Astragalus polysaccharides can regulate cytokine and P-glycoprotein expression in H22 tumor-bearing mice

Astragalus polysaccharides inhibits tumor proliferation and enhances cisplatin sensitivity in bladder cancer by regulating the PI3K/AKT/FoxO1 axis

Cisplatin (DDP) resistance presents a major challenge in bladder cancer (BLCA) treatment. Recent evidence suggests that Astragalus polysaccharide (APS), extracted from Astragalus membranaceus, may sensitize tumors to DDP. However, the precise mechanisms by which APS modulates DDP sensitivity in BLCA are not fully elucidated. The study employed computational biology, bioinformatics, and both in vitro and in vivo experiments to explore the role of APS in BLCA. The results demonstrate that APS inhibits BLCA cell proliferation, induces apoptosis in vitro, and suppresses tumor growth in vivo. Additionally, APS induces G0/G1 cell cycle arrest in BLCA cells by downregulating CCND1 expression. Moreover, APS further enhances DDP-induced apoptosis by downregulating PI3K-p110β and p-AKT expression, while upregulating FoxO1 expression. Bioinformatics analysis indicates that APS may remodel the tumor microenvironment (TME) and influence cell-cell interactions, specifically through modulation of macrophage M2 polarization and CD8+ T cell exhaustion, thereby overcoming DDP resistance. In conclusion, APS potentiates DDP-induced apoptosis in BLCA cells via the PI3K/AKT/FoxO1 axis and may act as an immunomodulator to remodel the TME, offering a potential strategy to combat DDP resistance in BLCA.

Herb-drug interaction potential of Astragali Radix: a metabolic perspective

Astragali Radix (AR) is one of the most widely used herbs in Asia and has a wide range of biological activities. These activities are attributed to its various compounds like flavonoids, saponins, and polysaccharides. AR and its major components are often used in combination with other drugs for the treatment of diseases such as cancer and cerebral ischemia. With the expanding range of AR combinations, the potential for herb-drug interaction (HDI) has been raised. Key targets in HDI studies include drug-metabolizing enzymes (DMEs) and transporters. Existing studies have shown that AR and its major components have various regulatory effects on these targets, notably CYP2C9, CYP3A4, UGT1A6, and P-gp. AR may contribute to HDI when it is taken with substrates of these biomolecules, such as tolbutamide, midazolam, and digoxin. However, there are also different views in the current study, such as the effect of AR on CYP3A4. To better understand the interactions of AR with drugs, we review the metabolic pathways and pharmacokinetic parameters of the main components of AR. Meanwhile, the regulatory effects and mechanisms of AR on DMEs and transporters are summarized to provide a theoretical and technical basis for the rational use of AR in clinical practice.

Research Progress in the Medicine-Food Dual Use of Astragalus for Gastrointestinal Tumors

Gastrointestinal tumors have a major impact on human life expectancy and quality of life and are a major cause of personal and social hygiene stress. Gastrointestinal tumors are the main cause of cancer-related death, and the main treatment methods are surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. However, they also cause great damage to the body and have a poor prognosis after surgery. Therefore, we urgently need safe and effective drugs to intervene in gastrointestinal tumors. In recent years, Traditional Chinese Medicine has been widely used in tumor treatment as a complementary and alternative therapy. Astragalus membranaceus is one of the main herbal medicines with tonic effect and one of the important components of many antitumor herbal compounds. Astragalus polysaccharides, saponins, and flavonoids are the main active components of Astragalus, all of which have antitumor effects. In this article, we studied the mechanism of action of Astragalus and its active ingredients in the intervention of gastrointestinal tumors in recent years and suggested a new approach for the study of Astragalus intervention in gastrointestinal tumors from the perspective of the homology of medicine and food.

Recent efficacy and long-term survival of Astragalus polysaccharide combined with gemcitabine and S-1 in pancreatic cancer

BACKGROUND

Pancreatic cancer is a highly malignant tumor with a rapid progression rate and a high susceptibility to infiltration and metastasis. Astragalus polysaccharide (APS), a pure Chinese medicine preparation primarily made from the traditional Chinese herb Astragalus, plays a positive role in the treatment of many malignant tumors.

AIM

To explore the recent efficacy of APS combined with gemcitabine plus tegafur gimeracil oteracil potassium capsule (S-1) (GS) regimen in the treatment of pancreatic cancer and assess its effect on the immune function and long-term survival of patients.

METHODS

A total of 97 patients who were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and received GS chemotherapy at The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine) from March 2021 to December 2021 were included in the retrospective analysis. Among them, 41 patients received APS combined with GS chemotherapy, and 56 patients received GS chemotherapy only. The recent efficacy, immune function, adverse reactions, and long-term survival were compared among these patients.

RESULTS

After 4 cycles of treatment, the objective response rate of patients receiving the combined therapy of APS and GS was 51.22%, and the disease control rate (DCR) was 56.10%, higher than those of patients receiving the monotherapy with GS alone (30.36% and 35.71%, respectively). Besides, the percentages of CD3+ T cells (50.18% ± 9.57%) and CD4+ T cells (31.52% ± 5.33%) in the peripheral blood of patients receiving the combined therapy of APS and GS were higher compared with those treated with GS regimen alone [(44.06% ± 8.55%) and (26.01% ± 7.83%), respectively]. Additionally, the incidences of leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and fatigue in patients receiving the combined therapy of APS and GS were significantly lower than those in patients receiving the monotherapy of GS alone (17.07%, 9.76%, 31.71% vs 37.50%, 28.57%, 60.71%). Moreover, the median survival time of patients receiving the combined therapy of APS and GS was 394 days, significantly longer than that of patients receiving the monotherapy of GS alone (339 days) (hazard ratio: 0.66; 95%CI: 0.45-0.99; P = 0.036). All these differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The combined therapy of APS and GS improved the recent efficacy and long-term survival of patients with pancreatic cancer and alleviated chemotherapy-induced immune suppression and adverse reactions.

Astragalus polysaccharide enhances antitumoral effects of chimeric antigen receptor- engineered (CAR) T cells by increasing CD122+CXCR3+PD-1- memory T cells

Chimeric antigen receptor-engineered T (CAR-T) cell therapy of cancer has been a hotspot and promising. However, due to rapid exhaustion, CAR-T cells are less effective in solid tumors than in hematological ones. CD122+CXCR3+ memory T cells are characterized with longevity, self-renewal and great antitumoral capacity. Thus, it's compelling to induce memory CAR-T cells to enhance their efficacy on solid tumors. Astragalus polysaccharide (APS) has reportedly exhibited antitumoral effects. However, it's unclear if APS has an impact on CD8+ memory T cell generation or persistence. Using two human cancer cell lines, here we found that APS significantly improved the persistence of GPC3-targeted CAR-T cells and enhanced their suppression of tumor growth in both Huh7 and HepG2 xenograft models of hepatocellular carcinoma. APS increased CD122+/CXCR3+ memory T cells, but decreased their PD-1+ subset within CD8+ CAR-T cells in tumor-bearing mice, while these effects of APS were also confirmed with in vitro experiments. Moreover, APS augmented the expression of chemokines CXCL9/CXCL10 by the tumor in vivo and in vitro. It also enhanced the proliferation and chemotaxis/migration of CAR-T cells in vitro. Finally, APS promoted the phosphorylation of STAT5 in CD8+ CAR-T cells, whereas inhibition of STAT5 activation reversed these in vitro effects of APS. Therefore, APS enhanced the antitumoral effects of CD8+ CAR-T cells by promoting formation/persistence of CD122+/CXCR3+/PD-1- memory T cells and their migration to the tumor.

