophatherum gracile and thread of ivory. The WM group (20 cases) were treated with retalin 5-15 mg twice daily. One course of treatment lasted one month, and effects were evaluated after 1-3 courses of treatment. The results were as follows: In the TCM group, 23 cases were cured (clinical symptom and sign disappeared, 10 IQ units were raised in their intelligence, abnormal electroencephalogram was recovered and there was no recurrence during the first six months after recovery). 46 cases were improved (clinical symptom and sign markedly improved, 4 IQ units raised in intelligence and electroencephalogram improved), and 11 cases ineffective. The effective rate was 86.25%. In the WM group, 6 cases were cured, 12 cases improved and 2 cases ineffective, the clinical effective rate being 90.0%. There was no significant difference between the two groups in this study, but, the side-effects of the TCM group was less than the WM group, and the TCM group had more beneficial effects to improve intelligence, enuresis and the black of orbits. The study showed that the Verbal Scale in Wechsler Intelligence Scale for children is one of the indications of diagnosis and evaluating of the curative effect of MBD.
Publication Types: Clinical Trial, Randomized Controlled Trial
94: Chin Med J (Engl). 1990 Mar;103(3):177-82.
Effect of astragalus membranaceus on electric activities of cultured rat beating heart cells infected with Coxsackie B-2 virus.
Yuan WL. Zhongshan Hospital , Shanghai Medical University .
Astragalus membranaceus (AM) which has a protective effect on rat beating heart cells infected experimentally with Coxsackie B-2 virus was evaluated on the basis of changes in morphologic and electric activity of the cells. Rhythm, beating frequency, beating percentage, cardiac cellular damage and cytopathic effects (CPE) were monitored every 24 h after challenge; electric activities parameters were measured by conventional intracellular microelectrode technique. Significant protective effects were demonstrated when AM was given in the early period of infection. The results suggest that AM should be valuable in preventing and treating acute myocarditis caused by Coxsackie B virus.
95: Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 1990 Feb;10(2):71-4, 67.
[Clinical study of 96 cases with chronic hepatitis B treated with jiedu yanggan gao by a double-blind method]
Chen Z. Dept. of Hepatic Diseases, Beijing TCM Hospital .
This paper reported 96 cases with chronic hepatitis B treated by a double-blind method. There were 51 cases of observation group(OG) and 45 cases of control group (CG). OG was treated with Jiedu Yanggan Gao consisting of Artemisia capillaris, Taraxacum mongolicum, Plantago seed, Cephalanoplos segetum, Hedyotis diffusa, Flos Chrysanthemi Indici, Smilax glabra, Astragalus membranaceus, Salviae miltiorrhizae, Fructus Polygonii Orientalis, Radix Paeoniae Alba, Polygonatum sibiricum, etc.). CG was prescribed with three charred medicinal herbs (charred Fructus Crataegi, charred Fructrus Hordei Germinatus, charred fermented mixture of several medical herbs and wheat bran). The average duration of treatment was five months. All 96 cases belong to the virus-duplication-type with positive HBsAg for over one year. Among them 65.5% of cases HBeAg, DNAP and HBV-DNA were positive. 20.8% of cases were positive in two out of the above tests. 13 data were compared statistically between two groups, and proved to be comparable (P greater than 0.05) before treatment. 27.3% and 66.7% of cases' ALT, AST returned to normal respectively in OG after treatment. However, in CG they were 9.1% and 22.2% (P less than 0.05). TTT returned to normal in 52% cases of OG and 44% in CG (P greater than 0.05). 20% cases HBeAg shifted to negative in OG, but 6.7% in CG. Cases with negative DNAP in OG occupied 34.2%, but 10.8% in CG. 31.6% cases' HBV-DNA changed to negative in OG, while 17.6% in CG. After comprehensive judgement, the total effective rate was 74.5% in OG and 24.4% in CG respectively (P less than 0.001). Eight cases were basically cured in OG and one case in CG. After one year's follow-up, one recurred in eight patients of OG, however the only one cured in CG still relapsed.
Publication Types: Clinical Trial, Controlled Clinical Trial
96: Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 1990 Jan;10(1):34-6, 5.
