Chemical Composition Analysis Of Honey-processed Astragalus And Its Effects On Spleen Qi Deficiency Rats

Astragalus membranaceus is a commonly used tonic chinese herbal medicine in traditional chinese medicine. The effects of invigorating spleen-stomach and replenishing qi of honey-processed Astragalus were significantly improved.Honey-processed Astragalus is employed instead of Radix Astragali to achieve improved efficacy in tonifying qi in clinical. However, the active chemical components and corresponding pharmacodynamic relationship of honey-processed Astragalus was undefined. This study aimed to investigate the changes in the chemical compositions of Radix Astragali and honey-processed Astragalus, and evaluate the pharmacodynamics effects of aqueous extracts of Radix Astragali and honey-processed Astragalus on rats with spleen qi deficiency.UPLC/Q-TOF MS technology was performed to the chemical composition analysis. Multivariate statistical analysis including principal components analysis(PCA), partial least-squares discriminant analysis(PLS-DA) were exerted to explore the chemical profile and discover differentiating chemical markers between raw and honey-processed Radix Astragali based on the UPLC/Q-TOF-MS data. Spleen qi deficiency rat model were established by fatigue and restricted diet for the efficacy researches of Radix Astragali and honey-processed Astragalus. The effects of aqueous extracts of Radix Astragali and honey-processed Astragalus on the body weight,serum D-xylose uptake, white blood cell count, lymphocyte count and related cytokines in rats with spleen qi deficiency were investigated.35 compounds were identified by UPLC/Q-TOF MS analysis, which included 17 flavonoids and 13 saponins. 9 chemical markers were selected by multivariate statistical analysis and their change tendency was also observed. The content of calycosin-7-O-β-D- glucoside-6"-O- malonate was significantly reduced after honeyprocess. While the content of calycosin-7-O-β-D- glucoside was increased. The body weight, serum D-xylose uptake, white blood cell count, and lymphocyte count were significantly reduced in model group rats. All the indicators in Radix Astragali and honey-processed Astragalus treatment group rats were improved, which recovered to the normal group and the effect of honey-processed Astragalus treatment group was better than Radix Astragali. Radix Astragali and honey-processed Astragalus aqueous extracts decrease IL-1, IL-2, IL-6, and TNF-α, while make IL-4, IL-10 significantly increased in model group rats.The content of the chemical composition was changed after honey processed.The content of total saponins increased in honey-processed Astragalus, which suggesting that honey process facilitate dissolution of total saponins.Honey-processing is a heating procedure, which increases the elimination of some groups, and result in changes in the content of chemical composition. The 9 chemical markers selected by multivariate statistical analysis supposed to be the material basis for tonic efficacy of Radix Astragali after honey-processing. Honey-processed Astragalus regulate physiological and biochemical and immunological parameters in spleen qi deficiency rats, it shows that therapeutic effects of honey-processed Astragalus are related to its regulation of the expression of cytokines and immunity enhancement for spleen qi deficiency rats.