Astragalus Polysaccharides and Metformin May Have Synergistic Effects on the Apoptosis and Ferroptosis of Lung Adenocarcinoma A549 Cells

Astragalus polysaccharides (APSs), the compounds extracted from the common herb Astragalus membranaceus, have been extensively studied for their antitumor properties. In this study, we investigated the effect of APS on lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells. The effects of APS and the anti-diabetic drug metformin on apoptosis and ferroptosis were compared. Furthermore, the combination treatment of APS and metformin was also investigated. We found that APS not only reduced the growth of lung cancer cells but also had a synergistic effect with metformin on A549 cells. The study results showed that it may be promising to use APS and metformin as a combination therapy for the treatment of lung adenocarcinoma.

Natural Antioxidants: An Effective Strategy for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease at the Early Stage

The critical role of oxidative stress in Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been recognized by researchers recently, and natural antioxidants have been demonstrated to have anti-AD activity in animal models, such as Ginkgo biloba extract, soy isoflavones, lycopene, and so on. This paper summarized these natural antioxidants and points out that natural antioxidants always have multiple advantages which are help to deal with AD, such as clearing free radicals, regulating signal transduction, protecting mitochondrial function, and synaptic plasticity. Based on the available data, we have created a relatively complete pathway map of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and AD-related targets and concluded that oxidative stress caused by ROS is the core of AD pathogenesis. In the prospect, we introduced the concept of a combined therapeutic strategy, termed "Antioxidant-Promoting Synaptic Remodeling," highlighting the integration of antioxidant interventions with synaptic remodeling approaches as a novel avenue for therapeutic exploration.

Anticancer Mechanism of Astragalus Polysaccharide and Its Application in Cancer Immunotherapy

Astragalus polysaccharide (APS) derived from A. membranaceus plays a crucial role in traditional Chinese medicine. These polysaccharides have shown antitumor effects and are considered safe. Thus, they have become increasingly important in cancer immunotherapy. APS can limit the spread of cancer by influencing immune cells, promoting cell death, triggering cancer cell autophagy, and impacting the tumor microenvironment. When used in combination with other therapies, APS can enhance treatment outcomes and reduce toxicity and side effects. APS combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors, relay cellular immunotherapy, and cancer vaccines have broadened the application of cancer immunotherapy and enhanced treatment effectiveness. By summarizing the research on APS in cancer immunotherapy over the past two decades, this review elaborates on the anticancer mechanism of APS and its use in cancer immunotherapy and clinical trials. Considering the multiple roles of APS, this review emphasizes the importance of using APS as an adjunct to cancer immunotherapy and compares other polysaccharides with APS. This discussion provides insights into the specific mechanism of action of APS, reveals the molecular targets of APS for developing effective clinical strategies, and highlights the wide application of APS in clinical cancer therapy in the future.

Advances in research on the anti-tumor mechanism of Astragalus polysaccharides

The dry root of the soybean plant Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch) Bge. var. mongholicus (Bge) Hsiao or A. membranaceus (Fisch) Bge, Astragali Radix (AR) has a long medicinal history. Astragalus polysaccharide (APS), the natural macromolecule that exhibits immune regulatory, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and other pharmacological activities, is an important active ingredient extracted from AR. Recently, APS has been increasingly used in cancer therapy owing to its anti-tumor ability as it prevents the progression of prostate, liver, cervical, ovarian, and non-small-cell lung cancer by suppressing tumor cell growth and invasion and enhancing apoptosis. In addition, APS enhances the sensitivity of tumors to antineoplastic agents and improves the body's immunity. This macromolecule has prospects for broad application in tumor therapy through various pathways. In this article, we present the latest progress in the research on the anti-tumor effects of APS and its underlying mechanisms, aiming to provide novel theoretical support and reference for its use in cancer therapy.

Synergist for antitumor therapy: Astragalus polysaccharides acting on immune microenvironment

Various new treatments are emerging constantly in anti-tumor therapies, including chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy. However, the efficacy is still not satisfactory. Astragalus polysaccharide is an important bioactive component derived from the dry root of Radix astragali. Studies found that astragalus polysaccharides have gained great significance in increasing the sensitivity of anti-tumor treatment, reducing the side effects of anti-tumor treatment, reversing the drug resistance of anti-tumor drugs, etc. In this review, we focused on the role of astragalus polysaccharides in tumor immune microenvironment. We reviewed the immunomodulatory effect of astragalus polysaccharides on macrophages, dendritic cells, natural killer cells, T lymphocytes, and B lymphocytes. We found that astragalus polysaccharides can promote the activities of macrophages, dendritic cells, natural killer cells, T lymphocytes, and B lymphocytes and induce the expression of a variety of cytokines and chemokines. Furthermore, we summarized the clinical applications of astragalus polysaccharides in patients with digestive tract tumors. We summarized the effective mechanism of astragalus polysaccharides on digestive tract tumors, including apoptosis induction, proliferation inhibition, immunoactivity regulation, enhancement of the anticancer effect and chemosensitivity. Therefore, in view of the multiple functions of astragalus polysaccharides in tumor immune microenvironment and its clinical efficacy, the combination of astragalus polysaccharides with antitumor therapy such as immunotherapy may provide new sparks to the bottleneck of current treatment methods.

The effects of Astragalus polysaccharides, tragacanthin, and bassorin on methotrexate-resistant acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Background and purpose

One strategy to overcome methotrexate (MTX) resistance in acute lymphoblastic leukemia is suppressing MDR1 expression. It has been proved Astragalus polysaccharides (APS) exert their anticancer effect by reversing drug resistance. Due to the structural similarity of tragacanthin and bassorin with APS, we aimed to investigate the effects of the aforementioned polysaccharides on the expression of the MDR1 gene in the MTX-treated CCRF-CEM cells.

Experimental approach

Cytotoxicity of APS, bassorin, and tragacanthin on CCRF-CEM, CCRF-CEM/MTX (cells treated with MTX at IC50), and CCRF-CEM/R cells (CCRF-CEM cells resistant to MTX) was evaluated by MTT assay. The effect of all three compounds on MDR1 expression was evaluated using RT-PCR.

Findings/Results

All the concentrations of tragacanthin, bassorin, and APS (except at 0.8-100 μg/mL in CCRF-CEM) decreased the viability of all the cells compared to the negative control group; and against the positive control (MTX-treated cells), only bassorin at 20-100 μg/mL in CCRF-CEM/R and tragacanthin at 50 and 100 μg/mL in CCRF-CEM/MTX and at 2-100 μg/mL in CCRF-CEM/R decreased cell viability. Tragacanthin diminished MDR1 expression in CCRF-CEM/MTX and CCRF-CEM/R cells, which MTX had already induced.

