Angelica Sinensis Research Articles

Combination of flavonoids in Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata Cum Melle and Angelicae Sinensis Radix in treatment of scalds: a preliminary study of dosage form

The anti-inflammatory activity and compatibility ratio of flavonoids in Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata Cum Melle(GR) and Angelicae Sinensis Radix(AS) were evaluated by the superoxide anion scavenging test. The matrix formula of gel was optimized by orthogonal test design and the model of deep partial-thickness scald in mice was induced. The gel was applied to the wound. The tissue water content, wound healing rate, serum TNF-α and IL-1, and EGF and VEGF in tissues were measured at diffe-rent periods. The results revealed that when the compatibility ratio of GR and AS was 1∶2, the maximal scavenging efficacy on supe-roxide anion was observed. The gel displayed the optimal properties when carbomer(1%), glycerol(5%), propylene glycol(10%) were added into the matrix. Gel external application can significantly improve the wound healing rate, relieve tissue edema, diminish tissue water content, alleviate inflammatory reaction, and increase the content of EGF and VEGF in tissues(P<0.05). The gel prepared in the present study is effective in promoting granulation, relieving pain, resisting inflammation, and alleviating edema, and is potent in healing scalds.

Clinical Efficacy of Tacrolimus Ointment + 3% Boric Acid Lotion Joint Chinese Angelica Decoction in Chronic Perianal Eczema.

Objective To unearth the clinical efficacy of tacrolimus ointment + 3% boric acid lotion joint Chinese angelica decoction in chronic perianal eczema. Methods Patients with chronic perianal eczema admitted to hospital from June 2018 and June 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients in the control group (n = 38) underwent basic therapy with tacrolimus ointment + 3% boric acid lotion, whereas those in the observation group (n = 38) were given oral Chinese angelica decoction on the basis of the above therapy. Patient's baseline information before therapy and clinical symptoms after therapy were observed and compared, including pruritus ani score, anus drainage and damp score, skin lesion score, skin lesion area score, life quality index score, and IL-2, IL-4, and IgE levels in serum. Overall efficacy in the two groups was also evaluated. Results No significant differences were found in the baseline information between the observation group and control group before therapy. After therapy, pruritus ani score (P = 0.023), anus drainage and damp score (P = 0.041), skin lesion score (P = 0.025), and skin lesion area score (P = 0.035) of patients in the observation group were remarkably lower than those in the control group. Significantly higher release levels of clinical symptoms of patients in the observation group were indicated. With respect to the control group, the life quality score (P = 0.020) and IgE level in serum (P = 0.003) of patients in the observation group were significantly lower, while IL-4 level in serum was significantly higher (P = 0.129). The therapy in the observation group achieved better clinical efficacy. Overall efficacy in the observation group was markedly favorable with respect to the control group. Conclusion With respect to tacrolimus ointment + 3% boric acid lotion, patients with chronic perianal eczema displayed better clinical efficacy after jointly being treated by Chinese angelica decoction.

Facile fabrication of the porous adsorbent from natural plant Angelica Sinensis stabilized liquid foam for dye removal

Porous materials as emerging high-efficiency adsorbents have attracted increasing attention in recent years, due to the high specific surface area, fast adsorption rate, favorable adsorption capacity to heavy metal, dyes, and other pollutants, etc. Among various approaches, the foam template method with the advantage of flexible operation and controllable pores structure is proposed to prepare net type of porous adsorbents with superior adsorption capacity and rapid adsorption rate. In this process, natural plant Angelica Sinensis (AS) was treated with a simple alkaline-heat process, and the resultant product was used firstly to prepare foam with high stability, and the positive effect of the cellulose dissociation and the conversion of ligustilide into amphiphilic moleculars on improving the stability of Pickering foam was revealed. The liquid foam can serve as pore-foaming template and precursor of polymerization for synthesizing porous adsorbent by one-step integrated process of free radical polymerization and silane hydrolysis. The porous adsorbent showed the sufficient porous structure and excellent adsorption performance for cationic dye, with maximum adsorption capacities of 386.13 mg g-1 and 284.20 mg g-1 for methyl violet (MV) and malachite green (MG). In a word, the novel approach can provide an important reference for green synthesis of high stable foam and the superporous material, and the adsorbent showed great application potential in the field of water treatment.

