Next Article in Journal
Effects of Thai Medicinal Herb Extracts with Anti-Psoriatic Activity on the Expression on NF-κB Signaling Biomarkers in HaCaT Keratinocytes
Previous Article in Journal
Fungitoxicity against Botrytis cinerea of a Flavonoid Isolated from Pseudognaphalium robustum
Molecules 2011, 16(5), 3896-3907; doi:10.3390/molecules16053896
Article

Astragaloside IV Improves Metabolic Syndrome and Endothelium Dysfunction in Fructose-Fed Rats

1,†, 2,†, 1,*  and 3,*
1 Department of Pharmacy, Xuhui District Central Hospital, Shanghai 200031, China 2 Department of Pharmacy, Putuo District Central Hospital, Shanghai 200062, China 3 Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China These authors contributed equally to this work.
* Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 12 January 2011 / Revised: 28 April 2011 / Accepted: 4 May 2011 / Published: 10 May 2011
Download PDF [330 KB, 18 June 2014; original version 18 June 2014]

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.
Keywords: astragaloside IV; fructose; hypertension; metabolic syndrome; vessel function astragaloside IV; fructose; hypertension; metabolic syndrome; vessel function
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY) which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Share & Cite This Article

Further Mendeley | CiteULike
Export to BibTeX |
EndNote |
RIS
MDPI and ACS Style

Zhang, N.; Wang, X.-H.; Mao, S.-L.; Zhao, F. Astragaloside IV Improves Metabolic Syndrome and Endothelium Dysfunction in Fructose-Fed Rats. Molecules 2011, 16, 3896-3907.

View more citation formats

Related Articles

Article Metrics

For more information on the journal, click here

Comments

[Return to top]
Molecules EISSN 1420-3049 Published by MDPI AG, Basel, Switzerland RSS E-Mail Table of Contents Alert
{"cc_re__cc_re__cc_by_3_0": ["c.creator\" content=\"Xu-Hui Wang\">\n            <meta name=\"dc.creator\" content=\"Shi-Long Mao\">\n            <meta name=\"dc.creator\" content=\"Feng Zhao\">\n    \n    <meta name=\"dc.type\" content=\"Article\">\n    <meta name=\"dc.source\" content=\"Molecules 2011, Vol. 16, Pages 3896-3907\">\n    <meta name=\"dc.date\" content=\"2011-05-10\">\n            <meta name =\"dc.identifier\" content=\"10.3390/molecules16053896\">\n    \n    <meta name=\"dc.publisher\" content=\"Molecular Diversity Preservation International\">\n    <meta name=\"dc.rights\" content=\"http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/\">\n    <meta name=\"dc.format\" content=\"application/pdf\" >\n    <meta name=\"dc.language\" content=\"en\" >\n\t<meta name=\"dc.description\" content=\"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 dys", "\t<a href=\"/search?q=astragaloside IV\">astragaloside IV</a>;\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"/search?q=fructose\">fructose</a>;\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"/search?q=hypertension\">hypertension</a>;\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"/search?q=metabolic syndrome\">metabolic syndrome</a>;\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"/search?q=vessel function\">vessel function</a></span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t</div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"licenseText in-tab\" style=\"padding: 1em; text-align: justify;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<em>This is an open access article distributed under the <a href=\"http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\tCreative Commons Attribution License (CC BY)</a> which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.</em>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t</div>\n\t\n\t   </div>\n\t   \n\t\t<div id=\"tabs-3\" class=\"ui-tabs-panel\">\n\t\t\t<h1>Share & Cite This Article</h1>\n\t   \n\t\t\t<div class=\"sharethisdiv\"><a href=\"mailto:?&amp;subject=From%20MDPI%3A%20%22Astragaloside%20IV%20Improves%20Metabolic%20Syndrome%20and%20Endothelium%20Dysfunction%20in%20Fructose-Fed%20Rats&q"], "copyright__copyright__copyright": ["ticle\n\nFurther Mendeley | CiteULike\nExport to BibTeX |\nEndNote |\nRIS\nMDPI and ACS Style\n\nZhang, N.; Wang, X.-H.; Mao, S.-L.; Zhao, F. Astragaloside IV Improves Metabolic Syndrome and Endothelium Dysfunction in Fructose-Fed Rats. Molecules 2011, 16, 3896-3907.\n\nView more citation formats\n\nRelated Articles\n\nArticle Metrics\n\nFor more information on the journal, click here\n\nComments\n\n[Return to top]\nMolecules EISSN 1420-3049 Published by MDPI AG, Basel, Switzerland RSS E-Mail Table of Contents Alert"]}