Conclusion and implication

According to the results of this study, tragacanthin was a potent cytotoxic agent against CCRF-CEM cells and enhanced the chemosensitivity of CCRF-CEM/MTX and CCRF-CEM/R cells to MTX by down-regulation of MDR1 gene expression. Therefore, it could be a promising compound against cancer. Other possible mechanisms of action of tragacanthin should be evaluated and further in vitro and in vivo investigations are required.

Screening of Antiglaucoma, Antidiabetic, Anti-Alzheimer, and Antioxidant Activities of Astragalus alopecurus Pall-Analysis of Phenolics Profiles by LC-MS/MS

Astragalus species are traditionally used for diabetes, ulcers, leukemia, wounds, stomachaches, sore throats, abdominal pain, and toothaches. Although the preventive effects of Astragalus species against diseases are known, there is no record of the therapeutic effects of Astragalus alopecurus. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the in vitro antiglaucoma, antidiabetic, anti-Alzheimer's disease, and antioxidant activities of the methanolic (MEAA) and water (WEAA) extracts of the aerial part of A. alopecurus. Additionally, its phenolic compound profiles were analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). MEAA and WEAA were evaluated for their inhibition ability on α-glycosidase, α-amylase, acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and human carbonic anhydrase II (hCA II) enzymes. The phenolic compounds of MEAA were analyzed by LC-MS/MS. Furthermore, total phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined. In this context, the antioxidant activity was evaluated by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), N,N-dimethyl-p-phenylene diamine (DMPD), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), cupric ions (Cu²⁺) reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC), ferric ions (Fe³⁺) reducing, and ferrous ions (Fe²⁺) chelating methods. MEAA and WEAA had IC₅₀ values of 9.07 and 2.24 μg/mL for α-glycosidase, 693.15 and 346.58 μg/mL for α-amylase, 1.99 and 2.45 μg/mL for AChE, and 147.7 and 171.7 μg/mL for hCA II. While the total phenolic amounts in MEAA and WEAA were 16.00 and 18.50 μg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/mg extract, the total flavonoid contents in both extracts were calculated as 66.23 and 33.115 μg quercetin equivalent (QE)/mg, respectively. MEAA and WEAA showed, respectively, variable activities on DPPH radical scavenging (IC₅₀: 99.02 and 115.53 μg/mL), ABTS radical scavenging (IC₅₀: 32.21 and 30.22 µg/mL), DMPD radical scavenging (IC₅₀: 231.05 and 65.22 μg/mL), and Fe²⁺ chelating (IC₅₀: 46.21 and 33.01 μg/mL). MEAA and WEAA reducing abilities were, respectively, Fe³⁺ reducing (λ₇₀₀: 0.308 and 0.284), FRAP (λ₅₉₃: 0.284 and 0.284), and CUPRAC (λ₄₅₀: 0.163 and 0.137). A total of 35 phenolics were scanned, and 10 phenolic compounds were determined by LC-MS/MS analysis. LC-MS/MS revealed that MEAA mainly contained isorhamnetin, fumaric acid, and rosmarinic acid derivatives. This is the first report indicating that MEAA and WEAA have α-glycosidase, α-amylase, AChE, hCA II inhibition abilities, and antioxidant activities. These results demonstrate the potential of Astragalus species through antioxidant properties and enzyme inhibitor ability traditionally used in medicine. This work provides the foundation for further research into the establishment of novel therapeutics for diabetes, glaucoma, and Alzheimer's disease.

Astragalus Polysaccharide Promotes Doxorubicin-Induced Apoptosis by Reducing O-GlcNAcylation in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

The toxicity and side effects of chemotherapeutic drugs remain a crucial obstacle to the clinical treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Identifying combination therapy from Chinese herbs to enhance the sensitivity of tumors to chemotherapeutic drugs is of particular interest. Astragalus polysaccharide (APS), one of the natural active components in Astragalus membranaceus, has been reported to exhibit anti-tumor properties in diverse cancer cell lines. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of APS on Doxorubicin (Dox)-induced apoptosis in HCC and the underlying mechanism. The results showed that APS dose-dependently promoted Dox-induced apoptosis and enhanced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Additionally, APS decreased the mRNA level and protein stability of O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT), and increased the O-GlcNAcase (OGA) expression. Furthermore, OGT lentiviral transfection or PugNAc (OGA inhibitor) treatment reversed the ER stress and apoptosis induced by the combination of Dox and APS. A xenograft tumor mouse model confirmed that the combination of APS and Dox showed an advantage in inhibiting tumor growth in vivo. These findings suggested that APS promoted Dox-induced apoptosis in HCC cells through reducing the O-GlcNAcylation, which led to the exacerbation of ER stress and activation of apoptotic pathways.

Frontier progress of the combination of modern medicine and traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC, accounting for 90% of primary liver cancer) was the sixth most common cancer in the world and the third leading cause of cancer death in 2020. The number of new HCC patients in China accounted for nearly half of that in the world. HCC was of occult and complex onset, with poor prognosis. Clinically, at least 15% of patients with HCC had strong side effects of interventional therapy (IT) and have poor sensitivity to chemotherapy and targeted therapy. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), as a multi-target adjuvant therapy, had been shown to play an active anti-tumor role in many previous studies. This review systematically summarized the role of TCM combined with clinically commonly used drugs for the treatment of HCC (including mitomycin C, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, 5-fluorouracil, sorafenib, etc.) in the past basic research, and summarized the efficacy of TCM combined with surgery, IT and conventional therapy (CT) in clinical research. It was found that TCM, as an adjuvant treatment, played many roles in the treatment of HCC, including enhancing the tumor inhibition, reducing toxic and side effects, improving chemosensitivity and prolonging survival time of patients. This review summarized the advantages of integrated traditional Chinese and modern medicine in the treatment of HCC and provides a theoretical basis for clinical research.

Polysaccharides of Brassica rapa L. attenuate tumor growth via shifting macrophages to M1-like phenotype

Macrophages are the major tumor-infiltrating leukocytes, and tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) play a critical role in cancer-related inflammation since they show alternative polarization to M1 (tumor-inhibited macrophages) or M2 (tumor-promoted macrophages) phenotype. Brassica rapa L. (B. rapa) has been clinically proven to have anti-tumor and immunity-enhancing activity, and the polysaccharides of B. rapa (BRP) have been reported to have an immunoregulatory effect on macrophages. In this study, we focus on macrophage polarization to investigate the mechanism of anti-tumor response of BRP in vivo and in vitro. We found that BRP improved the expression of M1 markers, including iNOS, COX-2, HLA-DR, CD11b and M1-related cytokines. The expression of M2 markers Arg-1, CD206 and CD163 induced by IL-4 were inhibited by BRP treatment, resulting in the inhibition of tumor growth both in vivo and in co-culture experiments in vitro. The activation of STAT signaling pathway were significantly regulated by BRP, which are important signals in TAM polarization. Overall, the results indicated that BRP has anti-tumor effect through mediating macrophage polarization.

