Abstract
The prevalence of metabolic syndrome has increased in modern society and the condition is proving to be a common precursor of cardiovascular disease. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether astragaloside IV, a major active constituent of Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch) Bge., is able to prevent the development of hypertension and endothelial dysfunction in fructose-fed rats. Rats were fed with 10% fructose in their drinking water for 8 weeks. From the beginning of week 5, two groups of fructose-fed rats were treated with 0.5 or 2 mg/kg, i.p., astragaloside IV. Another group of fructose-fed rats, injected with the same volume of vehicle (dimethylsulfoxide, DMSO) from week 5, served as the control group. At the end of the treatment period, blood pressure, blood glucose, glucose tolerance, blood insulin and lipids were determined. In addition, in vitro experiments were conducted at the end of the eight week treatment period to evaluate endothelium-dependent aortic vasorelaxation, as well as myocardial and aortic tissue levels of nitrate and nitrite (NOx) and cGMP. Fructose-fed rats developed clustering signs of metabolic syndrome, such as increased bodyweight, mild hypertension, hyperinsulinaemia, hypertriglyceridaemia, impaired glucose tolerance and impaired endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation. Administration of astragaloside IV reduced blood pressure and triglyceride levels in fructose-fed rats and high dose of astragaloside IV also improved glucose tolerance and endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation. The astragaloside IV-induced improvement in vasorelaxation was associated with increased levels of aortic NOx and cGMP and was abrogated by blockade of nitric oxide synthase with NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME). On the basis of its favourable effects on lipid metabolism, endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation and the nitric oxide–cGMP-related pathway, astragaloside IV may be useful in ameliorating food-induced metabolic syndrome.
Highlights
The prevalence of metabolic syndrome has increased in modern society and the condition is proving to be a common precursor of cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes mellitus
Because metabolic syndrome is frequently accompanied by endothelial dysfunction and increased blood pressure, the effects of astragaloside IV on vessel function may be of some value in preventing these changes in metabolic syndrome
Blood pressure in fructose-fed rats was significantly higher at the end of the 8-week treatment period compared with normal control rats
Summary
The prevalence of metabolic syndrome has increased in modern society and the condition is proving to be a common precursor of cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes mellitus. Chinese medicine Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch) Bge. Previous studies have shown that astragaloside IV can protect the myocardium and central nervous system against ischaemic injury [1,2,3,4]. It has been reported recently that astragaloside IV can increase insulin-induced preadipocyte differentiation, improve high glucose-induced insulin resistance in adipocytes and prevent tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α-induced apoptosis in endothelial cells in vitro [7]. It is not clear whether astragaloside IV can exert any beneficial effects on metabolic syndrome in vivo and, if so, the mechanisms involved. Chronic administration of astragaloside IV can prevent the development of metabolic syndrome and vessel dysfunction in these rats [9,10,11]
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