[F3, a fractionated extract of Astragalus membranaceus, potentiates lymphokine-activated killer cell cytotoxicity generated by low-dose recombinant interleukin-2]
Chu D , Sun Y, Lin J, Wong W, Mavligit G. Cancer Institute and Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing .
Success with rIL-2 immunotherapy of human cancer appears to depend on the administration of high doses which are frequently associated with excessive toxicity. Future use of rIL-2 will require certain modifications based on the use of lower doses of rIL-2 without significant loss of antitumor efficacy. The authors tested in vitro the possibility of potentiating the activity of rIL- 2 in terms of LAK cell generation. The authors hypothesized that co-incubation of LAK cell precursors with a Chinese herbal extract (F3) of Astragalus membranaceus (an immune modulator currently under study in the authors' laboratory), along with a low concentration of rIL-2 would generate levels of LAK cell activity equivalent to those generated by high concentrations of rIL-2 alone. The authors found: (1) a 10-fold potentiation of rIL-2 activity manifested by tumor cell killing activity of 80% resulting from LAK cell generation with F3 plus 100 u/ml of rIL-2 versus 76% generated by 1000 u/ml of rIL-2 alone; (2) a significant reduction in the number of effector LAK cells required for equicytotoxic reaction following LAK cell generation with F3 plus rIL-2 compared to rIL-2 alone. The authors conclude that potentiation of antitumor activity mediated by rIL- 2 in low concentrations is possible by the concomitant use of another immune modulator such as Astragalus membranaceus.
97: Chin Med J (Engl). 1990 Jan;103(1):14-8.
Treatment of experimental Coxsackie B-3 viral myocarditis with Astragalus membranaceus in mice.
Yang YZ, Jin PY, Guo Q, Wu WZ, Pu SY, Chen HZ, Yang JH, Wang KQ, Shi JY, Gong ZX,
Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Zhongshan Hospital, Shanghai Medical University.
A murine model system for observing the effect of Astragalus Membranaceus (AM) on experimental myocarditis caused by Coxsackie B-3 virus (CB3V) was developed in 4-week-old male BALB/C mice. Gross, histopathologic and ultrastructural examinations of the infected-AM treated group showed that the severity and involved area of the myocardial lesions became milder and smaller than those in the infected-NS treated mice. The total lesion area, and the total lesion area/total myocardial area examined (%) and virus titer in the former group were also smaller and lower than those in the latter group. The results suggest that AM is effective in the inhibition of Coxsackie B virus propagation and protection of myocardium in mouse myocarditis.
98: Yao Xue Xue Bao. 1990;25(9):694-8.
[Isolation and identification of chemical constituents of Astragalus root]
He ZQ, Wang BQ. National Institute for the Control of Pharmaceutical and Biological Products, Beijing .
Ten constituents have been isolated from the alcoholic extract of Astragalus membranaceus var. monghlicum root. All of them were identified. Among them astraisoflavanin (3S-(-)-mucronulatol-7-O-D-glucopyranoside) is a new compound. Dimethyl 4,4'-dimethoxy-5,6,5',6'-dimethylenedioxybiphyenyl 1-2, 2'-dicarboxylate is a known synthetic compound, but it was first isolated from natural resource Astragalus root and identified by the authors.
99: Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 1989 Jun;9(6):351-4, 326.
[Immune restoration of local xenogeneic graft-versus-host reaction in cancer patients in vitro and reversal of cyclophosphamide-induced immune suppression in the rat in vivo by fractionated Astragalus membranaceus]
Chu DT , Sun Y, Lin JR.