Astragalus polysaccharide: a review of its immunomodulatory effect

The Astragalus polysaccharide is an important bioactive component derived from the dry root of Astragalus membranaceus. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the research progress on the immunomodulatory effect of Astragalus polysaccharide and provide valuable reference information. We review the immunomodulatory effect of Astragalus polysaccharide on central and peripheral immune organs, including bone marrow, thymus, lymph nodes, spleen, and mucosal tissues. Furthermore, the immunomodulatory effect of Astragalus polysaccharide on a variety of immune cells is summarized. Studies have shown that Astragalus polysaccharide can promote the activities of macrophages, natural killer cells, dendritic cells, T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes and microglia and induce the expression of a variety of cytokines and chemokines. The immunomodulatory effect of Astragalus polysaccharide makes it promising for the treatment of many diseases, including cancer, infection, type 1 diabetes, asthma, and autoimmune disease. Among them, the anticancer effect is the most prominent. In short, Astragalus polysaccharide is a valuable immunomodulatory medicine, but further high-quality studies are warranted to corroborate its clinical efficacy.

Extraction, structure, and activity of polysaccharide from Radix astragali

Radix astragali polysaccharide (RAP) is a water-soluble heteropolysaccharide. It is an immune promoter and regulator, and has antivirus, antitumor, anti-aging, anti-radiation, anti-stress, anti-oxidation and other activitys. The extraction, separation, purification, structure, activity and modification of RAP were summarized. Some extraction methods of RAP had been introduced, and the separation and purification methods of RAP were reviewed, and the structure and activity of RAP were highly discussed. Current derivatization of RAP was outlined. Through the above discussion that the yield of crude polysaccharides from Radix astragali by enzyme-assisted extraction was significantly higher than that by other extraction methods, but each extraction method had different extraction effects under certain conditions, and the activity efficiency of RAP was also different. Therefore, it is particularly important to optimize the extraction method with known better yield for the study of RAP. In addition, the purification and separation of RAP are the key factors affecting the yield and activity of RAP. At the same time, there are still few studies on the derivatiration of Radix astragali polysaccharide, but the researches in this area are very important. RAP also has many important pharmacological effects on human body, but its practical application needs further study. Finally, studies on the structure-activity relationship of RAP still need to be carried out by many scholars. This review would provide some help for further researches on various important applications of RAP.

Antiviral Compounds Based on Natural ASTRAGALUS POLYSACCHARIDE (APS): Researches and Foresight in the Strategies for Combating SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)

Today, finding natural polymers with desirable properties for use in various industries is one of the critical axes of research in the world. Polysaccharides are a group of natural polymers that have various applications in the pharmaceutical industry. The attachment of monosaccharides forms polysaccharides through glycosidic bonds that are widely found in various sources, including plants. Genus Astragalus belongs to the Fabaceae family. Plants belonging to this genus have different polysaccharides. Astragalus polysaccharides (APS) have attracted a great deal of attention among natural polymers because they are non-toxic, biodegradable, and biocompatible. Currently, APS has great drug potential for curing or treating various diseases. Due to the different biological activities of polysaccharides, including Astragalus, this study has investigated the chemical structure of APS, research report on antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and stimulation of cytokine secretion by these polysaccharides. Also, in this study, the pharmaceutical approaches of APS compounds, as a natural, new and inexpensive source, have been discussed as suitable candidates for use in pharmaceutical formulations and preparation of new drugs to control COVID-19 infection.

Astragalus polysaccharides affects multidrug resistance gene 1 and Pglycoprotein 170 in adriamycin nephropathy rats via regulating microRNA16/NFκB axis

OBJECTIVES

Nephrotic syndrome is a common disease of the urinary system. The aim of this study is to explore the effect of astragalus polysaccharides (APS) on multidrug resistance gene 1 (MDR1) and P-glycoprotein 170 (P-gp170) in adriamycin nephropathy rats and the underlying mechanisms.

METHODS

A total of 72 male Wistar rats were divided into a control group, a model group, an APS low-dose group, an APS high-dose group, an APS+micro RNA (miR)-16 antagomir group and an APS+miR-16 antagomir control group, with 12 rats in each group. Urine protein (UP) was detected by urine analyzer, and serum cholesterol (CHOL), albumin (ALB), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine (SCr) were detected by automatic biochemical analyzer; serum interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) levels were detected by ELISA kit; the morphological changes of kidney tissues were observed by HE staining; the levels of miR-16 and MDR1 mRNA in kidney tissues were detected by real-time RT-PCR; the expression levels of NF-κB p65, p-NF-κB p65, and P-gp170 protein in kidney tissues were detected by Western blotting; and dual luciferase was used to verify the relationship between miR-16 and NF-κB.

RESULTS

The renal tissue structure of rats in the control group was normal without inflammatory cell infiltration. The renal glomeruli of rats in the model group were mildly congested, capillary stenosis or occlusion, and inflammatory cell infiltration was obvious. The rats in the low-dose and high-dose APS groups had no obvious glomerular congestion, the proliferation of mesangial cells was significantly reduced, and the inflammatory cells were reduced. Compared with the high-dose APS group and the APS+miR-16 antagomir control group, there were more severe renal tissue structure damages in the APS + miR-16 antagomir group. Compared with the control group, the levels of UP, CHOL, BUN, SCr, IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, and MDR1 mRNA, and the protein levels of p-NF-κB p65 and P-gp170 in the model group were significantly increased (all P<0.05); the levels of ALB and miR-16 were significantly decreased (both P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the levels of UP, CHOL, BUN, SCr, IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, and MDR1 mRNA, and the protein levels of pNF-κB p65 and P-gp170 in the low-dose and high-dose APS groups were significant decreased (all P<0.05); and the levels of ALB and miR-16 were significantly increased (both P<0.05). Compared with APS+miR-16 antagomir control group, the UP, CHOL, BUN, SCr, IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α levels, MDR1 mRNA, and the protein levels of p-NF-κB p65 and P-gp170 were significantly increased (all P<0.05). The levels of ALB and miR-16 were significantly decreased in the APS+miR-16 antagomir group compared with the APS+miR-16 antagomir control group (both P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

APS can regulate the miR-16/NF-κB signaling pathway, thereby affecting the levels of MDR1 and P-gp170, and reducing the inflammation in the kidney tissues in the adriamycin nephropathy rats.

A review on the applications of Traditional Chinese medicine polysaccharides in drug delivery systems

Traditional Chinese medicine polysaccharides (TCMPs) are plentiful and renewable resources with properties such as biocompatibility, hydrophilicity, biodegradability, and low cytotoxicity. Because the polysaccharide molecular chain contains a variety of active groups, different polysaccharide derivatives can be easily produced through chemical modification. They have been increasingly used in drug delivery systems (DDS). However, the potential of polysaccharides is usually ignored due to their structural complexity, poor stability or ambiguity of mechanisms of actions. This review summarized the applications of TCMPs in DDS around four main aspects. The general characteristics of TCMPs as drug delivery carriers, as well as the relationships between structure and function of them were summarized. Meanwhile, the direction of preparing multifunctional drug delivery materials with synergistic effect by using TCMPs was discussed. This review aims to become a reference for further research of TCMPs and their derivatives, especially applications of them as carriers in pharmaceutical preparation industry.

