Protective Effects of Radix Astragali against Anoxic Damages to in vitro Cultured Neurons

To study the protective effects of radix astragali against anoxic damages to in vitro cultured neurons in rats, NaCN was used to develop a hypoxic model of in vitro cultured neurons from newborn rat cerebral cortex. The cellular morphology, A value (cell survival number) and effluxes of lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) and K+ from cells were measured in the radix astragali group and the control group respectively. After 48 h of anoxia, A value was decreased from 0. 325± 0. 031 before anoxia to 0. 145± 0. 011, the effluxes of LDH and K+ were increased from 65. 80± 2. 90 U/L and 5. 23 ± 0. 11mmol/L before anoxia to 148. 80± 8. 40 U/L and 7. 31 ± 0. 18 mmol/L, respectively. It was found that in the anoxic circumstance in the Radix astragali group, the mophological changes were mild, the effluxes of LDH and K+ were decreased and A value increased as compared with those in the control group. It was suggested that Radix astragali could protect the cultured rat neurons against anoxic damages in the anoxic circumstance.

Analysis on Genetic Diversity of Radix Astragali by ISSR Markers

Radix Astragali has been an important traditional Chinese herbal medicine for over 2000 years. It is derived from two plant species, namely, Astragalus mongholicus [Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge. var. mongholicus (Bge.) Hsiao] and Astragalus membranaceus [Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge.] (Leguminosae ), according to the Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China. In this study, the genetic diversity and genetic relationships of Radix Astragali in China were analyzed by Inter-Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) markers. A total of 25 highly polymorphic ISSR primers were selected to amplify 95 Radix Astragali samples. Among 273 DNA bands amplified, 213 are polymorphic (percentage of polymorphic bands: 78%). The average value of the amplified bands was 10.9 for each primer, and the number varied from 4 to 20. The genetic diversity of the 95 Radix Astragali samples was analyzed by using POPGENE 1.32 software. The Nei’s genetic diversity index (h) and Shannon’s information index (I ) were 0.3590 and 0.5308, respectively, which indicated the abundant genetic diversity of Radix Astragali . The level of genetic diversity in A. membranaceus (h: 0.3109, I : 0.4657) was slightly lower than that in A. mongholicus (h: 0.3364, I : 0.4969). Considering the average genetic similarity coefficient by NTSYS analysis to cluster the A. membranaceus of nine habitats and A. mongholicus of five habitats, Radix Astragali samples were clustered into two groups according to place of origin. This clustering is different from traditional clustering, which divides groups according to species. Results obtained from this study will provide a theoretical basis for the molecular study on germplasm resources of Radix Astragali .

Progress of Radix Astragali and Radix Angelicae Sinensis in the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis(IPF)is a chronic,progressive,fibrotic interstitial lung disease.Current treatment options for IPF are limited.Radix Astragali(RA)and Radix Angelicae Sinensis(RAS),according to 5:1 ratio composed of Danggui Buxue decoction(DGBXD),which have played an essential role in the treatment of IPF.This article reviewed the experimental research,clinical research,and progress of RA and RAS(DGBXD)treating IPF to provide a deeper scientific basis for the future experimental research and clinical research.

Understanding the Use of Radix Astragali Seu Hedysari in the Treatment of Edema Due to Renal Diseases

Radix Astragali seu Hedysari is warm in nature and slightly sweet in taste.It belongs to the lung,spleen,and kidney meridians.It passes through a waterway,dredges the triple energizer,and has a significant effect on edema due to renal diseases.Ancient doctors believed that Radix Astragali seu Hedysari is excellent in tonifying the middle,supplementing Qi,and dredging through the triple energizer.In modem times,many doctors have found that whether it is used as a single drug or in combination with other drugs,it is widely used in clinical practice and has a good effect in inducing diuresis.