Through the process of fractionation, purification by gel filtration chromatography and thereafter the screening with an in vitro local xenogeneic graft-versus-host reaction (XGVHR) model, a fraction was identified as a potent immunorestorative agent and was designated "Fraction 3" (F3). Using the XGVHR in vitro as a model assay for T cell function again, F3 was studied on mononuclear cells (MNC) from 13 cancer patients and exhibited significant immunorestorative activity, with an increase in local XGVHR (compared to untreated cells) of 151.34 +/- 46.02 mm3 vs 57.80 +/- 16.44 mm3, P less than 0.001. The in vitro augmented immune reactions induced by F3 in cancer patients also significantly exceeded the local XGVHR observed in the untreated MNC derived from 9 normal donor controls (94.15 +/- 9.16 mm3, P less than 0.005). In a newly developed in vivo XGVHR animal model, pretreatment of rats with F3 resulted in a significant abrogation of the local XGVHR with a reversal of the immunosuppressive effect of cyclophosphamide from 99.42 +/- 9.2 mm3 (positive control) to 39.78 +/- 8.3 mm3 (P less than 0.001). This reversal was complete as the volume of the abrogated local XGVHR was comparable to that of the negative control (no cyclophosphamide-priming, saline injection only) 34.79 +/- 5.69 mm3 (P greater than 0.1). These results suggest that F3 retained the immunopotentiating activity of the original crude extract and form the rational basis for the use of Astragalus in immunotherapy.
100: Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 1989 Jun;9(6):355-7, 326.
[Effect of Astragalus membranaceus on electrical activities of coxsackie B-2 virus-infected rat myocardial cells in culture]
Yuan WL, Chen HZ, Zhou TS.
Beating Myocardial cell cultures of neonatal rats were prepared in vitro and infected with coxsackie B-2 virus. The cells were evaluated in the post-infected period for changes in beating percentage and cytopathic effect (CPE), alterations in the electrical activities by standard microelectrode techniques, and the protective effect of Astragalus membranaceus (AM) on coxsackie B-2 virus-infected neonatal rat myocardial cell cultures was observed. The beating percentage began to decrease in the infected group at 24 hr and only 27.9 +/- 18.6% was beating at 96 hr after virus challenge, premature beats, tachycardia and fibrillation occurred commonly during the experiment. Meanwhile the CPE appeared rapidly from 1+-3+ at the same interval. Resting potential, action potential amplitude, duration and rate of uptake were shown a significant decrease through 24-96 hr (P less than 0.01). In contrast, the beating and electrical activities were nearly normal and less CPE was shown in myocardial cells treated with AM 1 hr after virus challenge through 24-96 hr (P less than 0.05). The results suggest that AM may be valuable in prophylaxis and treatment of acute coxsackie B-2 virus caused myocarditis.
101: Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 1989 May;9(5):272-3, 260.
[A clinical study on the treatment of acute upper digestive tract hemorrhage with wen-she decoction]
Gong QM, Wang SL, Gan C.
This paper deals with the prospective clinical study on treatment of acute upper digestive tract hemorrhage with Wen-She decoction (WSD). An opened sequential controlled trial method of simple orientation quality reaction was adopted in this study. 7 cases were treated and all of them were cured. It was concluded that WSD was an excellent therapy to treat the middle or small amount hemorrhage of acute upper digestive tract. The effective rate of WSD of the stool OB (+) becoming (-) within 5 days was more than 95%. WSD consists of Codonopsis pilosulae, Atractylodes macrocephala, Poria cocos, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Zingiber officinale, Os sepiae Halloysitum rubrum and Astragalus membranaceus.
102: Zhonghua Zhong Liu Za Zhi. 1989 May;11(3):180-3.
[Influence of Astragalus membranaceus (AM) polysaccharide FB on immunologic function of human periphery blood lymphocyte]
Wang DC . Cancer Institute, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing .
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)
103: Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 1989 Apr;9(4):226-7, 198.
[An experimental study on the anti-senility effects of shou xing bu zhi]
Chen J.
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.
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104: J Clin Lab Immunol. 1988 Aug;26(4):183-7.
Fractionated extract of Astragalus membranaceus, potentiates LAK cell cytotoxicity generated by a low dose of recombinant interleukin-2.
Chu DT , Lepe-Zuniga J, Wong WL, LaPushin R, Mavligit GM.