The Current Application and Future Prospects of Astragalus Polysaccharide Combined With Cancer Immunotherapy: A Review

So far, immunotherapy has been shown to have impressive effects on different cancers in clinical trials. All those immunotherapies are generally derived from three main therapeutic approaches: immune checkpoint inhibitors, immune cell vaccination, and adoptive cellular immunotherapy. Our research systematically reviewed a wide range of clinical trials and laboratory studies of astragalus polysaccharide (APS) and elucidated the potential feasibility of using APS in activating adoptive immunotherapy. Apart from being effective in adaptive “passive” immunotherapy such as lymphokine-activated killer treatment and dendritic cell (DC)–cytokine–induced killer treatment, APS could also regulate the anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)/PD-L1 on the surface of the immune cells, as a part in the immune checkpoint inhibitory signaling pathway by activating the immune-suppressed microenvironment by regulating cytokines, toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways, and immune cells, such as DCs, macrophages, NK cells, and so on. In view of the multiple functions of APS in immunotherapy and tumor microenvironment, a combination of APS and immunotherapy in cancer treatment has a promising prospect.

Astragalus Polysaccharides Enhance the Immune Response to OVA Antigen in BALB/c Mice

Vaccination has been identified as one of the most effective ways to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases in humans and animals. One of the most critical steps in vaccine development is the selection of a suitable adjuvant. Although various adjuvant candidates have been evaluated in the past few decades, only a limited amount of them are nontoxic and safe for human use. Astragalus polysaccharide (APS), due to its lack of toxicity, has been used as an immunomodulator to enhance immune responses. On the other hand, the immune effects of APS on ovalbumin are yet to be examined. Thus, in this study, we analyzed APS's effects on the immune response to ovalbumin in BALB/c mice. We have also used the classic adjuvant CpG oligodeoxynucleotide as the positive control.

Evaluation of inhibitory effects of geniposide on a tumor model of human breast cancer based on 3D printed Cs/Gel hybrid scaffold

Traditional Chinese medicine therapy, which can serve as adjuvant therapy for cancer treatment, has no obvious side effects on the human body. Geniposide (GEN), one of the main iridoid glycosides in gardenia fruit, has been widely reported to have anti-cancer effects. In this study, we aimed to inspect whether GEN could inhibit proliferation and promote the apoptosis of human breast cancer cells (MCF-7). In order to better predict the efficacy of GEN, we have prepared the Cs/Gel composite scaffolds by 3D printing technology to mimic the MCF-7 cell growth microenvironment. The prepared Cs/Gel scaffold has good mechanical properties and biocompatibility, which can provide a more accurate platform for drug screening. The semi-inhibitory concentration (IC50) evaluated by CCK-8 assay was 16.06 mg/mL (24 h), 14.85 mg/mL (48 h), and 13.14 mg/mL (72 h). After exposed to GEN for 48 h, the cancer cell survival rate reduced from 69.15 ± 2.86% (13 mg/mL) to 20.97 ± 3.24% (16 mg/mL). Although the inhibitory effect was weaker in the 3D culture system, it also managed to inhibit cell proliferation and induce cell apoptosis. Besides, Live/Dead staining, Hematoxylin-Eosin (H&E) staining and SEM evaluation were also conducted to estimate the anti-cancer effect of GEN in 2D and 3D cultures. The results indicate that GEN has an anti-cancer effect based on a time- and dose-dependent manner.

Traditional Chinese medicine as supportive care for the management of liver cancer: Past, present, and future

Liver cancer is the sixth most commonly diagnosed cancer and the fourth leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Western medicine and therapies are the primary treatment strategies of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but the general prognosis for HCC patients is still dismal. Under these circumstances, HCC prevention is particularly important. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) encompasses a wealth of documented therapeutic resources, and "preventative treatment" is the principle of TCM. In China, TCM has been used for HCC prevention for thousands of years, and has also been demonstrated to be effective for the treatment of HCC in modern China. However, the TCM theory for prevention and treatment of HCC is more widely accepted in China than abroad. In this review, we first summarize the herbs and ancient formulas with therapeutic effects on HCC. We also review the research status of TCM in modern medicine as well as the current obstacles in its development. Finally, we discuss the future of TCM in the context of precision and integrated medicine. After reviewing the literature, we believe that TCM, through ancient development, is an advanced method of cancer treatment with positive curative effects, despite its surrounding controversy. Furthermore, precise analyses and systematic research methods provides novel approaches to modernize TCM for the future.

Protective potency of Astragalus polysaccharides against tilmicosin- induced cardiac injury via targeting oxidative stress and cell apoptosis-encoding pathways in rat

Tilmicosin (Til) was purposed to be used in the treatment of a wide range of respiratory diseases in livestock. However, undesirable adverse effects, cardiac toxicity, in particular, may be associated with Til therapy. In the present study, the response of adult rats administered Til subcutaneously at different doses (10, 25, 50, 75, and 100 mg/kg b.w.; single injection) was evaluated. Astragalus polysaccharide (AP) at two doses (100 and 200 mg/kg b.w.; intraperitoneally) was investigated for its potential to counteract the cardiac influences, involving the oxidative stress-induced damage and apoptotic cell death, elicited by the Til treatment at a dose of 75 mg/kg b.w. in rats. Til induced mortalities and altered the levels of the biomarkers for the cardiac damage, particularly in the rats treated with the doses of 75 and 100 mg/kg b.w.; similarly, morphological alterations in cardiac tissue were seen at all studied doses. AP was found to cause a significant (P ˂ 0.05) decline in the levels of impaired cardiac injury markers (troponin, creatine phosphokinase, and creatine phosphokinase-MB), improvement in the antioxidant endpoints (total antioxidant capacity), and attenuation in the oxidative stress indices (total reactive oxygen species, 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine, lipid peroxides [malondialdehyde], and protein carbonyl), associated with a significant (P ˂ 0.05) modulation in the mRNA expression levels of the encoding genes (Bcl-2, Bax, caspase-3, P53, Apaf-1, and AIF), related to the intrinsic pathway of apoptotic cell death in the cardiac tissue. AP administration partially restored the morphological changes in the rat's heart. The highest protective efficacy of AP was recorded at a dose level of 200 mg/kg b.w. Taken together, these results indicated that AP is a promising cardioprotective compound capable of attenuating Til-induced cardiac impact by protecting the rat cardiac tissue from Til-induced apoptosis when administered concurrently with and after the Til injection.

