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Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge root is used as herbal medicine for its immunomodulating activities in Chinese medicine. Recently, beneficial properties of A. membranaceus on allergic diseases have been proposed. Here we investigated the role of a commercial extract of A. membranaceus, standardized to 16% polysaccharides, in regulating the immune-inflammatory response in vitro and in vivo and its therapeutic application in asthma. A. membranaceus extract inhibited prostaglandin E2 and leukotriene C4 production in stimulated J774 and peritoneal macrophages, respectively. The extract also reduced interlukin-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α, and nitrite production, affecting inducible nitric oxide synthase expression. In vivo experiments confirmed the anti-inflammatory properties of A. membranaceus, as evident by a reduction in zymosan-induced peritoneal cellular infiltration and pro-inflammatory mediator production. The efficacy of A. membranaceus extract in modulating the immune response was confirmed in a model of allergic airway inflammation. Extracts improve lung function by inhibiting airway hyperresponsiveness, airway remodeling, and fibrosis. Its anti-asthmatic effects were further sustained by inhibition of the sensitization process, as indicated by a reduction of ovalbumin-induced IgE levels and the mounting of a Th2 immune response. In conclusion, our data demonstrate the anti-inflammatory properties of the commercial extract of A. membranaceus and its beneficial effects on asthma feature development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aims to investigate the effects of dietary Astragalus membranaceus extract (AME) and Eucommia ulmoides leaf extract (ELE) supplementation on the growth performance, blood biochemistry, and antioxidant capacity of gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio var. CAS V, 10.01 g ± 0.24 g). Six experimental diets supplemented were marked as A0E0 (basic diet, 0% AME and 0% ELE), A0E0.1 (0% AME and 0.1% ELE), A0.02E0, A0.02E0.05, A0.02E0.1, A0.02E0.2 (0.02% AME with 0%, 0.05%, 0.1%, and 0.2% ELE). After 8 weeks, A0.02E0 diet significantly increased the final body weight (FBW), weight gain rate (WGR), specific growth rate (SGR), and decreased the glucose (GLU), triglyceride content (TG), and total cholesterol (TC) of the plasma, the malonaldehyde (MDA) content of the liver, the A0E0.1 group significantly increased the total protein (TP) and albumin (ALB) content of the plasma, decreased the alanine aminotransferase (ALT) content of the plasma when compared with A0E0 group (Independent T-test: P

Ojective: To analyze the mechanism of action of Astragalus membranaceus (Huangqi) extract on mice infected with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Methods: 30 SD mice were randomly divided into control group, model group and Huangqi group. Model group and Huangqi group were given RSV virus solution with a nasal titer of 10-3.5 TCID50/mL, and a mouse RSV model was prepared. Control group was given the same amount of normal saline. Huangqi group was intraperitoneally injected with 18 g/kg A. membranaceus injection once/d for 9 d. Control group and model group were injected intraperitoneally with an equal volume of distilled water. After treatment, the levels of serum interleukin (IL)-2, IL-23, IL-17, IL-6, interferon (IFN)-γ, superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) were measured in mice. And the expression level of Toll-like receptor (TLR) 7 protein was detected by Western blot, and the morphology of lung tissue was observed by HE staining. Compared with control group, the levels of IL-23, IL-17, IL-6, NO, MDA and TLR7 in model group were significantly increased (P<0.05) while the levels of IL-2, SOD and IFN-γwere significantly decreased (P<0.05). Results: Compared with model group, the levels of IL-23, IL-17, IL-6, NO, MDA and TLR7 in Huangqi group were significantly decreased (P<0.05) while the levels of IL-2, SOD and IFN-γwere significantly increased (P<0.05). Conclusion: A. membranaceus extract can effectively regulate the release of cytokines by helper T cells and protect the immune system dysfunction caused by respiratory syncytial virus infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Astragalus membranaceus (AM), a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, has immunoregulatory properties in many diseases. We investigated the effects and mechanism of Astragalus membranaceus extract (AME) in the macrophage migration and immune response mediator release. The viability of Ana-1 macrophages treated with AME was evaluated by the MTT method. The secretion and mRNA levels of IL-1β and TNF-a were measured by ELISA and RT-PCR, respectively. Macrophage migration was assayed by transwell assay. The activity of heparanase (HPA) was determined by a heparin-degrading enzyme assay. Our results didn’t show any toxicity of AME in macrophages. AME increased the activity of HPA, cell migration, mRNA levels and secretion of IL-1β and TNF-a in macrophages. Pretreatment with anti-HPA antibody reduced cell migration, secretion of IL-1β and TNF-a did not change the mRNA levels of IL-1β and TNF-a significantly in AME-treated macrophages. This suggests that AME may increase the release of immune response mediator and cell migration via HPA to activate immune response in macrophages.