A rapid and sensitive LC-MS/MS method for the determination of vanillic acid in rat plasma with application to pharmacokinetic study.

Vanillic acid, a phenolic compound isolated from Angelica sinensis and green tea, exhibits excellent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. In this study, a rapid and sensitive ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method was established and validated for the determination of vanillic acid in rat plasma. Plasma samples were prepared by protein precipitation with acetonitrile. Chromatographic separation was performed on a Zorbax RRHD Eclipse Plus C18 column (2.1 × 100 mm, 1.8μm) with gradient elution at a flow rate of 0.3ml/min, using mobile phase consisting of 0.1% formic acid (A) and acetonitrile (B). Vanillic acid and caffeic acid (internal standard, IS) were quantified by multiple reaction monitoring in negative ion mode. The method was fully validated according to the US Food and Drug Administration guidelines. The calibration curve was linear over the range of 2-1,000 ng/ml with a correlation coefficient of >0.99. The carryover, matrix effect, extraction recovery, dilution effect, intra- and interday precision and accuracy were within acceptable limits. The method was then applied to a pharmacokinetic study of vanillic acid in rats. After oral administration at doses of 2, 5 and 10mg/kg, the plasma concentration reached peaks of 0.42 ± 0.09, 0.73 ± 0.21 and 0.92 ± 0.28 μg/ml at the time of 0.55-0.64 h, respectively. The oral bioavailability was calculated as 25.3-36.2% in rat plasma. The result provided pre-clinical information for further application of vanillic acid.

Untargeted metabolomics coupled with chemometric analysis deducing robust markers for discrimination of processing procedures: Wine‐processed Angelica sinensis as a case study

Wine-processed Angelica Sinensis is a widely used Chinese medicinal decoction piece in China. However, there are hardly any robust markers indicating the processing procedure of wine-processed Angelica Sinensis, including the amount of rice wine and processing degree. A strategy integrating untargeted metabolomics and chemometric analysis for deducing robust markers was provided and applied to the discrimination of processing procedure. First, 86 compounds were tentatively identified in wine-processed Angelica Sinensis by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry. Second, 93 potential chemical markers were selected using multivariate analysis, among which nine robust chemical markers were selected by verification with commercial samples. Finally, the effects of processing temperature, time, and amount of rice wine on the three selected chemical markers were investigated through a rapid analytical method. It was demonstrated that both m/z 258.1097 and 238.1189 were positively correlated with the amount of rice wine and processing degree. In summary, this study introduced two candidate processing markers as robust markers for discriminating the processing procedures of wine-processed Angelica sinensis. It also proposed a strategy to provide the reference for the research of other decoction pieces.

Metabolomics study of Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels on the abnormal uterine bleeding rats by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry analysis.

The objective of this study was to explore the effects and underlying intervention mechanisms of Angelica water extract (AWE) on abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) based on serum metabolomics. Firstly, the concentration of main active substances in AWE was determined and the chemical components were identified by UPLC‐Q‐Exactive Orbitrap‐MS/MS. A drug‐induced abortion model was established by mifepristone and misoprostol. After administration AWE (2.16 g/kg) for 7 days, the coagulation function, serum hormone levels, H&E staining, and immunohistochemistry observation of uterus were detected. In addition, serum metabolites profiles were performed on ultra‐performance liquid chromatography–quadrupole–time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (UPLC‐Q‐TOF‐MS). The contents of ferulic acid, senkyunolide A, and ligustilide in AWE were 0.7276, 0.0868, and 1.9908 mg/g, respectively. Twenty‐six compounds were identified in AWE. It was found that AWE was effective in regulation of coagulation function and promoting endometrial recovery. Meanwhile, the levels of E2, Pg, and HCG and the expression of ERα, Erβ, and PR were down‐regulated in AUB model and up‐regulated by the treatment of AWE. Twenty‐one potential biomarkers were eventually identified by multivariate statistical analysis. Study indicated that glycerophospholipid, sphingolipid, amino acids, retinol metabolism and primary bile acid biosynthesis were the main related metabolic pathways involved for the treatment of AUB by AWE. The results showed that AWE has potential therapeutic effect on AUB by altering the metabolic aberrations.

Chinese Herbal Medicine Therapy Reduces the Risks of Overall and Anemia-Related Mortalities in Patients With Aplastic Anemia: A Nationwide Retrospective Study in Taiwan.