Astragalus polysaccharides reverse gefitinib resistance by inhibiting mesenchymal transformation in lung adenocarcinoma cells

Epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) have been used as first-line recommended therapy for EGFR mutant non-small cell lung cancer patients. However, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) can reduce EGFR-TKI sensitivity and lead to resistance. This study was designed to investigate the reversal effect of astragalus polysaccharides (APS) on gefitinib resistance (GR) and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. PC9 and HCC827 lung cancer cells were stimulated by TGF-β1 to develop EMT-associated GR cells. Cell proliferation, migration and apoptosis assays were used to confirm the effect of gefitinib on GR cells and the therapeutic effect of APS on GR cells after knockdown and over-expression of related signaling pathways. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, western blotting, and immunofluorescent staining assays were used to evaluate the expression levels of E-cadherin, N-cadherin, vimentin, PD-L1, and SREBP-1. Furthermore, proliferation and migration abilities were enhanced, while apoptosis ability was weakened in EMT-associated GR cells. After over-expression of PD-L1, expression levels of N-cadherin, vimentin and SREBP-1 increased, while expression of E-cadherin decreased. After knockdown of PD-L1 or SREBP-1, E-cadherin expression increased, while expression of N-cadherin and vimentin decreased. Further studies revealed that APS promoted apoptosis and reduced proliferation and migration abilities in GR cells. Moreover, APS increased expression of E-cadherin and decreased expression of N-cadherin and vimentin, indicating that it may be related to inhibition of the PD-L1/SREBP-1/EMT signaling pathway. Based on these findings, it can be concluded that APS can reverse acquired resistance to gefitinib in lung cancer cells by inhibiting the PD-L1/SREBP-1/EMT signaling pathway.

Astragalus Polysaccharides Inhibits Tumorigenesis and Lipid Metabolism Through miR-138-5p/SIRT1/SREBP1 Pathway in Prostate Cancer

Astragalus polysaccharides (APS) is a traditional Chinese medicine and have been proved to involve in multiple biological processes, including inflammation, metabolism, and carcinogenics. However, the specific mechanisms by which APS on prostate cancer (PCa) remains largely unknown. In the current study, we found APS greatly inhibited the proliferation and invasion of PCa cells in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner in vitro and in vivo. In addition, cellular triglyceride and cholesterol levels were also decreased significantly under APS treatment. Microarray data revealed the SIRT1 expression was markably suppressed under APS exposure. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that over-expression of SIRT1 inhibits the expression and nuclear translocation of SREBP1 via activating AMPK phosphorylation to suppress lipid metabolism. Otherwise, knockdown of SIRT1 significantly promotes AMPK/SREBP1 signaling and its associated target genes. Besides, we also found miR-138-5p was greatly inhibited the SIRT1 expression to regulating cell metabolism by targeting its 3′UTR region. To summarize, our findings suggested that APS inhibits tumorigenesis and lipid metabolism through miR-138-5p/SIRT1/SREBP1 pathways in PCa.

A Review of the Pharmacological Action of Astragalus Polysaccharide

Astragalus membranaceus (A. membranaceus) is a type of traditional Chinese medicine with a long history of clinical application. It is used in the improvement and treatment of various diseases as medicine and food to invigorate the spleen and replenish qi. The main components of A. membranaceus are Astragalus polysaccharide (APS), flavonoids compounds, saponins compounds, alkaloids, etc. APS is the most important natural active component in A. membranaceus, and possesses multiple pharmacological properties. At present, APS possess the huge potential to develop a drug improving or treating different diseases. In this review, we reveal the potential approaches of pre-treating and preparation on APS as much as possible and the study on content of APS and its chemical composition including different monosaccharides. More importantly, this paper summarize pharmacological actions on immune regulation, such as enhancing the immune organ index, promoting the proliferation of immune cells, stimulating the release of cytokines, and affecting the secretion of immunoglobulin and conduction of immune signals; anti-aging; anti-tumor by enhancing immunity, inducing apoptosis of tumor cells and inhibiting the proliferation and transfer of tumor cells; antiviral effects; regulation of blood glucose such as type I diabetes mellitus, type II diabetes mellitus and diabetic complications; lipid-lowering; anti-fibrosis; antimicrobial activities and anti-radiation. It provided theoretical basis for the further research such as its structure and mechanism of action, and clinical application of APS.

Characterization and anti-tumor bioactivity of astragalus polysaccharides by immunomodulation

Astragalus polysaccharide (APS) has attracted growing interests in the field of anti-cancer by direct killing effect and improving immune function. In this study, the structure and composition of APS was determined, following the evaluation of in vitro and in vivo anti-tumor activity of APS targeted macrophages and host immune system based on immunoregulated strategy. The results indicated that APS had no direct cytotoxicity against 4T1 cells, but APS mediated macrophages could significantly inhibit the growth of 4T1 cells by the induction of cell cycle arrest (G2 phase) and cell apoptosis. APS mediated macrophages promoted the apoptosis of 4T1 cells mainly through the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway. The in vivo findings demonstrated that APS could markedly improve the thymus index and spleen index, and restore the structure of the damaged thymus and spleen tissue. APS could significantly enhance the proliferation of spleen lymphocytes and increase phagocytosis of peritoneal macrophages in mice. Furthermore, APS was capable of up-regulating the expression of IL-2, TNF-α and IFN-γ in peripheral blood. APS combined with 5-FU could improve the anti-tumor effect accompanied by the immunosuppressive alleviation of 5-FU on immune system, which may be suitable as an immune adjuvant for chemotherapy.

Astragalus Polysaccharide RAP Induces Macrophage Phenotype Polarization to M1 via the Notch Signaling Pathway

Macrophages occur in polarized phenotypes, whose characteristics determine the role they play in tumor growth. The M1 phenotype macrophages promote tumoricidal responses and suppress tumor growth. Our previous study showed that a polysaccharide isolated from Radix Astragali, named RAP, was itself non-cytotoxic but induced RAW264.7 cells' cytotoxicity against cancer cells. The current study was undertaken to determine its mechanism. Series studies was conducted to show that RAP is able to induce much higher gene expression of M1 markers, including iNOS, IL-6, TNF-a, and CXCL10, compared with the control group. When RAP-induced BMDMs were transplanted together with 4T1 tumor cells in BALB/c mice, both tumor volume and tumor weight decreased. Further studies indicated that RAP induces the Notch signaling pathway in RAW264.7 cells. The function of Notch signaling in macrophage polarization was confirmed by using γ-secretase inhibitor. These results suggested that Astragalus polysaccharide RAP induces macrophage's polarization to M1 phenotype via the Notch signaling pathway.

Effect of Aidi Injection plus TACE on Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

We aim to conduct a meta-analysis of studies on the effect of Aidi injection combined with TACE in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Database, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), Chinese Science and Technology Periodical Database (VIP), Allied and Complementary Medicine Database (AMED), EMBASE, Web of Science, PubMed, and Cochrane Library databases to October 1, 2017, were searched to collect the studies. The data analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3 software. Totally 20 clinical trials with 774 (the experimental group: 447 cases; the control group: 327 cases) HCC patients were finally included in this meta-analysis. Meta-analysis results showed that Aidi injection combined with TACE can, to some extent, enhance the clinical effect and improve the overall survival. Meanwhile, it can increase HCC patients' quality of life. Additionally, Aidi injection plus TACE can reduce adverse events including leukopenia, gastrointestinal reaction, and liver damage in HCC patients (all P < 0.05). Therefore, Aidi injection plus TACE may significantly enhance the clinical effect, suggesting that the combination of TCM and western medicine is promising. The exact outcome needs rigorously designed performances, multicenter, and large randomized controlled trials.

