An Evidence-based Review of Astragalus membranaceus (Astragalus) for Cancer Patients

Nitrogen Fertilizer Levels Affect the Growth and Quality Parameters of Astragalus mongolica

Owing to overexploitation, wild resources of Astragalus mongolica, a Chinese herbal plant that is widely distributed in the arid and semi-arid areas of Northern China, have gradually become exhausted, and therefore, commercial cultivation is increasingly important to meet the growing demand for astragalus and reduce the pressure on wild populations. Nitrogen level is an important factor that affects the yield and quality of A. mongolica. However, uniform standards for fertilization among production areas have not yet been determined. In this study, the effect of nitrogen fertilizer treatment on the yield and quality of A. mongolica in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau was explored using a control treatment (no added nitrogen, N0) and five different nutrient levels: 37.5 kg/ha (N1), 75 kg/ha (N2), 112.5 kg/ha (N3), 150 kg/ha (N4), and 187.5 kg/ha (N5). According to grey relational analysis, the optimal nitrogen fertilizer treatment was the N4 level followed by the N5 and N2 levels. Nitrogen fertilizer significantly increased the root biomass, plant height, root length, and root diameter. However, nitrogen fertilization had no significant effect on the content of Astragaloside IV and mullein isoflavone glucoside. The content of ononin and calycosin continually accumulated throughout the growing period. The results showed that the ononin and calycosin content under N4 and N2 is higher than other levels and there is not significantly different between different nitrogen fertilizer levels about them. The content of formononetin decreased gradually with the progression of the growing season. The optimal nitrogen fertilizer treatment for A. mongolica is recommended to be 150 kg/ha and the content of active compounds and yield were observed to reach the maximum in October.

Evaluation of the immunomodulatory properties in mice and in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of cycloartane type saponins from Astragalus species

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Astragalus roots are used to treat leukemia and for their wound healing properties in Southeast Anatolia-Turkey.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In vivo studies to investigate the effects of two Astragalus saponins were carried out on the immune response cytokines by using six to eight weeks old male Swiss albino mice. The production of IL-1β, TGF-1β, TNF-α, IL-2, IL-4 and IFN-γ cytokines was determined by ELISA. The spleen and lymph nodes, isolated from the mice subjects, were analyzed to realize induction of the surface antigen productions for IL-2Rα (CD25) and CD69. In addition, their effects on the targets of inflammation such as NF κB, iNOS and NAG-1 were investigated in cell-based assays.

RESULTS

The results suggested that AST VII and Mac B had positive effect on Th1 cytokine release (IL-2 and IFN-γ), and suppression on Th2 cytokine production (IL-4). The immunohistochemical results exhibited induction of both IL-Rα (CD25) and CD69 surface receptors justifying the Th1 cytokine release. The compounds did not affect NF-κB or NAG-1 activity but iNOS activity was inhibited by Mac B with an IC(50) of 156 μg/ml.

CONCLUSIONS

The results show that Ast VII and Mac B create powerful immunoregulatory effects without the stimulation of inflammatory cytokines in mice, and have no significant effect on the inflammatory cellular targets in vitro.