<i>Astragalus</i> Extract Alleviates Nerve Injury after Cerebral Ischemia by Improving Energy Metabolism and Inhibiting Apoptosis

Abstract

This aim of this study was to explore the effects and molecular mechanisms of Astragalus extract against cerebral ischemia injury through the energy metabolism and apoptosis pathways of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signal transduction. After the bilateral common carotid artery of C57BL/6 mice was occluded for 20 min followed by 1-h reperfusion, the ATP content, total adenine nucleotides (TAN), energy charge (EC), and sodium potassium ATPase (Na -K -ATPase) activity were decreased markedly in brain tissues. Astragalus extract markedly increased the ATP and ADP levels, EC value, and Na -K -ATPase activity. Twenty-four and 48 h after reperfusion, the neurocyte survival rate decreased and apoptosis rate increased, while the expression of phosphorylated JNK1/2, cytochrome c (Cyt C), and cysteine aspartic acid-specific protease (caspase)-9 and -3 were significantly enhanced in brain tissues. Astragalus extract significantly increased neurocyte survival and decreased the apoptosis rate as well as down-regulated the expression of p-JNK1/2, Cyt C, caspase-9, and caspase-3. These results suggest that Astragalus extract has neuroprotective effects against nerve injury after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion, and the underlying mechanism may be associated with improved cellular energy metabolism, inhibition of JNK signal transduction pathway activation, and then suppression of the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway.

Huang Qi Jian Zhong Pellet Attenuates TNBS-Induced Colitis in Rats via Mechanisms Involving Improvement of Energy Metabolism

“…The result revealed a significant increase in ATP content in TNBS-injured rats when subjected to HQJZ treatment, suggesting the capacity of HQJZ to increase the energy supply, consistent with the result from others [31]. Energy metabolism is a process involving multiple reactions coordinated by numerous proteins, among which ATP synthase plays a central role, while AMPK acts as an energy sensor to monitor the energy status of the cell [46].…”

“…These results support the application of HQJZ in IBD [30]. Furthermore, study showed that Astragalus (one of main components of HQJZ) extract increases the levels of ATP and ADP and the activity of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase, improves energy metabolism, and inhibits apoptosis, alleviating neuron injury after cerebral ischemia [31]. We speculated that HQJZ may be beneficial for IBD by acting at multiple targets involving regulation of energy metabolism.…”

“…Energy metabolism is a process involving multiple reactions coordinated by numerous proteins, among which ATP synthase plays a central role, while AMPK acts as an energy sensor to monitor the energy status of the cell [46]. In the present study we assessed ATP5D, a critical subunit of ATP synthase [31], and revealed a significant decrease in ATP5D in colonic mucosa tissue after TNBS challenge, which accounts for the insufficient ATP supply observed then. The examination of AMPK showed an increase in activated AMPK in the early phase in injuring process by TNBS (1 day), reflecting an attempt of the cell to compensate the lack of energy, and it showed a decrease in the late phase (15 days), implying a failure of this attempt which led to delayed tissue injury repair.…”

Anti-fatigue effects of dietary nucleotides in mice

“…Energy metabolism includes anabolism and catabolism, involving many biological enzymes [27]. Na + -K + -ATPase and Ca 2+ -Mg 2+ -ATPase are the two main ATP degradation enzymes, which can hydrolyze ATP to supply direct free energy [28]. It plays an important role in maintaining the physiologic functions of material transport, energy conversion, and information transmission [29].…”

Research review on the pharmacological effects of astragalosideIV

“…The energy‐rich phosphate compound synthesis was significantly reduced after cerebral ischemia. Astragalus extract, AS‐IV (20–40 mg/kg, 3–7 day) alone or in combination with tetramethylpyrazine, could reverse the decreased glucose metabolism, increase the ATP and ADP level, the Na+‐K+‐ATPase activity, and the EC value, and improve the energy synthesis and supply to attenuate cerebral ischemia damage .…”