Aplastic Anemia (AA) is a rare but fatal hematologic disease that may occur at any age and especially higher in Asia. We investigated whether Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) is beneficial to AA patients as a complementary therapy using a nationwide population-based database in Taiwan between 2000–2016. Patient survival was estimated by Kaplan‒Meier survival analyses and Cox proportional-hazard model. CHM-users presented lower risks of overall and anemia-related mortalities when compared to non-users. The risk of overall mortality for CHM-users in AA patients was 0.70-fold [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR): 0.70, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.66-0.74, p < 0.001). The risk of anemia-related mortality was lower in CHM-users when compared to non-users (aHR: 0.46, 95% CI: 0.32-0.67, p < 0.001). The association rule analysis revealed that CHM pairs were Ban-Zhi-Lian (BZL; Scutellaria barbata D. Don)→Bai-Hua-She-She-Cao (BHSSC; Oldenlandia diffusa (Willd.) Roxb.), followed by Dang-Gui (DG; Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels)→Huang-Qi (HQi; Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge), and Xian-He-Cao (XHC; Agrimonia pilosa f. borealis (Kitag.) Chu)→Gui-Pi-Tang (GPT). Network analysis showed that BZL, BHSSC, DG, HQi, XHC, GPT, and Dan-Shen (DanS; Salvia miltiorrhiza var. charbonnelii (H.Lév.) C.Y.Wu) were commonly used CHMs for AA patients. Therefore, further studies for these commonly prescribed herbs are needed in functional investigations in hematopoiesis-stimulating effect and large-scale randomized controlled trials (RCT) in bone marrow failure related diseases.

Effects of Buyang Huanwu Decoction on neurovascular units after cerebral ischemia: a review

Buyang Huanwu Decoction, a representative prescription in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) for tonifying Qi and activating blood, has been proved to be effective in preventing and treating acute cerebral infarction(ACI). It consists of Astragali Radix, Angelicae Sinensis Radix, Paeoniae Radix Rubra, Pheretima, Chuanxiong Rhizoma, Carthami Flos, and Persicae Semen, possessing multiple active ingredients. The neurovascular unit is a functionally and structurally interdependent multicellular complex composed of neurons-glial cells-blood vessels. It plays an important role in the pathological changes of cerebral ischemia and the permeability variation of the blood-brain barrier. In recent years, Buyang Huanwu Decoction has been found to protect the integrity of neurovascular units and improve the permeability of the blood-brain barrier, thereby alleviating stroke and other diseases caused by cerebral ischemia. This paper collated and summarized the protective effects of Buyang Huanwu Decoction on neurovascular units.

Network pharmacology-based investigation of potential targets of astragalus membranaceous-angelica sinensis compound acting on diabetic nephropathy

To explore the mechanism of the Astragalus membranaceous (AM)-Angelica sinensis (AS) compound in the treatment of diabetic nephropathy (DN) we used network pharmacology and molecular docking. Screen the components and targets of the AM-AS compound in the TCMSP and the BATMAN-TCM, and establish a component-target interaction network by Cytoscape 3.7.2. After searching relevant targets of DN in related databases, the common targets of the AM-AS compound and DN were obtained by comparison. Gene ontology (GO) analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Gene and Genome (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis were performed through David database. Molecular docking was performed by PyMoL2.3.0 and AutoDock Vina software. After screening, 142 main targets of the AM-AS compound in the treatment of DN have been identified. Target network was established and the topology of PPI network was analyzed. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis shows that these targets are related to apoptosis, oxidative stress, inflammation, insulin resistance, etc. Molecular docking shows that the target proteins have good combinations with the main active components of the AM-AS compound. AM-AS compound may treat DN by acting on VEGFA, TP53, IL-6, TNF, MARK1, etc., and regulate apoptosis, oxidative stress, inflammation, glucose, and lipid metabolism processes. The in vivo study results suggest that AM-AS compound can significantly reduce the FBG level of diabetic rats, increase the level of INS, improve renal functions, reduce urinary proteins, inhibit glycogen deposition, granulocyte infiltration and collagen fiber proliferation in renal tissue, and restrain the progress of DN. In vivo study combined with network pharmacology and molecular docking methods provides new ideas for the pathogenesis and treatments of DN.