Protective effect of Radix Astragali injection on immune organs of rats with obstructive jaundice and its mechanism

AIM: To observe the protective effect of Radix Astragali injection on immune organs (lymph nodes, spleen and thymus) of rats with obstructive jaundice (OJ) and its mechanism. METHODS: SD rats were randomly divided into sham-operation group, model control group and Radix Astragali treatment group. On days 7, 14, 21 and 28 after operation, mortality rate of rats, pathological changes in immune organs, expression levels of Bax and nuclear factor (NF)-κB p65 proteins, apoptosis indexes and serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α level in spleen and thymus were observed, respectively.RESULTS: Compared to model control group, the number of dead OJ rats in Radix Astragali treatment group decreased (P > 0.05). The TNF-α level (27.62 ± 12.61 vs 29.55 ± 18.02, 24.61 ± 9.09 vs 31.52 ± 10.95) on days 7 and 21, the pathological severity score for spleen [0.0 (0.0) vs 0.0 (2.0) on days 7 and 14 and for lymph nodes [0.0 (1.0) vs 1.0 (2.0), 1.0 (0.0) vs 2.0 (1.0)] on days 21 and 28, the product staining intensity and positive rate of Bax protein in spleen [0.0 (0.0) vs 1.0 (2.0), 0.0 (1.0) vs 2.0 (1.5) and thymus [0.0 (0.0) vs 1.0 (2.0), 0.0 (1.0) vs 2.0 (1.5)] on days 14 and 28, the apoptotic indexes [0.0 (0.0) vs 0.0 (0.01)] in spleen and thymus [0.0 (0.0) vs 0.0 (0.01) on days 14 and 21 were significantly lower in Radix Astragali treatment group than in model control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Radix Astragali has protective effects on immune organs of OJ rats by relieving the pathological changes in immune organs, reducing TNF-α level and inhibiting Bax expression and apoptosis in spleen and thymus.

Long-term efficacy and safety of Huangqi(Radix Astragali Mongolici)-based Traditional Chinese Medicine in diabetic peripheral neuropathy:a Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

OBJECTIVE:To assess the long-term effectiveness of Huangqi(Radix Astragali Mongolici,HQ)-based Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM)in the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy(DPN).METHODS:Nine databases were searched to retrieve available randomized controlled trials that compared HQbased TCM and Western Medicines in the treatment of DPN.The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using the Cochrane bias risk tool,and RevMan 5.4 was used for data analysis.The effect estimates of interest were risk ratio(RR),mean difference(MD)or standardized mean difference(SMD)with 95%confidence interval(CI).RESULTS:The results from 48 available studies assessing 3759 patients demonstrated that cases administered HQ-based TCM[RR=1.30,95%CI(1.21,1.40),P<0.00001]or HQ-based TCM combined with Western Medicines[RR=1.25,95%CI(1.19,1.31),P<0.00001]exhibited higher total efficacy rates than individuals who received Western Medicine alone.The results showed that the HQ-based TCM group had decreased Toronto Clinical Scoring System scores[MD=-1.50,95%CI(-1.83,-1.17),P<0.00001],and reduced serum interleukin 6[SMD=-0.57,95%CI(-0.87,-0.27),P=0.0002]and tumor necrosis factors-αlevels[SMD=-0.60,95%CI(-0.95,-0.25),P=0.0009].In addition,both HQ-based TCM and HQbased TCM combined with Western Medicine increased nerve conduction velocity and decreased glycaemia compared with Western Medicine alone.In terms of blood lipids,oxidative stress and adverse drug reactions,there were no significant differences between the HQ-based TCM groups and the Western Medicine control group.CONCLUSION:The current Meta-analysis revealed that HQ-based TCM yields higher efficacy and safety than Western Medicine alone for the treatment of DPN,although further well-designed RCTs are required to validate these findings.