Anti-tumor potential of astragalus polysaccharides on breast cancer cell line mediated by macrophage activation

Adverse effects are pressing challenges produced by chemotherapy and radiotherapy for the treatment of breast cancer. Nontoxic herbal medicines are therefore considered as a favorable alternative. Astragalus membranaceus has attracted growing interest in the field of biomedicine thanks to its various biological activities, among which the anticancer activity is considered to be closely associated with its active component-astragalus polysaccharide (APS). Currently, direct anti-tumor activity and the activation of immune response of the host have been widely acknowledged as the mechanism by which APS exerts its anti-cancer activity. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether APS could inhibit the growth of MCF-7 cells and activate macrophages to further kill cancer cells. The results indicated that the obtained APS was a pyran-type polysaccharide, containing 89.75% total carbohydrate and a minor amount of uronic acid (9.3%). Although APS did not significantly inhibit the growth of MCF-7 cells growth, encouragingly, APS-activated RAW264.7 macrophages present anti-cancer activity as evidenced by (a) cell proliferation inhibition (with an inhibitory rate of 41%), (b) G1-phase cell cycle arrest, as well as (c) the regulation of apoptosis-related genes (Bax/Bcl-2, 13.26-fold increase than untreated cells). In addition, APS could upregulate the level of nitric oxide (NO) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), which acted as inducers of tumor cell apoptosis. Collectively, our findings suggest that APS can activate macrophages to release NO and TNF-α, which directly blocks cancer cell growth. The anti-breast cancer effect of APS and the in vivo mechanism will be further elucidated with a review to provide a therapeutic strategy for breast cancer.

Recent Advances in Herbal Medicines for Digestive System Malignancies

Herbal medicines, as an important part of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), have been used to treat digestive system malignancies (DSM) for many years, and have gradually gained recognition worldwide. The role of herbal medicines in the comprehensive treatment of DSM is being improved from adjuvant treatment of the autologous immune function in cancer patients, to the treatment of both the symptoms and disease, direct inhibition of tumor cell growth and proliferation, and induction of tumor cell autophagy and apoptosis. Their specific mechanisms in these treatments are also being explored. The paper reviews the current anti-tumor mechanisms of TCM, including single herbal medicines, Chinese herbal formulations, Chinese medicine preparations and TCM extract, and their application in the comprehensive treatment of digestive system tumors, providing a reference for clinical application of TCM.

Ginseng polysaccharides enhanced ginsenoside Rb1 and microbial metabolites exposure through enhancing intestinal absorption and affecting gut microbial metabolism

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Polysaccharides and small molecules commonly co-exist in decoctions of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs). Our previous study outlined that ginseng polysaccharides (GP) could interact with co-existing ginsenosides to produce synergistic effect in an over-fatigue and acute cold stress model via gut microbiota involved mechanisms.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aimed to verify the interactions by examining the impact of GP on oral pharmacokinetics of ginsenoside Rb1 (Rb1), the dominant protopanoxadiol (PPD)-type ginsenoside in Ginseng, on a dextran sulphate sodium (DSS) induced experimental colitis model which was characterized by gut dysbiosis, and to delineate the underlying mechanisms in vitro.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Rats received drinking water (normal group), 5% DSS (UC group), or 5% DSS plus daily oral administration of GP (GP group) for 7 days and fecal samples were collected on day -3, 0 and 6. On day 7 all animals received an oral dosage of Rb1 and blood samples were withdrawn for pharmacokinetic study. The in vitro metabolism study of Rb1 in gut microbiota from normal and UC rats and the transport study of Rb1 across Caco-2 cell monolayer were carried out in presence/absence of GP. Rb1 and its bacterial metabolites ginsenoside Rd (Rd), ginsenoside F2 (F2), Compound K (CK) and PPD were determined using LC-MS/MS. Total and target bacteria in fecal samples were determined by using 16S rRNA-based RT-PCR. β-Glucosidase activity was determined by measuring 4-nitrophenol formed from 4-nitrophenyl-β-D-glucopyranoside hydrolysis.

RESULTS

DSS induction did not alter AUC_0-t and C_max of Rb1, which, however, were doubled together with elevated AUC_0-t of the metabolites, in particular Rd and CK, in GP group. GP influenced the microbial composition and showed a prebiotic-like effect. Accordingly, GP treatment could partially restore the β-glucosidase activity which was reduced by DSS induction. The presence of GP resulted in quicker microbial metabolism of Rb1 and higher Rd formation in first 8 h of incubation, while the impact on F2 and CK formation/conversion became obvious after 8 h. More interestingly, GP slightly stimulated Caco-2 cell growth and facilitated Rb1 transport across the Caco-2 monolayer in both directions, increasing the P_app of Rb1 from 10^-7 cm/s to 10^-6 cm/s.

CONCLUSIONS

GP alleviated DSS-induced colitis-like symptoms and enhanced the systemic exposure of Rb1 through enhancing microbial deglycosylation and intestinal epithelial absorption of Rb1. These findings further demonstrated the important role of gut microbiota in the multifaceted action of polysaccharides in the holistic actions of traditional decoction of TCMs.

Anti-Aging Implications of Astragalus Membranaceus (Huangqi): A Well-Known Chinese Tonic

Owing to a dramatic increase in average life expectancy and the Family Planning program of the 1970s - 1990s, China is rapidly becoming an aging society. Therefore, the investigation of healthspan-extending drugs becomes more urgent. Astragalus membranaceus (Huangqi) is a major medicinal herb that has been commonly used in many herbal formulations in the practice of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to treat a wide variety of diseases and body disorders, or marketed as life-prolonging extracts for human use in China, for more than 2000 years. The major components of Astragalus membranaceus are polysaccharides, flavonoids, and saponins. Pharmacological research indicates that the extract component of Astragalus membranaceus can increase telomerase activity, and has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunoregulatory, anticancer, hypolipidemic, antihyperglycemic, hepatoprotective, expectorant, and diuretic effects. A proprietary extract of the dried root of Astragalus membranaceus, called TA-65, was associated with a significant age-reversal effect in the immune system. Our review focuses on the function and the underlying mechanisms of Astragalus membranaceus in lifespan extension, anti-vascular aging, anti-brain aging, and anti-cancer effects, based on experimental and clinical studies.

Astragalus polysaccharides increase the sensitivity of SKOV3 cells to cisplatin

BACKGROUND

Multidrug resistance in malignant tumours hinders the treatment of tumours. Studies showed that astragalus polysaccharides (APS), one major active ingredient of astragalus, enhanced the sensitivity of non-small cell lung cancer and liver cancer cells to chemotherapeutic drug. However, the effect of APS on ovarian cancer is still unclear. In this study, we will examine the sensitizing effect of APS on SKOV3 cells to cisplatin and explore the possible mechanism.