Department of Clinical Immunology and Biological Therapy, University of Texas System Cancer Center, Houston. |
| Success with rIL-2 immunotherapy of human cancer appears to depend on the administration of high doses which are frequently associated with excessive toxicity. Future use of rIL-2 will require certain modifications based on the use of lower doses of rIL-2 without significant loss of antitumor efficacy. We tested in vitro the possibility of potentiating the activity of rIL- 2 in terms of LAK cell generation. We hypothesized that co-incubation of LAK cell precursors with a Chinese herbal extract (F3) of Astragalus membranaceus, (an immune modulator currently under study in our laboratory), along with a low concentration of rIL-2, would generate levels of LAK cell activity equivalent to those generated by high concentrations of rIL-2 alone. We found (1) a 10-fold potentiation of rIL-2 activity manifested by tumor cell-killing activity of 80% resulting from LAK cell generation with F3 plus 100 u/ml of rIL-2 versus 76% generated by 1,000 u/ml of rIL-2 alone; (2) a significant reduction in the number of effector LAK cells required for equicytotoxic reaction following LAK cell generation with F3 plus rIL-2 compared to rIL-2 alone. We conclude that potentiation of antitumor activity mediated by rIL- 2 in low concentrations is possible by the concomitant use of another immune modulator such as Astragalus membranaceus. |
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105: J Clin Lab Immunol. 1988 Mar;25(3):125-9.
Immunotherapy with Chinese medicinal herbs. II. Reversal of cyclophosphamide-induced immune suppression by administration of fractionated Astragalus membranaceus in vivo.
Chu DT, Wong WL, Mavligit GM.
Department of Clinical Immunology and Biological Therapy, University of Texas System Cancer Center, M.D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute, Houston 77030.
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| A partially purified fraction (F3) with an estimated molecular weight of 20,000 to 25,000 derived from the traditional Chinese medicinal herb Astragalus membranaceus, was found to possess a potent immunorestorative activity in vitro. Its capacity to aborogate the local xenogeneic graft versus host reaction (XGVHR) following injection in vivo was further studied in a newly developed animal model designed for preclinical evaluation of various biological response modifiers. F3 was injected intravenously into cyclophosphamide-primed rats at varied concentrations and schedules prior to grafting of mononuclear cells from healthy normal donors. Maximal abrogation of the local XGVHR mounted by the mononuclear cells, was observed following injection of 5.55 mg of F3 daily for eight days. This abrogation of XGVHR indicates a reversal of the immunosuppressive effect of cyclophosphamide as manifested by a significant decline in the local XGVHR volume from 99.42 +/- 9.2 mm3 (positive control) to 39.78 +/- 8.3 mm3 (p less than 0.001). This reversal of cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression by the administration of F3 was complete, since the volume of the abrogated local XGVHR (39.78 +/- 8.3 mm3) was comparable to 34.79 +/- 5.69 mm3 (p greater than 0.1) in the negative control group (no cyclophosphamide-priming; saline injection only). These data indicate that F3 administration markedly enhances the rats' ability to reject the xenogeneic graft and therefore possesses a strong immune potentiating activity in vivo. These preclinical data also provide the rational basis for the use of extracts of Astragalus membranaceus in phase I clinical trials among patients suffering from iatrogenic or inherent immune deficiency states. |
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106: J Clin Lab Immunol. 1988 Mar;25(3):119-23.
Immunotherapy with Chinese medicinal herbs. I. Immune restoration of local xenogeneic graft-versus-host reaction in cancer patients by fractionated Astragalus membranaceus in vitro.
Chu DT, Wong WL, Mavligit GM.
Department of Clinical Immunology and Biological Therapy, University of Texas System Cancer Center, M.D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute, Houston 77030. |
| The in vitro immunomodulatory activity of fractions derived from Astragalus membranaceus, an herb commonly used in the practice of traditional Chinese medicine, was first screened by studying their individual effects on mononuclear cells (MNC) derived from healthy normal donors using the local xenogeneic graft-versus-host reaction (XGVHR). Sephacryl S-200 column-separated Fraction 3 (MW 20,000-25,000) along with its crude extract precursor, Fraction 7, and another crude extract derivative, Fraction 8, were equally augmentative (p less than 0.05) in their effect on MNC from normal donors. These three active fractions were further studied on MNC derived from 13 cancer patients. Using again the local XGVHR as a model assay for T-cell function, preincubation of MNC derived from cancer patients with Fraction 3 induced a significant increase in local XGVHR (compared to untreated cells) with a mean +/- SD of 151.34 +/- 46.02 mm3 vs 57.80 +/- 16.44 mm3; p less than 0.001. Fractions 7 and 8 likewise induced significant increases in local XGVHR (109.14 +/- 19.32 mm3 versus 50.91 +/- 17.39 mm3; p less than 0.001 and 119.74 +/- 18.33 mm3 versus 48.77 +/- 16.17 mm3; p less than 0.001, respectively). The augmented immune reactions which were induced by either Fraction 3 or Fraction 8 (but not by Fraction 7) in MNC derived from cancer patients, each significantly exceeded the local XGVHR observed in the untreated MNC derived from normal donor controls with a relative reference index (ratio) of 1.60 +/- 0.48 and 1.23 +/- 0.17 respectively; p less than 0.005.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) |
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107: Cancer. 1983 Jul 1;52(1):70-3.