Angelica Sinensis Polysaccharide Mediates Sirtl to Inhibit P53/P21 Pathway and Delay Hematopoietic Stem Cell Aging

To study the effect of Angelica sinensis polysaccharide (ASP) on the expression of Sirt1/p53/p21 in radiation-induced aging hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) of mice, and to explore the possible mechanism of ASP regulating the aging of HSCs. Methods: C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into control group, model group and ASP group. The model group was irradiated with X-ray 3.0Gy/8F to establish the aging model of HSCs in mice. ASP group was given ASP intragastric administration during irradiation; The control group and the model group were given equal volume of normal saline. HSCs were sorted by immunomagnetic beads, and cell cycle was detected by flow cytometry The aging cells were observed by α-galactosidase staining. The directional differentiation ability of HSCs was observed by mixed colony culture (CFU-Mix). The expression of Sirtl, p53 and p21 protein was detected by Western blot. Results: Compared with the control group. X-ray can significantly increase the proportion of HSCs Gi cells, the rate of SA-α-Gal positive cells and the expression of p53 and p21 protein in aging group (P&lt;0.05).The expression of Sirtl and mixed colony forming ability were decreased (P&lt;0.05). Compared with the model group, ASP inhibited the increase of aging HSCs Gicell ratio, SA-fJ-Gal positive cell rate and p53 and p21 protein expression (P&lt;0.05). At the same time, Sirtl expression and mixed colony forming ability were increased (P&lt;0.05). conclusion: ASP may inhibit p53/p21 pathway and delay the aging of mouse HSCs by regulating Sirtl.

Transcriptional Controls for Early Bolting and Flowering in Angelica sinensis.

The root of the perennial herb Angelica sinensis is a widely used source for traditional Chinese medicines. While the plant thrives in cool-moist regions of western China, early bolting and flowering (EBF) for young plants significantly reduces root quality and yield. Approaches to inhibit EBF by changes in physiology during the vernalization process have been investigated; however, the mechanism for activating EBF is still limited. Here, transcript profiles for bolted and unbolted plants (BP and UBP, respectively) were compared by transcriptomic analysis, expression levels of candidate genes were validated by qRT-PCR, and the accumulations of gibberellins (GA1, GA4, GA8, GA9 and GA20) were also monitored by HPLC-MS/MS. A total of over 72,000 unigenes were detected with ca. 2600 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) observed in the BP compared with UBP. While various signaling pathways participate in flower induction, it is genes associated with floral development and the sucrose pathway that are observed to be coordinated in EBF plants, coherently up- and down-regulating flowering genes that activate and inhibit flowering, respectively. The signature transcripts pattern for the developmental pathways that drive flowering provides insight into the molecular signals that activate plant EBF.

Effect of acupoint application of Zhanjin Huoxue formula combined with local cold compress on swelling and pain after knee arthroscopy in patients with knee osteoarthritis

To compare the effect between acupoint application of Zhanjin Huoxue formula combined with local cold compress and simple local cold compress on swelling and pain after knee arthroscopy in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). A total of 62 KOA patients with knee swelling after knee arthroscopy were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 31 cases in each group. In the control group, cold compress was adopted after surgery, 3 times a day. On the basis of the treatment as the control group, acupoint application of Zhanjin Huoxue formula (angelicae sinensis radix, chuanxiong rhizome, cinnamon twig, poria, etc.) was applied at Liangqiu (ST 34), Xuehai (SP 10), Zusanli (ST 36), Fenglong (ST 40), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Yinlingquan (SP 9), Yanglingquan (GB 34), Xuanzhong (GB 39) on the affected side in the observation group, 4 h each time, 2 times a day. The treatment was given 7 days in both groups. Before treatment and 1,3,5 and 7 days into treatment, the pain visual analogue scale (VAS) score and swelling value of knee joint (2 cm above the patella upper pole, patella midline, 5 cm below the patella lower pole) were compared in the two groups. The VAS scores 3, 5 and 7 days into treatment were lower than those before treatment in the two groups (P<0.05), and those in the observation group were lower than the control group (P<0.05). The swelling values of 2 cm above the patella upper pole 3, 5 and 7 days into treatment were lower those before treatment in the two groups (P<0.05), and those in the observation group were lower than the control group (P<0.05). The swelling values of patella midline 1, 3, 5 and 7 days into treatment were lower than those before treatment in the two groups (P<0.05), and except for 1 day into treatment, those in the observation group were lower than the control group (P<0.05). The swelling values of 5 cm below the patella lower pole 1 day into treatment in the observation group and 3, 5 and 7 days into treatment in the two groups were lower those before treatment (P<0.05), and except for 1 day into treatment, those in the observation group were lower than the control group (P<0.05). The total effective rate in the observation group was 93.5% (29/31), which was higher than 74.2% (23/31) in the control group (P<0.05). Acupoint application of Zhanjin Huoxue formula combined with cold compress could effectively improve the knee joint swelling and pain after arthroscopy in KOA patients, and the curative effect is better than simple cold compress.

