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IN VIVO AND IN VITRO IMMUNOMODULATORY AND ANTI-INFLAMMATORY EFFECTS OF TOTAL FLAVONOIDS OF ASTRAGALUS
Guo, Ze; Xu, Hong-Yan; Xu, Lu; Wang, Sha-Sha & Zhang, Xue-Mei
Abstract
Background: Astragali Radix has long been used to improve immune function in traditional Chinese medicine. However, its main active
components and potential immunomodulatory or anti-inflammatory activities have not been elucidated. In the present study, the
immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory activities of total flavonoids of Astragalus (TFA) isolated from Astragali Radix evaluated by
using in vivo animal models and in vitro cell models.
Materials and Methods: The in vivo Immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory activities of TFA were assessed by measuring macrophage
phagocytic index, delayed type hypersensitivity, serum hemolysin level and immune organ index in mice, ear edema test in mice, paw edema test
in rats, vascular permeability test in mice and granuloma test in rats. The in vitro Immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory activities of TFA
were assessed by examining its effect on cytokine and mediator production in un-stimulated and LPS-stimulated murine RAW 264.7
macrophages.
Results: The results of in vivo experiments showed that TFA enhanced macrophage phagocytic index, delayed type hypersensitivity, serum
hemolysin level and immune organ index in mice, and attenuated mouse ear edema, rat paw edema, mouse vascular permeability and rat
granuloma formation. The results of in vitro experiments showed that TFA stimulated the production of NO and cytokine TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and
IFN-γ in un-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages, and inhibited the overproduction of these inflammatory mediators in LPS-stimulated RAW
264.7 macrophages in a dose-dependent manner without exerting cytotoxicity.
Conclusion: These results of this study indicate that TFA have potential immunostimulatory and anti-inflammatory effects.
Keywords
Total flavonoids of Astragalus (TFA); Immunomodulation; Anti-inflammation; In vivo; In vitro
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