Therapeutic effects of Astragali Radix on diabetic foot:a clinical randomized controlled trial

Objective:This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of Astragalus on diabetic foot,as well as the effects on the levels of serum VEGF,bFGF,MMP-2,and inflammatory factors in patients,and to provide a scientific basis for the treatment of diabetic foot with the traditional Chinese medicine Astragalus.Methods:By taking 100 cases of diabetic foot patients who were admitted to the metabolic internal medicine division of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and met the criteria of natriuresis during April 2021-April 2023 as the study subjects,and according to the random number method,all patients were divided into the control group and the observation group,with 50 cases in each group.In the control group,only basic treatment was carried out,while in the observation group,Astragalus injection was added based on the control group.After 8 weeks of treatment,the clinical efficacy,serum VEGF,bFGF,MMP-2,and inflammatory factor levels of the patients in the two groups were compared,respectively.Results:The total clinical efficiency of patients in the observation group was significantly better than that in the control group(χ^(2)=5.01,P<0.05).The inflammatory factor indexes decreased substantially in both groups.However,the decrease in the observation group was significantly higher than in the control group(P<0.05).Compared with the control group,serum VEGF and bFGF were considerably higher in the observation group,while MMP-2 was significantly lower(P<0.05).Conclusion:Astragali Radix is clinically effective in the diabetic foot,which can induce vascular endothelial repair and reduce the level of inflammatory factors,to improve the inflammatory state of patients and promote the restoration of ulcerated wound tissue,which is worth promoting in clinical practice.

Study on mechanism and molecular docking verification of Angelicae Sinensis Radix and Astragali Radix in treating ischemic stroke

Background:Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)has been shown to be effective in treating ischemic stroke(IS),and the combination of Angelicae Sinensis Radix(ASR)and Astragali Radix(AR)is a core TCM prescription that is widely acknowledged for its efficacy in IS treatment.This study utilized network pharmacology methods to explore the molecular mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of Angelicae Sinensis Radix and Astragali Radix in IS treatment,with preliminary validation conducted through molecular docking.Methods:Information on the structure,targets,main biological functions,and pathways of the active components in Angelicae Sinensis Radix and Astragali Radix was collected using databases such as PubChem,PharmMapper,UniProt,and GeneCards.The results were visualized using software such as Cytoscape 3.6.1,Ledock,and pymol.Results:We retrieved 20 active components and 149 targets associated with the compatibility of Angelicae Sinensis Radix and Astragali Radix from various databases,and GeneCards database was used to search 3350 IS-related gene targets,including 78 key targets of Angelicae Sinensis Radix and Astragali Radix for the treatment of IS.Enrichment analysis of these 78 targets using gene ontology(GO)and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)revealed the involvement of 48 GO terms in the treatment of IS,mainly in biological processes such as metabolism,biological regulation,and stress response.The composition of biological devices such as supercavitary membrane,cell fluid,and extracellular space was also involved.The biological functions mainly included protein binding,ion binding,hydrolytic enzyme activity,and others.The identified pathways were estrogen signaling pathway,mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK)signaling pathway,PI3K-AKT signaling pathway,RAP1 signaling pathway,P53 signaling pathway,PPAR signaling pathway,FOXO signaling pathway,RAS signaling pathway,prolactin signaling pathway,HIF-1 signaling pathway,and TNF signaling pathway.Molecular docking analysis showed that the 17 key active components of Angelicae Sinensis Radix and Astragali Radix had strong binding activity with 13 IS key targets.Conclusion:Through the application of network pharmacology methods,it was found that the use of Angelicae Sinensis Radix and Astragali Radix for treating ischemic stroke mainly targets the MAPK and PI3K-AKT signaling pathways,involving several crucial compounds and genes.Nevertheless,additional in vitro and in vivo studies are needed to verify these findings.

Ethnopharmacology, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, Toxicology and Clinical Applications of Radix Astragali

Radix Astragali(RA),a traditional Chinese medicine from the dried root of Astragalus species,is widely distributed throughout the temperate regions of the world.The major bioactive constituents of RA are triterpene glycosides,flavonoids,saponins,and alkaloids,and these compounds mostly exert pharmacological activities on the cardiovascular,immune,respiratory,and hepatic systems.This review summarizes the recent studies on RA and provides a comprehensive summary regarding the status of resources,ethnopharmacology,phytochemistry,pharmacology,toxicology,clinical application,and patent release of RA.We hope this review can provide a guidance for further development of therapeutic agents from RA.