Chinese Herbal Medicine Significantly Impacts the Haematological Variables of the Athlete Biological Passport.

In the fight against sports doping, the Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) system aims to indirectly unveil the doping incidents by monitoring selected biomarkers; however, several unexplored extrinsic factors may dampen a fair interpretation of ABP profiles. Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) plays a pivotal role in the health care system, and some remedies have a long history of being used to treat anaemia. In this study, we addressed the concerns of whether the CHM administration could yield a measurable effect on altering the ABP haematological variables. Forty-eight healthy volunteers were randomly assigned to receive two-week oral administration of one of the six selected CHM products that are commonly prescribed in Taiwan (eight subjects per group). Their blood variables were determined longitudinally in the phases of baseline, intervention, and recovery over 5 weeks. Blood collection and analyses were carried out in strict compliance with relevant operating guidelines. In the groups receiving Angelicae Sinensis Radix, Astragali Radix, and Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, a significant increased reticulocyte percentage and decreased OFF-hr Score were manifested during the intervention, and such effects even sustained for a period of time after withdrawal. All other variables, including haemoglobin and Abnormal Blood Profile Score, did not generate statistical significance. Our results show that the use of CHM may impact the ABP haematological variables. As a consequence, we recommend athletes, particularly those who have been registered in the testing pool, should be aware of taking specific Chinese herbal-based treatment or supplementation, and document any of its usage on the anti-doping forms.

Network pharmacology-based study on immunomodulatory mechanism of danggui-yimucao herb pair for the treatment of RU486-induced abortion

Ethnopharmacological relevanceThe Danggui-Yimucao herb pair (DY) is a classic combination in Chinese herbal formulas, consisting of the root of Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels and the aerial parts of Leonurus japonicus Houtt. DY first appeared in “Zhulinsi fuke mifang” in the Jin Dynasty, and it has a long history as a drug for the treatment of abortion. However, its underlying immunomodulatory mechanisms involved are still unclear. Aim of the studyIn this study, network pharmacology and pharmacological experiments were used to explore the role and mechanism of DY in the treatment of medical abortion. Materials and methodsNetwork pharmacology was used to establish the relationship between the components of DY and abortion-related targets, and to enrich important pathways and biological process for verification. ELISA was used to assess progesterone levels. Flow cytometry was used to detect the degree of differentiation of Th1/Th2 cells. Immunohistochemical methods and qPCR were used to measure the expression levels of T-bet, GATA-3 and IL-4. ResultsThrough the prediction analysis of network pharmacology, we found that key pathway for DY treatment of abortion, such as anemia, pelvic infection, immune disorders, and coagulation disorders, was Th1/Th2 cell differentiation pathway. The pharmacological results revealed that DY greatly corrected the imbalance of Th cell subsets in abortion mice, significantly inhibited the differentiation of Th2 cells, and resulted in an increase in the Th1/Th2 ratio. In addition, the concentration of progesterone in the serum of mice after abortion was significantly reduced. We also found that DY upregulated spleen T-bet and downregulated IL-4 gene expression in mice. Besides, immunohistochemical results showed that DYE could up-regulate T-bet but inhibit GATA-3 expression. ConclusionsOur results showed that after RU486-induced abortion, progesterone and Th1/Th2 paradigm were disordered in mice, but DY could make mice recover more quickly, which indicated that DY had great development value in immunoregulation.

