Metabolomics Research Reveals the Mechanism of Action of Astragalus Polysaccharide in Rats with Digestive System Disorders

Abstract

With the diversity of modern dietary lifestyles, digestive system disorders (DSD) have become a frequently occurring disease in recent years. Astragalus polysaccharide (APS) is a homogeneous polysaccharide extracted from Astragalus, which might ameliorate the digestive and absorptive functions. However, the treatment mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, rats with DSD were fed a high-fat–low-protein diet and subjected to weight-bearing swimming until exhaustion. When body weight and autonomous activities of the rats decreased, they were administered APS. After two weeks, serum metabolomics analysis based on LC-MS was performed to validate the therapeutic effect of APS and explore its mechanism. APS pharmacodynamics was determined in this study, and serum metabolomics analysis discovered and identified 16 significant, differentially produced metabolites involved in energy, amino acid, and lipid metabolism, including citric acid, lactic acid, alanine, phosphatidylcholine, phenylalanine. After treatment with APS, the levels of the above small-molecule metabolites were reversed. Our results show the efficacy of APS in DSD treatment through the regulation of perturbed metabolic pathways related to energy, amino acid, and lipid metabolism.

Impact of purple sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) polysaccharides on the fecal metabolome in a murine colitis model

“…The lipid metabolites (for instance triglycerides) that stored in cells and cell membranes were degraded to release fatty acids to meet the energy needs of the body. 20 What's more, large amounts of fatty acids could induce oxidative stress and further aggravate the intestinal inflammation. 21 And dysregulated lipid metabolism also affected sugar metabolism.…”

Immunomodulatory Effect of a New Ingredients Group Extracted from Astragalus Through Membrane Separation Technique

“… 16 Wang et al proved that AR polysaccharide could ameliorate the digestive and absorptive functions by serum metabolomics. 17 Zeng et al reported that AR polysaccharide regulated the energy metabolism of heat stressed dairy cows through glucose metabolism and amino acid metabolism. 18 Metabolomics is therefore a desirable technique to study the immunomodulatory mechanism of AR ingredients.…”

1H-NMR Metabolomics Analysis of the Effect of Rubusoside on Serum Metabolites of Golden Hamsters on a High-Fat Diet

“…Modern instrumental analysis methods such as nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and mass spectrometry allow qualitative and quantitative detection of endogenous and exogenous metabolites in biological fluids. As such, metabolomics analyzes life phenomena by establishing a more holistic view which could provide opportunities for cross-referencing in multiple directions in the medical field [17][18][19].…”