Progress in the Research of Radix Astragali in Treating Chronic Heart Failure:Effective Ingredients,Dose-Effect Relationship and Adverse Reaction

Radix Astragali,a Chinese herbal medicine possessing important cardiovascular pharmacologic effects,is widely applied for the treatment of chronic heart failure（CHF） in clinical practice.This paper summarizes briefly the researches in the last 10 years on its chemical compositions,effective ingredients for improving cardiac function,dose-effect relationship in treating CHF,and adverse reactions that occurred in clinical practice.

A Systematic Review of Anticancer Effects of Radix Astragali

Objective： To review the anticancer effects of Radix astragali （RA）, one of the most commonly used herbs to manage cancer in East Asia, and its constituents and to provide evidence of clinical usage through previously performed clinical studies. Methods： Preclinical and clinical studies related to the anticancer effects of RA were searched from inception to November 2013 in electronic databases. Two reviewers independently investigated 92 eligible studies, extracted all the data of studies and appraised methodological quality of clinical trials. The studies were categorized into in vitro and in vivo experimental studies and clinical studies, and analyzed by saponins, polysaccharides, and flavonoids of RA constituents, RA fraction, and whole extract. Results： In preclinical studies, RA was reported to have tumor growth inhibitory effects, immunomodulatory effects, and attenuating adverse effects by cytotoxic agents as well as chemopreventive effects. Saponins seemed to be the main constituents, which directly contributed to suppression of tumor growth through the activation of both intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathway, modulation of intracellular signaling pathway, and inhibition of invasion and angiogenesis. Flavonoids suppressed tumor growth through the similar mechanisms with saponins. Polysaccharides showed immunomodulatory effects, contributing tumor shrinkages in animal models, despite the low cytotoxicity to cancer cells. Most of the clinical studies were performed with low evidence level of study designs because of various limitations. RA whole extracts and polysacchaddes of RA were reported to improve the quality of life and ameliorate myelosuppression and other adverse events induced by cytotoxic therapies. Coaclusion： The polysaccharides, saponins, and flavonoids of RA, and the whole extract of RA have been widely reported with their anticancer effects in preclinical studies and showed a potential application as a adjunctive cancer therapeutics with the activities of irnmunomodulation, anti-proUferation and attenuation of adverse effects induced by cytotoxic therapy.

Transformation of astragalosides from Radix Astragali under acidic,neutral,and alkaline extraction conditions monitored by LC-ESI-TOF/MS

AIM: To reveal the profile of astragalosides for better quality evaluation of Radix Astragali, this study was aimed to investigate the transformation of astragalosides under different conditions. METHOD: Seven major astragalosides were selected for evaluation under acidic, neutral and alkaline conditions. The transformation in real plant samples was also examined and the products were characterized by LC-ESI-TOF/MS. RESULTS: In weak acidic solution, all of the astragalosides are stable. In addition, the transformation ratios of the astragalosides under neutral and alkaline conditions were also obtained. CONCLUSION: In neutral solution, malonylastragaloside I was transformed to astragaloside I; and in alkaline solution, substituent group(s) in the xylose moiety of all the astragalosides were eliminated. Since astragalosdie IV is the basic skeleton structure of the astrgalosides, it is a common transformation product of other astragalosides.

