Abstract:

Abstract: Objective To explore the effect of astragalus extracts on adherence, migration, cell viability, microvascular
formation, and eNOS expression in bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) of rats. Methods EPCs were
cultured, isolated and identified in vitro and divided into four groups: low titer group (10-4 g/L of astragalus extracts), middle
titer group (10-3 g/L of astragalus extracts), high titer group (10-2 g/L of astragalus extracts) and control group. The effects of
astragalus extract on adhesion, migration or microvascular formation were observed under the inverted microscope and com⁃
pared between all groups; Cell viability was detected by MTT assay; mRNA transcription and protein expression levels of en⁃
dothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in EPCs were detected by reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) and Western blot re⁃
spectively. Results Compared with the control group, cell adhesion, migration and microvascular formation of EPCs all en⁃
hanced with addition of astragalus extracts in a dose dependent manner (F=15.256, 13.633, 97.549 respectively, and P <
0.05 in all cases); Cell vitality of EPCs increased with administration of astragalus extracts in a time and dose dependant
manner. (F=9.755 for time and F=10.18 for dose). mRNA transcription and protein expression of eNOS in EPCs were up-reg⁃
ulated with addition of astragalus extracts in a dose dependent manner (F=56.356 and 77.125 respectively, and P < 0.05 in
both cases). Conclusion Astragalus extracts play important role in angiogenesis in EPCs probably through up-regulating
expressions of eNOS.

Key words: Astragalus membranaceus, myeloid progenitor cells, cell adhesion, cell movement, endothelial progenitor cells, angiogenesis, endothelial nitric oxide synthase