METHODS

MTT assay was employed to examine the viability of SKOV3 after treatment with APS and cisplatin. The cell apoptosis rate was determined by flow cytometry. The expression of Bax, Bcl-2, Caspase-3, and c-Jun N-terminal kinases 1/2 (JNK1/2) was measured using Western blotting and RT-PCR.

RESULTS

APS synergistically promoted the inhibitory effect of cisplatin on SKOV3 cell viability. Flow cytometry showed that APS promoted cisplatin-induced apoptosis of SKOV3 cell lines. Further studies showed that APS down-regulated the expression of Bcl2, increased the expression of Bax and caspase 3 and activated JNK1/2 signalling pathway. The JNK inhibitors significantly rescued the proliferation inhibition induced by the drugs.

CONCLUSIONS

Astragalus polysaccharides increased the sensitivity of SKOV3 cells to cisplatin potentially by activating the JNK pathway. The apoptosis-related genes may contribute to the process. Thus, APS may be useful for the treatment of ovarian cancer as an enhancer of chemosensitivity.

Non-digestible stachyose promotes bioavailability of genistein through inhibiting intestinal degradation and first-pass metabolism of genistein in mice

This study was designed to explore the molecular mechanism of stachyose in enhancing the gastrointestinal stability and absorption of soybean genistein in mice. Male Kunming mice in each group (n = 8) were administered by intragastric gavage with saline, stachyose (250 mg/kg·bw), genistein (100 mg/kg·bw), and stachyose (50, 250, and 500 mg/kg·bw) together with genistein (100 mg/kg·bw) for 4 consecutive weeks, respectively, and then their urine, feces, blood, gut, and liver were collected. UPLC-qTOF/MS analysis showed that levels of genistein and its metabolites (dihydrogenistein, genistein 7-sulfate sodium salt, genistein 4'-β-D-glucuronide, and genistein 7-β-D-glucuronide) in serum and urine were increased with an increase in stachyose dosages in mice. Furthermore, the feces level of genistein aglycone was also elevated by co-treatment of stachyose with genistein. However, the feces concentration of dihydrogenistein, a characteristic metabolite of genistein by gut microorganism, was decreased by stachyose administration in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, the simultaneous administration with stachyose and genistein in mice could decrease intestinal SULT, UGT, P-gp, and MRP1 expression, relative to the treatment with individual stachyose or genistein. These results demonstrate that stachyose-mediated inhibition against the intestinal degradation of genistein and expression of phase II enzymes and efflux transporters can largely contribute to the elevated bioavailability of soybean genistein.

Astragalus polysaccharides enhance the immune response to avian infectious bronchitis virus vaccination in chickens

Astragalus polysaccharides (APS) are biological macromolecules extracted from Astragalus species that have strong immunoregulatory properties. In this study, APS were employed as an adjuvant for an avian infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) vaccine, and its effects on the cellular immune and humoral immune responses to vaccination in chicken were investigated. One hundred and fifty chicken were randomly divided into five groups (n = 30, each group). The chickens in all groups, except for the unvaccinated control group, were vaccinated with an IBV DNA vaccine. Three of the four vaccinated groups were administered different doses of APS (APSL, 10 mg/kg; APSM, 50 mg/kg; and APSH, 100 mg/kg) after the first vaccination, and the remaining vaccinated group served as a control, without any additional treatment. At 14, 28, and 42 days after the first vaccination, serum anti-IBV antibody titers; peripheral lymphocyte proliferation; and the mRNA expression of IL-1β, IL-2, IL-8, and TNF-α in the spleen were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), the cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), and real time quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR), respectively. At most time points, the titer of IBV-specific antibodies, lymphocyte proliferation, and IL-1β, IL-2, IL-8, and TNF-α mRNA expression levels were higher in three APS groups than in the vaccine control group, and these increases were dose-dependent. These data suggest that APS could be used as an adjuvant for IBV vaccination to provide better protection against IBV infection.

Astragalus polysaccharides exerts immunomodulatory effects via TLR4-mediated MyD88-dependent signaling pathway in vitro and in vivo

Astragalus polysaccharides (APS), which is widely used as a remedy to promote immunity of breast cancer patients, can enhance immune responses and exert anti-tumor effects. In this study, we investigated the effects and mechanisms of APS on macrophage RAW 264.7 and EAC tumor-bearing mice. Griess reaction and ELISA assays revealed that the concentrations of nitric oxide, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 were increased by APS. However, this effect was diminished in the presence of TAK-242 (TLR4 inhibitor) or ST-2825(MyD88 inhibitor). In C57BL/10J (TLR4^+/+wild-type) and C57BL/6J (MyD88^+/+wild-type) tumor-bearing mice, the tumor apoptosis rate, immune organ indexes and the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in blood increased and the tumor weight decreased by oral administration of APS for 25 days. APS had no obvious effects on IL-12p70. However, these effects were not significant in C57BL/10ScNJ (TLR4-deficient) and C57BL/B6.129P2(SJL)-Myd88^m1.1Defr/J (MyD88-deficient) tumor-bearing mice. qRT-PCR and Western blot indicated that APS stimulated the key nodes in the TLR4-MyD88 dependent signaling pathway, including TLR4, MyD88, TRAF-6, NF-κB and AP-1, both in vitro and in vivo. However, TRAM was an exception. Moreover, TRAF-6 and NF-κB were not triggered by APS in gene-deficient tumor-bearing mice. Therefore, APS may modulate immunity of host organism through activation of TLR4-mediated MyD88-dependent signaling pathway.

Stephania Tetrandra and Ginseng-Containing Chinese Herbal Formulation NSENL Reverses Cisplatin Resistance in Lung Cancer Xenografts

Chinese Herbal Formulation, supplement energy and nourish lung (SENL), effectively enhances chemotherapeutic efficacy in lung cancer treatment and reverses multi-drug resistance (MDR) in lung cancer cells in vitro. The present study is designed to assess the effect of a New SENL (NSENL, modification of SENL) formulation on resistance to chemotherapy of cisplatin (DDP)-resistant human lung cancer cell line (A549/DDP) xenografts in nude mice. We assessed six constituents in NSENL by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). BALB/c nude mice harboring A549/DDP cell xenografts were established to assess the antitumor effect of NSENL and its impact on the expression of MDR related genes. The six constituents in NSENL, including ginsenoside Rg1, ginsenoside Rb1, ginsenoside Rg3, astragaloside IV, ophiopogonin D and tetrandrine were quantitated simultaneously by HPLC. The combination of NSENL with DDP significantly inhibited tumor growth at a rate of up to 66.8% ([Formula: see text]). In addition, NSENL as monotherapy or combined with DDP downregulated multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 (MRP1), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1) at both the mRNA and protein levels ([Formula: see text]), reduced glutathione S-transferase π (GST-π) protein expression and tumor microvascular density as well as decreased phosphorylation of protein kinase B (Akt) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) ([Formula: see text]). These findings demonstrated that NSENL can reverse MDR in A549/DDP cells in vivo, an effect possibly associated with downregulation of MDR-associated genes as well as inhibition of bFGF/FGFR and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt/mTOR signaling pathways.