The contractile effects of various species of the Angelica genus on isolated uterine tissue of Mus musculus

Herbal preparations have been utilized in midwifery to facilitate the birthing process. Nevertheless, these preparations are not under the scrutiny of the Food and Drug Administration, and there is a lack of clinical trials to demonstrate their safety and effectiveness. The Angelica genus, including dong quai (Angelica sinensis), Angelica archangelica, and Angelica sylvestris, has been used by midwives to induce uterine contractions. The primary goal of this project was to investigate midwifery claims by measuring the contractile effects of A. sinensis, A. archangelica, and A. sylvestris on isolated Mus musculus uterine horns. All Angelica species, when tested at similar concentrations, produced contractile forces greater than that of the tissue's own spontaneous motility. Of the Angelica species, dong quai yielded the greatest contractile force. In addition, A. archangelica demonstrated concentration dependency when producing contractile forces. The results herein support that the Angelica species reported in midwifery literature do indeed induce contractions at the reduced level of isolated tissues. Future research that would demonstrate the absorption and distribution of the herbal constituents following oral consumption would lend more support to the use of these herbals at the organismal level.

Angelica sinensis Polysaccharide Alleviates Myocardial Fibrosis and Oxidative Stress in the Heart of Hypertensive Rats

This research is aimed at studying the effect of Angelica sinensis polysaccharide (ASP) extracted from the Lixinshui prescription on cardiac disease induced by hypertension in rats. Rat models of cardiovascular disease were established, and the associated factors were measured. The data showed that ASP treatment increased the ejection fraction and short axis shortening rate, while decreasing the LV end-diastolic diameter, LV end-systolic diameter, LV end-diastolic volume, and LV end-systolic volume in HHD rats. ASP downregulated the expression level of TGF-β1, alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), collagen I, fibronectin, vimentin, Bax, cleaved caspase-9, and cleaved caspase-3 and upregulated the expression level of Bcl-2 in LV of HHD rats. Meanwhile, ASP increased the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and decreased the level of malondialdehyde (MDA), tissue endogenous hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Our findings indicated that ASP could prevent hypertensive heart disease by inhibiting myocardial fibrosis, suppressing the myocardial apoptosis, and alleviating oxidative stress.

Effects of plastic film mulching on soil quality, growth of Angelica sinensis, and weed occurrence in cold and humid areas

We analyzed the growth dynamic and bolting rate of Angelica sinensis, soil quality and enzyme activities and weed density and control effect in a field experiment under different mulching patterns, to provide theoretical basis for the application of plastic film in genuine producing area of A. sinensis. The planting patterns were conducted as hole seeding under ridging with plastic-film mulching (LS), trenching and slant planting under film-side cultivation (MC) and trenching and slant planting in open field (LD). Our results showed that, 1) compared with LD, soil organic matter content in top layer under the treatments of LS and MC was increased by 4.4% and 14.3%, respectively, with that under MC being statistically significant. Soil bulk density was significantly decreased by 11.6% and 8.5%, while pH was significantly decreased by 4.6% and 1.7%. The activities of soil sucrase, phosphatase and urease were significantly increased by the two mulching methods, but that of catalase was inhibited to a certain extent. 2) Mulching film improved the speed of returning green after transplanting, the early bolting rate, and the individual medicinal quality of A. sinensis. MC showed the fastest, the most uniform, and the highest greening rate. LS bolting rate was the highest, and the fresh mass of MC and LS was significantly increased by 20.4% and 58.4%, respectively. 3) Weed density under the treatment of MC and LS was significantly reduced by 34.0% and 25.8%. Compared with LS, MC significantly increased the control effect of plant and fresh mass by 21.7% and 63.4%, respectively. In conclusion, film cultivation methods could improve the environment for root growth, reduce weed density, improve weed control effect, and promote growth process and substance accumulation, but could promote the bolting of A. sinensis in early phase.

The Effect of Angelica sinensis Polysaccharide on Neuronal Apoptosis in Cerebral Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury via PI3K/AKT Pathway

