Abstract
Astragali Radix (Huang-Qi) is a popular herbal medicine commonly used as a constituent in tonic herbal preparations. Hedysarum polybotrys Handel-Mazzetti is one species used of Astragali Radix. In this study, the immunomodulatory properties of H. polybotrys were explored by LPS-activated and SNP-treated RAW 264.7 cells and splenocytes and, daunoblastina-induced leucopenia BALB/c mice. Formononetin was used as the bioactive marker to monitor the quality of the H. polybotrys extracts. H. polybotrys was extracted with hot-water and methanol, and MeOH extract partitioned with H2O (M-H) and ethyl acetate (M-EA) to yield four different fractions. M-EA had the highest formononetin and total proanthocyanidin content and showed stronger inhibitory effects on the production and expression of NO, PGE2, iNOS and COX-2 in LPS-activated RAW 264.7 cells and splenocytes than the other fractions. In addition, M-EA significantly stimulated the proliferation of LPS-activated RAW 264.7 cells and splenocytes, enhanced NO radicals scavenging and attenuated NO-induced cytotoxicity. Furthermore, M-EA also significantly increased the rate of recovery of white blood cells level in daunoblastina-induced leucopenia mice. These evidences suggest that this traditional Qi-tonifying herb has potential effects in clinical conditions when immune-enhancing and anti-inflammatory effect is desired.
Highlights
Astragali Radix (Huang-Qi) is a popular traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) commonly used as a constituent in tonic herbal preparations
Our experiment showed that formononetin inhibited nitric oxide (NO) and PGE2 production in LPS-activated RAW 264.7 cells in a dose-dependent manner
We have demonstrated that M-EA fraction of H. polybotrys
Summary
Astragali Radix (Huang-Qi) is a popular traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) commonly used as a constituent in tonic herbal preparations. According to the record of Ben-Cao-Gang-Mu (Compendium of Materia Medica), Astragali Radix is sweet, with warming properties and manifests its therapeutic effects in the spleen and lung meridians [1]. The traditional therapeutic functions of Astragali Radix include reinforcing the flow of Qi in the body, attenuating perspiration, promoting pus discharge, increasing wound healing and induce urine output with resolution of edema [2]. The concept of Qi in TCM is intricate and hard to define. In Taiwan’s traditional herbal markets, species of Astragali Radix, namely Astragalus membranceus (Fischer) Bunge (Huang-Qi) and Hedysarum polybotrys Handel-Mazzetti (Hong-Qi) are frequently used for similar clinical indications, their chromatographic characteristics (i.e. composition) are different [4]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