Immune restoration and/or augmentation of local graft versus host reaction by traditional Chinese medicinal herbs.
Sun Y, Hersh EM, Talpaz M, Lee SL, Wong W, Loo TL, Mavligit GM.
University of Texas System Cancer Center, M. D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute, College Station, Texas. |
| The in vitro restorative effect of aqueous extracts from two traditional Chinese medicinal herbs were studied in 19 cancer patients and in 15 normal healthy donors. Using the local graft versus host (GVH) reaction as a test assay for T-cell function, the extract from astragalus membranaceus (10 microgram/ml) induced a restored reaction in nine of ten patients with an increase in local GVH reaction from 18.2 plus/minus 15.8 mm3 to 112.9 plus/minus 94.2 mm3 (P less than 0.01). The extract from ligustrum lucidum, likewise effected an immune restoration in nine of 13 cancer patients with an increase in local GVH reaction from 32.3 plus/minus 36.1 mm3 to 118 plus/minus 104.9 mm3 (P less than 0.01). This degree of immune restoration appears to be complete as it equals the local GVH reaction observed among untreated mononuclear cells from normal healthy donors (82.8 plus/minus 41.1 mm3, P greater than 0.1). These results suggest that both extracts of the traditional Chinese medicinal herbs contain potent immune stimulants which may provide the rational basis for their therapeutic use as biological response modifiers. |
108: J Biol Response Mod. 1983;2(3):227-37.
Preliminary observations on the effects of the Chinese medicinal herbs Astragalus membranaceus and Ligustrum lucidum on lymphocyte blastogenic responses.
Sun Y, Hersh EM, Lee SL, McLaughlin M, Loo TL, Mavligit GM.
The biological effects of extracts of two Chinese medicinal herbs, Astragalus membranaceus and Ligustrum lucidum, on in vitro lymphocyte blastogenesis were assessed. Aqueous extracts augmented the spontaneous [3H]thymidine incorporation in the mononuclear cells (MNC) of 14 normal subjects from 273.0 to 609.3 counts per minute (cpm) and 252.9 to 656.9 cpm for the two herbs, respectively. The stimulation indices were 2.4 and 3.1, respectively (p less than 0.001). They also augmented the proliferation of normal subjects' lymphocytes induced by suboptimal concentrations of phytohemagglutinin (PHA) from 5084.6 to 23,398.3 and 221.7 to 24,132.8 cpm, of concanavalin A (con A) from 4046.5 to 15,661.5 and 677.6 to 14,644.6 cpm, and of pokeweed mitogen (PWM) from 4377.9 to 24,405.6 and 322.7 to 11,730.0 cpm, respectively (p less than 0.00). Herb extracts augmented the PHA responses of the MNC from 14 cancer patients significantly (p less than 0.01 and p less than 0.05, respectively). Extracts of L. lucidum also augmented the con A response of patients (p less than 0.05). The augmenting effect of the herbs on the PHA, con A, and PWM responses was dose dependent, and proliferation was inhibited at higher concentrations. The optimal concentration for stimulating the MNC of cancer patients was 100 micrograms/ml, compared to 10 micrograms/ml for the MNC of normal donors. MNC of seven patients depressed the mitogen responses of normal cells in a co-culture system. This was partially abrogated in five by preincubating the patients' cells in herb extracts for 45 min or by irradiation of the patients' cells. These results suggest that the herb extracts contain immunomodulatory components which may be useful in the immunotherapy of disease. |
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