In the present study, the protective effects and mechanism of Angelica sinensis polysaccharide (ASP) were investigated in rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIRI). Rats were randomly divided into sham group, CIRI group, ASP treatment group, and ASP and LY294002 treatment group. H&amp;E results confirmed the successful induction of CIRI in Sprague-Dawley rats. Compared with the sham group, the neurological function score, percentage of myocardial infarction area, neuronal apoptosis, oxidative stress, and inflammation in the CIRI group were significantly increased. Compared with the CIRI group, the ASP group’s neurological function score, percentage of myocardial infarction area, neuronal apoptosis, oxidative stress, and inflammation were significantly reduced. However, compared with the ASP group, LY294002 inhibited the effect of ASP in CIRI rats. CIRI downregulated the PI3K/AKT pathway and upregulated the apoptosis level. And ASP activated the PI3K/AKT pathway and Bcl-2 protein expression, while it inhibited caspase-3 and Bax expression. LY294002 could significantly inhibit the protective effect of ASP on nerve injury and the expression and phosphorylation of PI3K and Akt protein in CIRI rats. ASP could effectively improve nerve function and nerve cell apoptosis of CIRI rats by activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Main Active Components and Cell Cycle Regulation Mechanism of Astragali Radix and Angelicae Sinensis Radix in the Treatment of Ox-LDL-Induced HUVECs Injury and Inhibition of Their Cell Cycle.

To explore the main active components and effects of cell cycle regulation mechanism of Astragali radix (AR) and Angelicae sinensis radix (ASR) on oxidative damage in vascular endothelial cells, a model of oxidative damage in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) induced by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) treatment was developed. Based on the “knock-out/knock-in” model of the target component, cell viability, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage were assessed by Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, fluorescent probe 2,7-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA), and colorimetric assay, respectively, to evaluate the protective effect of the active components of AR and ASR (astragaloside IV (AS IV), astragaloside I (AS I), formononetin (FRM), calycosin (CAL), calycosin-7-O-β-D glucoside (CLG), and ferulic acid (FRA)) against oxidative damage. The cell cycle and expression of genes encoding cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) were observed using flow cytometry and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The results showed that the combination of active components (ACC) significantly inhibited the decrease in cell viability as well as the increase in ROS and LDH release in HUVECs induced by ox-LDL treatment. AS IV and FRM promoted the proliferation of HUVECs but the proliferation index was decreased in the AS I and FRA groups; this inhibitory effect was counteracted by the ACC. The ACC reduced and increased the proportion of positive cells in G1 and S phases, respectively, followed by the upregulation of cyclin A (CCNA), cyclin E (CCNE), and CDK2 mRNA expression and downregulation of cyclin B (CCNB), cyclin D1 (CCND1), CDK1, CDK4, and CDK6 mRNA expression, which significantly mitigated inhibition of HUVECs proliferation induced by ox-LDL treatment. Taken together, AS IV, AS I, FRM, CAL, CLG, and FRA were the primary pharmacodynamic substances of AR and ASR that alleviated oxidative injury in HUVECs. ACC mitigated the upregulation of intracellular ROS levels and LDH release induced by ox-LDL treatment, which promoted the cell cycle procession of HUVECs by regulating the expression of genes encoding cyclins and CDKs and thus preventing oxidative damage in HUVECs.

Angelica Polysaccharide Antagonizes 5-FU-Induced Oxidative Stress Injury to Reduce Apoptosis in the Liver Through Nrf2 Pathway.

Oxidative stress induced by chemotherapeutic agents causes hepatotoxicity. 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) has been found to have a variety of side effects, but its toxic effect on the liver and the mechanism are still unclear. Angelica polysaccharide (ASP), the main active ingredient of Dang Gui, has antioxidative stress effects. In this study, we investigated the antagonistic effects of ASP on 5-FU-induced injury in the mouse liver and human normal liver cell line MIHA and the possible mechanism. Our results show that ASP inhibited 5-FU-induced the decrease in Bcl-2 protein and the increase in Bax protein. ASP alleviated 5-FU-induced the increase in alanine aminotransferase (ALT), triglyceride (TG), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) content; hepatic steatosis; and liver fibrosis. ASP restored 5-FU-induced swelling of mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum. 5-FU promoted the expression of Keap1 and increased the binding to NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) to reduce the nuclear translocation of Nrf2, thereby weakening the transcriptional activity of Nrf2 to inhibit the expression of HO-1; reducing the activity of GSH, SOD, and CAT to increase ROS content; and aggravating DNA damage (indicated by the increase in 8-OHdG). However, ASP reversed these reactions. In conclusion, ASP attenuated the 5-FU-induced Nrf2 pathway barrier to reduce oxidative stress injury and thereby inhibit the disorder of lipid anabolism and apoptosis. The study provides a new protectant for reducing the hepatic toxicity caused by 5-FU and a novel target for treating the liver injury.