Astragalus polysaccharides alleviates lipopolysaccharides-induced inflammatory lung injury by altering intestinal microbiota in mice

Abstract

Inflammatory lung injury is a common respiratory disease with limited therapeutic effects. Increasing opinions approved that prevention is more important than drug treatment for inflammatory lung injury. Astragalus polysaccharides (APS) has multiple bioactivities including anti-inflammation and immunoregulation. However, its preventive effects on inflammatory lung injury remain unclear. In this study, mice were pretreated with APS via intragastric gavage and then were intratracheally instilled with lipopolysaccharides (LPS) to determine the role of APS in preventing lung injury. The results showed that APS pre-treatment improved the pathological changes of lung tissues, reduced the neutrophils infiltration, and inhibited the LPS-induced inflammation. Increasing evidence confirmed the close relationship between intestinal microbiota and lung inflammatory response. 16S rRNA analysis showed that APS treatment changed the microbiota composition in colon, increased the abundance of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs)-producing genus such as Oscillospira, Akkermansia, and Coprococcus. Also, APS treatment significantly increased the serum concentrations of SCFAs including butyrate and propionate, and their anti-inflammation effects were demonstrated on mice primary alveolar macrophages. Our data confirmed the preventive effects of APS on LPS-induced lung injury, which were partly contributed by the alteration of intestinal microbiota composition and the resulting increase of serum SCFAs.

Therapeutic and immune-regulation effects of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi polysaccharide on pseudorabies in piglets

“…Several studies have shown that traditional Chinese medicines have antiviral and immune-enhancing effects ( 29 ). RH is used to treat various immune diseases, such as tumours, asthma, and rheumatoid arthritis ( 21 ), although the medicinal value of these active ingredients has rarely been reported ( 30 ). SG is the dried S. scutellariae root from which baicalin is extracted from the by-product of Scutellaria flavones.…”

“…Xiong et al ( 33 ) calculated the clinical cure rate of COVID-19 patients using a Chinese herbal formula containing Scutellaria and found that the clinical and fever symptom scores and inflammatory biomarkers were reduced. Ming et al ( 21 ) also found that Astragalus polysaccharides alleviated lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory lung injury by altering the intestinal microbiota in mice, while Li et al ( 31 ) reported that the flavonoid compound, kaverol, inhibits PRV replication in the brain, lungs, kidneys, heart, and spleen, alleviating pathological changes in these organs.…”

“…Current studies have confirmed that polysaccharides have a wide range of therapeutic effects and disease-prevention properties, with most traditional Chinese medicinal polysaccharides acting as immune enhancers in vitro and in vivo . Moreover, the dried rhizome of Rodgersia sambucifolia Hemsl (RH), known as Yantuo, or Maoqinggang, is effective in clearing heat, detoxification, dispelling wind, and draining dampness; it has astringent properties and is often used to treat colds, headaches, rheumatism, bone pain, and traumatic bleeding ( 21 ). Flavonoids also have important immunomodulatory effects and can play antiviral and anti-infection roles.…”

Astragalus polysaccharide: implication for intestinal barrier, anti-inflammation, and animal production

“…These results indicated that anti-inflammatory activities of HAPS were more effective than those of APS ( 119 ). Furthermore, LPS-induced inflammatory lung injury mice orally administrated with 200 mg/kg APS for 14 consecutive days significantly reduced neutrophilic infiltration, phosphorylated NF-κB expression level and relative expressions of ICAM-1, Il-1β, Il-6, and TNF-α ( 120 ). Taken together, APS functions as an anti-inflammatory agent in animals and exerts its anti-inflammation mainly by inhibiting NF-κB signaling pathways and reducing expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines.…”

Astragalus improves intestinal barrier function and immunity by acting on intestinal microbiota to treat T2DM: a research review

“…Ming et al. ( 78 ) found that APS significantly increased serum concentrations of SCFAs, including butyric and propionic acids, by increasing the abundance of SCFA-producing genera such as Akkermansia , Coprococcus , and Oscillospira in the intestine. APS may control immune function by boosting cytokine release, promoting immune cell proliferation, and influencing immunoglobulin (Ig) production and immunological signaling ( 79 ).…”