Protective Effects of Radix Astragali Injection on Multiple Organs of Rats with Obstructive Jaundice

Objective： To investigate the protective effects and mechanisms of Radix Astragali Injection on multiple organs of rats with obstructive jaundice（OJ）. Methods： A total of 180 rats were randomly divided into the sham-operated, model control and treated groups（60 in each group）. On 7, 14, 21 and 28 days after operation, the serum contents of alanine aminotransferase（ALT）, aspartate aminotransferase（AST）, r-glutamyl transpeptidase（r-GT）, total bilirubin（TBil）, direct bilirubin（DBil）, blood urine nitrogen（BUN）, and creatinine（CREA） were determined. And the pathological changes of livers, kidneys and lungs, and protein expressions of toll-like receptor-4（TLR-4） of livers, intercellular adhesion molecule-1（ICAM-1） of lungs, Bax and nuclear factor-kappa B（NF-κB）, as well as apoptotic indexes of multiple organs were observed, respectively. Results： The pathological severity scores of multiple organs（including livers on 7, 14, 21 and 28 days, kidneys on 14 and 28 days, and lungs on 14 days）, serum contents of ALT（14 and 21 days）, AST（14 days）, TBil（7, 14, 21 and 28 days）, DBil（14 and 21 days）, BUN（28 days）, protein expressions of TLR-4（in livers, 28 days）, Bax（in livers and kidneys, 21 days）, and apoptotic indexes in livers（7 and 21 days） in the treated group were significantly lower than those in the model control group（P〈0.05 or P〈0.01）. Conclusion： Radix Astragali Injection exerts protective effects on multiple organs of OJ rats by improving the pathological changes of lung, liver and kidney, decreasing the serum index of hepatic and renal function as well as inhibiting the protein expression of TLR-4 and Bax in the livers and Bax in the kidneys.

Prevention of Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Induced Insulin Resistance by Radix Astragali

Objective: To investigate the preventive effect of Radix Astragali on tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α). induced insulin resistance. Methods: Rats were treated orally with Radix Astragali before TNF-α intravenous injection. The changes of K value in glucose-insulin tolerance test, the concentrations of glucagon(GC), ACTH and lipids in serum and the contents of glycogen, triglyceride (TG) in liver and red quadricepswere tested 4 hours after the injection and compared with the control. Results: Exogenous TNF-α can inducehyperinsulinemia in normal rats, and the K value decreased, the concentration of serum ACTH, GC and lipidsall increased, the glycogen contents in liver and red quadriceps muscle decreased, and the liver TG depots increased. Radix Astragali can improve all the parameters significantly except the serum lipids level and livertriglyceride dePOts. Conclusions: Radix Astragali has preventive effect on insulin resistance induced by TNF-αand is useful in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. The mechanism may be due to the decrease of insulin-antagonistic hormones and the increase of tissue glycogen contents.

Effects of Radix Astragalion Left Ventricular Function and Oxygen Free Radicals in Acute Myocardial Infarot

Dynamic observations for 4 weeks were made on left ventricular function and oxygen freeradicals (OFR) in 43 patients who suffered the first attack of acute myocardial intarction and was hospitalizedin Coronary Care Unit within 36 hours. The results showed that Radix Astragali (RA) could strenthen the leftventricicular function and had an effect of scavenging OFR. After administration of RA, the ratio of pre-ejectionperiod/ left ventricular ejection time (PEP/LVET) was decreased , the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activitiesof erythrocytes were increased, and the lipid peroxidation (LPO) concentration of plasma was reduced.There was a significant difference between the RA group and the control group in the parameters mentionedabove. The study demonstrated that the PEP/LVET ratio was closely correlated with SOD and LPO. It sug-gested that the scavenging effect of RA on OFR was one of its mechanisms of cardiotonic action.

Exploring the Molecular Mechanism of Radix Astragali on Colon Cancer Based on Integrated Pharmacology and Molecular Docking Technique

