Astragaloside IV ameliorates acute pancreatitis in rats by inhibiting the activation of nuclear factor-κB

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the effects of astragaloside IV (AS-IV; 3-O-β-D-xylopyranosyl-6-O-β-D-glucopyranosylcycloastragenol), which has been reported to have comprehensive pharmacological functions, on sodium taurocholate (NaTc)/L-arginine (L-Arg)-induced acute pancreatitis (AP) in rats in vivo and in rat pancreatic acinar cells in vitro. NaTc-induced experimental AP was induced in rats by injecting 4% NaTc (0.1 ml/100 g) in the retrograde direction of the biliopancreatic duct. L-Arg-induced experimental AP was induced in rats by 2 intraperitoneal injections of 20% L-arg (3 g/kg), with an interval of 1 h between the injections. The rats were pre-treated AS-IV (50 mg/kg) or the vehicle (DMSO) 2 h prior to the induction of AP. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, H&E staining, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, reverse transcription-quantitative PCR, western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry were used to evaluate the effects of AS-IV on AP. The results revealed that treatment with AS-IV significantly reduced serum amylase and lipase levels, pancreatic pathological alterations, the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, MPO activity, and the protein expression of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in vivo. Moreover, pre-treatment with AS-IV significantly increased the expression levels of manganese superoxide dismutase and cuprum/zinc superoxide dismutase. In the in vitro experiment, treatment of the cells with AS-IV aslo reduced rat pancreatic acinar cell necrosis and nuclear NF-κB activity, and enhanced the protein expression of superoxide dismutase. In conclusion, this study indicates that the protective effects of AS-IV on experimental AP in rats may be closely related to the inhibition of NF-κB. In addition, our results indicate that AS-IV may exert potential antioxidant effects on AP. Therefore, AS-IV may be an effective therapeutic agent for AP.

Neuroprotective effects of astragaloside IV on Parkinson disease models of mice and primary astrocytes

“…AS-IV, the primary pure saponin which is isolated from the root of astragalus membranaceus, was an effective compound with distinct pharmacological effects, including protecting against ischemic brain injury (6), lung inflammation (7), acute pancreatitis (8) and cardiac trauma (9).…”

The Role of Plant-derived Products in Pancreatitis: Experimental and Clinical Evidence

“…It was reported to alleviate pancreatitis by inhibiting NF‐κB signaling. In rat models of AP induced by sodium taurocholate and L‐arginine, it was found to protect from the inflammatory insult in both the models in vivo as well as in vitro in pancreatic acinar cells (Qiu et al , ). Cumulatively, the study indicated that Astragaloside IV acts as an antioxidant and suppresses the progression of pancreatitis by inhibiting the inflammatory signaling.…”

Expression of B-cell translocation gene 2 is associated with favorable prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma patients and sensitizes irradiation-induced hepatocellular carcinoma cell apoptosis in vitro and in nude mice

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