Effects of Buyang Huanwu decoction and Astragalus mongholicus on platelet activating factor receptor activity in rabbits in vitro

BACKGROUND: The pharmacological action of traditional Chinese medicine compound is the comprehensive effect of the various ingredients, and the interactions of various ingredients are closely correlated with the final effect. In order to reveal the compatibility mechanism of BHD's prescription in treating and preventing ischemic cerebrovascular disease, we needed explore the effect and relation of ingredients in the prescription. OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of Buyang Huanwu decoction (BHD) and Astragalus mongholicus on the activity of platelet activating factor receptor (PAFR) in the platelet of rabbits in vitro, and investigate the mechanism of Astragalus mongholicus. DESIGN: A decomposed recipes study. SETTING: Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. MATERIALS: Five New Zealand rabbits, weighing 2-3 kg, both sexes, were used. BHD was composed of Sheng Huang Qi 120 g, Dang Gui Wei 6 g, Chi Shao 4.5 g, Chuan Xiong 3 g, Di Long 3 g, Tao Ren 3 g, Hong Hua 3 g. The prescription for activating blood circulation consisted of Dang Gui Wei 6 g, Chi Shao 4.5 g, Chuan Xiong 3 g, Di Long 3 g, Tao Ren 3 g and Hong Hua 3 g. The prescription for invigorating qi consisted of 120 g Sheng Huang Qi. The prepared herbal pieces were purchased from the traditional Chinese medicine Dispensary of Foshan Second People's Hospital, and appraised by Professor Xu from Science of Chinese Materia Medica College, Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. 3H-PAF was supplied by Amersham Co., Ltd. (specific activity: 6. 475 TBq/mmol; batch number: 200402); PAF standard by Biomol Co., Ltd. (batch number: P1318V). METHODS: The experiments were carried out in the Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine, Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from September to December 2004. ① Injections of BHD, prescriptions for activating blood circulation and invigorating qi were prepared by the decoction and alcohol sedimentation technique. Rabbit common carotid artery blood (40 mL) was drawn via intubation to prepare platelet suspension of (0.8-1.0)×1010 L-1. ② Determination of 3H-PAF and washed PAFR binding: The general combination tube (T) contained washed platelet-rich plasma (WPRP) 380 μL + 3H-PAF (0.35 nmol/L)10 μL+distilled water 5 μL; The nonspecific binding tube (P) contained WPRP 380 μL+3H-PAF(0.35 nmol/L)10 μL+cold PAF (1 μmol/L) 5 μL; The sample tube (Y) contained WPRP 380 μL+3H-PAF(0.35 nmol/L)10 μL+experimental medicine (injection of BHD, prescriptions for activating blood circulation or invigorating qi) 5 μL. The test was conducted for three times for each sample in the same way as mentioned above. The samples were shaken on the oscillator for 30 s, then bathed at 25 ℃ for 40 minutes, and the reaction was terminated with cold Tris buffer containing 0.1% BSA, multichannel cell detachment separator was used for vacuum suction to filter the separated free 3H-PAF, and the filter paper was washed with cold Tris buffer for four times, then dried in the baking oven (80 ℃) for 1 hour, and placed in xylol liquid scintillator, and the radioactivity was determined automatically by the liquid scintillation detector. The mean of the three parallel tubes was calculated. The specific binging inhibition rate was calculated: SBIR=[(T-Y)/(T-P)]×100%]. ③ Univariate analysis of variance was conducted. And for comparison of each paired groups, the q test was adopted. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Effect of BHD whole prescription, prescriptions for activating blood circulation and invigorating qi on the specific binding inhibition rate of 3H-PAF and PAFR. RESULTS: BHD, prescriptions for activating blood circulation and invigorating qi were all able to inhibit the specific binding of 3H-PAF to PAFR, the specific blinding inhibition rates were (45.90±7.50)%, (97.90±1.84)% and (26.75±2.48)%, respectively, and there were significant differences between every two groups (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Single Astragalus mongholicus (120 g) can inhibit the specific blinding of PAFR in the platelet of the rabbit with 3H-PAF, but the combination of Astragalus mongholicus with the drugs for activating blood circulation in BHD can significantly decrease the inhibiting action of the latter on PAFR activity of the platelet, reflecting the combined mechanism of 'removing blood stasis without injuring the vital qi' in BHD.

Chinese herbal decoction astragalus and angelica exerts its therapeutic effect on renal interstitial fibrosis through the inhibition of MAPK,PI3K-Akt and TNF signaling pathways

Astragalus and Angelica decoction(A&A)has been clinically used as a classical traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)formula in China for many years for the treatment of kidney diseases,especially renal interstitial fibrosis(RIF).However,the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of A&A on RIF remains poorly understood.In the present study,systematic network pharmacology and effective experimental verification were utilized for the first time to elucidate the pharmacological efficacy and potential mechanism.The outcomes indicated that 22 active components and 87 target genes of A&A were identified and cross-referenced with RIF-associated genes,contributing to confirmation of 74 target genes of A&A for RIF.Pathway and functional enrichment analyses revealed that A&A had substantial effects on MAPK,PI3K-Akt and TNF signaling pathways.In addition,seven core targets with relatively higher betweenness and degree were identified in the constructed Chinese medicine material-chemical component-target-signal pathway network.Moreover,we verified the potential therapeutic effect of A&A in vivo(using a mouse model of RIF),confirming that A&A could effectively protect the kidney by regulating these target genes.The therapeutic effect of A&A on RIF could be attributed to its role in regulating the cell cycle,limiting the apoptosis,and inhibiting the inflammation.

Comparison on Efficacy between Astragalus-Polygonum Anti-Fibrosis Decoction and Jinshuibao (金水宝) Capsule in Treating Liver Fibrosis of Chronic Hepatitis B

Objective: To observe the efficacy of Astragalus Polygonum Anti Fibrosis decoction (APAFD)and Jinshuibao capsule (JSBC) in treating liver fibrosis of chronic hepatitis B. Methods: Ninety two cases of liver fibrosis of chronic hepatitis B were randomly divided into group A and group B. Patients in group A received APAFD for 48 weeks, and in group B, they received JSBC for 48 weeks. The effects on the level change of hyaluronic acid (HA), laminin (LN), pro collagen Ⅲ (PCⅢ) and collagen Ⅳ (CⅣ) as well as liver functional tests and liver biochemical parameters before and after treatment were observed.Results: Level of serum HA, LN, PCⅢ and CⅣ in group A declined more obviously than that of group B, the difference was significant ( P <0.01). The liver functional tests such as total bilirubin (TB), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), albumin/globulin (A/G) ratio, hepatitis related serum biochemical parameters such as cholylglycine (CG), serum ferritin (SF), prealbumin (PC) of group A were all improved more significantly than that of group B ( P <0.01).Conclusion: APAFD is more effective than JSBC in treating liver fibrosis of chronic hepatitis B and in the inhibition of hepatic inflammation, hence it is a good composite Chinese herbal preparation against liver fibrosis.