Abstract
The hypocholesterolemic protective effect of the dried seed of Astragalus complanatus (ACS) was investigated in rats fed with normal diet, high cholesterol diet (HCD), and HCD plus 70% ethanol extract of ACS (600 mg/kg/day) by oral gavage for four weeks. ACS extract was tested to be rich in antioxidants, which may be contributed to its high content of phenolic compounds. Consumption of ACS remarkably suppressed the elevated total cholesterol (p < 0.01) and LDL-C (p < 0.001) induced by HCD. Chemical constituents of ACS extract were analyzed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization orbitrap mass spectrometry and the results showed that the ACS extract mainly consisted of phenolic compounds including flavonoids and flavonoid glycosides. In addition, based on the serum fatty acid profiles, elucidated using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, free and esterified fatty acids including docosapentaenoic acid, adrenic acid, dihomo-γ-linolenic acid and arachidonic acid were regulated in ACS treatment group. Western blot results further indicated the protein expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) (p < 0.05) in liver was upregulated in ACS treatment group. To conclude, our results clearly demonstrated that ACS provides beneficial effect on lowering HCD associated detrimental change.
Highlights
Astragali Complanati Semen (ACS), alternatively known as Flatstem Milkvetch Seed or ShaYuanZi in Chinese, is the dried ripe seeds of Astragalus complanatus Bunge (Leguminosae) [1], recorded in Chinese Pharmacopoeia [2] and Hong Kong Materia Medica Standards [3]
Room temperature, the absorbance of the samples and standard solution were measured at 750 nm extract)
Content of total phenols of ACS was calculated using the following equation based on the calibration curve of absorbance against concentration of gallic acid: calibration curve of absorbance against concentration of gallic acid: y = 19.18x + 0.0457 and R2 = 0.9937, where y was the absorbance and x was mg GAE/g dried ACS extract
Summary
Astragali Complanati Semen (ACS), alternatively known as Flatstem Milkvetch Seed or ShaYuanZi in Chinese, is the dried ripe seeds of Astragalus complanatus Bunge (Leguminosae) [1], recorded in Chinese Pharmacopoeia [2] and Hong Kong Materia Medica Standards [3]. It is commonly used by Antioxidants 2017, 6, 57; doi:10.3390/antiox6030057 www.mdpi.com/journal/antioxidants. It is believed that many of these therapeutic effects are attributed to its main constituents such as organic acids, flavonoids and its glycosides and triterpenoids
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