Astragalus Polysaccharides Ameliorate Diet-Induced Gallstone Formation by Modulating Synthesis of Bile Acids and the Gut Microbiota

Abstract

Cholesterol gallstone (CG) disease has relationships with several metabolic abnormalities. Astragalus polysaccharides (APS) have been shown to have multiple benefits against metabolic disorders. We attempted to uncover the effect and mechanism of action of APS on diet-induced CG formation in mice. Animals were fed a chow diet or lithogenic diet (LD) with or without APS supplementation. The effect of APS on CG formation was evaluated. The level of individual bile acids (BAs) in gallbladder bile and ileum were measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Real-time reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting were used to assess expression of the genes involved in BA metabolism and the enterohepatic circulation. Cecal contents were collected to characterize microbiota profiles. APS ameliorated LD-induced CG formation in mice. APS reduced the level of total cholesterol, bile acid hydrophobicity index and cholesterol saturation index in gallbladder bile. The protective effect of APS might result from reduced absorption of cholic acid in the intestine and increased hepatic BA synthesis. APS relieved the LD-induced activation of the intestinal farnesoid X receptor and decreased ileal expression of fibroblast growth factor 15. In the liver, expression of cytochrome P450 (Cyp) enzyme Cyp7a1 and Cyp7b1 was increased, whereas expression of adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette (Abc) transporters Abcg5 and Abcg8 was decreased by APS. APS improved the diversity of the gut microbiota and increased the relative abundance of the Bacteroidetes phylum. APS had demonstratable benefits against CG disease, which might be associated with enhanced BA synthesis and improved gut microbiota. Our results suggest that APS may be a potential strategy for the prevention of CG disease.

Gypenosides Prevent and Dissolve Cholesterol Gallstones by Modulating the Homeostasis of Cholesterol and Bile Acids

“…To evaluate the ability of GPs to dissolve CGs, 30 mice were acclimated to a chow diet for 1 week, and subsequently fed the LD for 6 weeks, at which time > 90% of C57BL/6J mice had developed CGs ( 18 ). The 30 mice were randomly separated into three groups of 10 mice each, housed five per cage.…”

“…Hepatic and fecal lipids were extracted using a 2:1 (vol/vol) mixture of chloroform:methanol ( 18 ). The concentrations of TC and TG were measured using kits from Jiancheng Bioengineering Institute, as described.…”

“…The concentrations of TC and TG were measured using kits from Jiancheng Bioengineering Institute, as described. BA composition in gallbladder bile was measured by negative electrospray liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) ( 18 ). Briefly, a 10-μL aliquot of bile was mixed with methanol, followed by a series of oscillations, centrifugations and dilutions with methanol.…”

Advances in research on the anti-tumor mechanism of Astragalus polysaccharides

“…Triglycerides are closely related to the growth of various tumor cells ( 159 , 160 ). APS effectively lowers cholesterol and triglycerides ( 161 , 162 ).…”

A Review of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Buyang Huanwu Decoction for the Treatment of Cerebral Small Vessel Disease

“…Modern pharmacological studies suggest that the active ingredients of Astragalus include astragalus polysaccharide, astragalus saponins, flavonoids calycosin, 3-hydroxy-9,10-dimethoxy pterostane, and astragaloside I, III, V. Astragalus polysaccharide is the main pharmacologically active ingredient in Astragalus . Studies have reported that it can suppress mitochondrial damage-mediated apoptosis ( Gao et al, 2021b ), modulate gut microbiota ( Zhuang et al, 2021 ), enhance immune response ( Zhou et al, 2021 ), alleviate cognitive impairment and β-amyloid accumulation via Nrf2 pathway ( Qin et al, 2020 ), enhance remyelination ( Ye et al, 2021 ), inhibit the formation of cerebral thrombosis ( Sun et al, 2020 ), protect neurons, and stabilize mitochondrial in a Parkinson disease (PD) mouse model ( Liu et al, 2018 ), and thus exhibit mitochondrial and anti-aging activity ( Li et al, 2012 ).…”