Objective:The objective of this study was to study the mechanism of Radix Astragali on colon cancer by integrated pharmacology and molecular docking technique.Methods:Integrative pharmacology-based research platform of traditional Chinese medicine(TCMIP)V2.0 was used to obtain the chemical components and corresponding targets of Radix Astragali and the target information of colon cancer to create the main target network of drugs and diseases.Gene Ontology(GO),Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)enrichment analysis was carried out using Hiplot website,and the interaction network of“Traditional Chinese Medicine-component-target-pathway”was established,and molecular docking with main targets was carried out for the key components.Results:Twenty-seven chemical constituents of Radix Astragali,their 254 corresponding targets,and 44 colon cancer-related targets were obtained.Through proteins interacting,70 nodes were obtained as core targets.GO analysis showed that it mainly acts on lipid metabolism,nuclear receptor activity,phagocytic cup,etc.KEGG pathway analysis showed that it was mainly enriched in the estrogen signaling pathway,C-type lectin receptor signaling pathway,PI3K-Akt signaling pathway,etc.The multidimensional network,quantitative estimate of the drug,and molecular docking showed that the main targets are AKT1,BCL2,and CDK6,and the key components involved are kumatakenin,astragaloside VIII,and choline.Conclusion:Kumatakenin,AstragalosideⅧ,Choline and other compounds of Radix Astragali may affect colon cancer by acting on AKT1,BCL2 and other targets,thereby regulating estrogen signaling pathway,C-type lectin receptor signaling pathway,PI3K-Akt signaling pathway and so on.Those will provide theoretical reference for future research on the material basis and mechanism of its pharmacodynamics.

A Study on Various Symptoms of Ohronic Hepatitis Treated with Radix Astragali and Its Regulative Effect to Levels of Serum Hormone

Sixty-seven cases of chronic hepatitis were treated with Radix Astragali. After treatment(2-month course) . the clinical improvement rate in 38 cases ot the Stagnation of the Liver-Qi and Defi-ciency of the Spleen type was 92. 1%. and in 26 cases of the Deficiency of Liver Yin and Kidney Yin typewas 88. 5% , more effective than in the control group (P<O. 05) . The regulative effect to the levels ofserum hormone was observed in the patients of the Stagnation of the Liver-Qi and Deficiency of the Spleentype treated with this medicine. The results showed that the levels of serum triiodothyronine, estradiol(female) and testosterone (male) were increased after treatment (1. 40 1. 38 ng/dl, 129. 30 1. 23 pg/ml and 496. 24 1. 47 ng/dl) . Pretreatment levels were 1. 22 1. 49 ng/dl, 104. 60 1. 45 pg/ml and 398.17 1. 55 ng/dl respectively (P<O. 05) . however, the level ot serum prolactin (2. 75 4. 46 ng/ml) waslower after treatment than before treatment (3. 20 3. 82 ng/ml, P<O. 05) . No obvious changes were ob-served in the levels of serum follicle stimulating hormone. luteinizing hormone, thyroid stimulating hor-mone, thyroxine, triiodothyronine uptake ratio and cortisol after treatment.

The inhibitory effects of Radix Astragali on hypoxic pulmonary hypertension of rats

Objective To observe the inhibitory effects of Radix Astragali (RA) on hypoxic structural remodeling of intraacinar pulmonary arteries (IAPA) and pulmonary hypertension (PHT). Methods Sixty rats were divided into three groups: hypoxia group, hypoxia + RA group and normal control group. The rats of hypoxia group and hypoxia+RA group were fed in hypoxic environment under normal atmospheric pressure (10% O 2, 10 h/day). On the 15 th and 30 th day of hypoxia, right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) and right ventricle hypertrophy index (RVHI) were measured and pulmonary vessel changes were studied under light and electron microscope and with morphometric analysis. Results Compared with the result of hypoxia+RA group, RA could relieve IAPA wall cell injuries and dilate the constricted IAPA induced by hypoxia . RA could also inhibit hypertrophic changes in the tunica media and proliferation of adventitial cells of the IAPA and muscularization of nonmuscular arteries. Conclusion By preserving the IAPA wall cells and dilating IAPA, RA may play an important role in inhibiting the remodeling of IAPA and preventing PHT.

DNA barcoding provides distinction between Radix Astragali and its adulterants

Based on variable nuclear and/or organellar DNA sequences among vastly divergent species as well as morphologically indistinguishable species, DNA barcoding is widely applicable in species identification, biodiversity studies, forensic analyses, and authentication of medicinal plants. The roots of Astragalus membranaceus and A. membranaceus var. mongholica are commonly used as Radix Astragali in several Asian countries, including China, Japan, and Korea. However, in addition to the two species recorded in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, there are twenty-three species from different genera including Astragalus, Oxytropis, Hedysarum, and Glycyrrhiza, which have been used as adulterants not only in trading markets but also by the herbal medicine industry. Therefore, a simple, reliable, and accurate classification method is important for distinguishing authentic Radix Astragali from its adulterants. In this study, we acquired data for 37 samples from four related genera within the family Fabaceae. Then we compared four candidate DNA barcoding markers using ITS, matK, rbcL, and coxI sequences from nuclear, chloroplast, and mitochondrial genomes, all commonly used for plants to identify genetic variations among genera, intraspecies, and interspecies. We observed higher divergences among genera and interspecies for ITS, which have the average Kimura 2-parameter distances of 4.5% and 14.1%, respectively, whereas matK was found to have sufficient divergence at the intraspecific level. Moreover, two indels detected in the matK sequence are useful for PCR studies in distinguishing Radix Astragali from its adulterants. This study suggests that the combined barcoding regions of ITS and matK are superior barcodes for Radix Astragali and further studies should focus on evaluating the applicability and accuracy of such combined markers for a wide range of traditional Chinese herbs.

Extracts from Huangqi(Radix Astragali Mongoliciplus) and Ezhu(Rhizoma Curcumae Phaeocaulis) inhibit Lewis lung carcinoma cell growth in a xenograft mouse model by impairing mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling, vascular endothelial growth factor prod

OBJECTIVE: To study the anti-tumor effects of the extracts from Huangqi(Radix Astragali Mongolici)and Ezhu(Rhizoma Curcumae Phaeocaulis) on the growth of Lewis lung carcinoma(LLC) in a xenograft mouse model and to investigate the possible underlying mechanism.METHODS: LLC tumor-bearing C57 BL/6 mice were treated with normal saline, cisplatin(2 mg/kg intraperitoneally every other day), or Huangqi(Radix Astragali Mongolici) and Ezhu(Rhizoma Curcumae Phaeocaulis)(1∶1, 2∶1, or 3∶1 ratio;5, 8, or 11 g/kg crude drug intragastrically every day) for 15 d.Body weights and tumor volumes were measured every other day. Tumors were excised on day 15 and analyzed. Tumor microvessel density(MVD)was assessed by immunohistochemical staining of CD34;and expression of vascular endothelial cell growth factor(VEGF), the mitogen-activated protein kinases p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK), extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2(ERK1/2), and Jun N-terminal kinase(JNK)and their phosphorylated forms were assessed by Western blotting.RESULTS: Treatment with cisplatin caused a significant loss of body weight compared with controls,whereas Huangqi(Radix Astragali Mongolici) and Ezhu(Rhizoma Curcumae Phaeocaulis) extract combinations had no effect. Extracts from Huangqi(Radix Astragali Mongolici) and Ezhu(Rhizoma Curcumae Phaeocaulis) significantly decreased tumor weight and tumor MVD compared with controls,and at the 3∶1 treatment group had similar efficacy to cisplatin in reducing MVD. Tumors from Huangqi(Radix Astragali Mongolici) and Ezhu(Rhizoma Curcumae Phaeocaulis) treatments also showed decreased p38 MAPK, p-p38 MAPK, ERK1/2, p-ERK1/2,JNK, and p-JNK expression compared with the control group(all P < 0.01). VEGF protein expression was significantly reduced in the 2∶1 and 3∶1 treatment groups compared with the control group(P < 0.01).CONCLUSION: Extracts from Huangqi(Radix Astragali Mongolici) and Ezhu(Rhizoma Curcumae Phaeocaulis) hindered LLC growth in the xenograft mouse model, possibly via inhibition of the MAPK signaling pathway, VEGF production, and tumor angiogenesis.