Astragalus and its formulas as a therapeutic option for fibrotic diseases: Pharmacology and mechanisms
Fibrosis is the abnormal deposition of extracellular matrix, characterized by accumulation of collagen and other extracellular matrix components, which causes organ dysfunction and even death. Despite advances in understanding fibrosis pathology and clinical management, there is no treatment for fib...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Pharmacology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2022.1040350/full |
| _version_ | 1797990406169821184 |
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| author | Yi Zhu Yilu Chai Guojin Xiao Yufei Liu Xiaohong Xie Wei Xiao Pengcheng Zhou Wei Ma Chuantao Zhang Liuying Li Liuying Li |
| author_facet | Yi Zhu Yilu Chai Guojin Xiao Yufei Liu Xiaohong Xie Wei Xiao Pengcheng Zhou Wei Ma Chuantao Zhang Liuying Li Liuying Li |
| author_sort | Yi Zhu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Fibrosis is the abnormal deposition of extracellular matrix, characterized by accumulation of collagen and other extracellular matrix components, which causes organ dysfunction and even death. Despite advances in understanding fibrosis pathology and clinical management, there is no treatment for fibrosis that can prevent or reverse it, existing treatment options may lead to diarrhea, nausea, bleeding, anorexia, and liver toxicity. Thus, effective drugs are needed for fibrotic diseases. Traditional Chinese medicine has played a vital role in fibrotic diseases, accumulating evidence has demonstrated that Astragalus (Astragalus mongholicus Bunge) can attenuate multiple fibrotic diseases, which include liver fibrosis, pulmonary fibrosis, peritoneal fibrosis, renal fibrosis, cardiac fibrosis, and so on, mechanisms may be related to inhibition of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), reactive oxygen species (ROS), transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1)/Smads, apoptosis, inflammation pathways. The purpose of this review was to summarize the pharmacology and mechanisms of Astragalus in treating fibrotic diseases, the data reviewed demonstrates that Astragalus is a promising anti-fibrotic drug, its main anti-fibrotic components are Calycosin, Astragaloside IV, Astragalus polysaccharides and formononetin. We also review formulas that contain Astragalus with anti-fibrotic effects, in which Astragalus and Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, Astragalus and Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels are the most commonly used combinations. We propose that combining active components into new formulations may be a promising way to develop new drugs for fibrosis. Besides, we expect Astragalus to be accepted as a clinically effective method of treating fibrosis. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T08:35:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c1c7380ecc74472685d1971edb83634d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1663-9812 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T08:35:50Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Pharmacology |
| spelling | doaj.art-c1c7380ecc74472685d1971edb83634d2022-12-22T04:34:20ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pharmacology1663-98122022-11-011310.3389/fphar.2022.10403501040350Astragalus and its formulas as a therapeutic option for fibrotic diseases: Pharmacology and mechanismsYi Zhu0Yilu Chai1Guojin Xiao2Yufei Liu3Xiaohong Xie4Wei Xiao5Pengcheng Zhou6Wei Ma7Chuantao Zhang8Liuying Li9Liuying Li10Department of Respiratory, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, ChinaDepartment of Respiratory, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, ChinaNursing Department, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, ChinaDepartment of Respiratory, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, ChinaDepartment of Respiratory, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, ChinaDepartment of Respiratory, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, ChinaDepartment of Respiratory, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, ChinaDepartment of Respiratory, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, ChinaDepartment of Respiratory, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, ChinaChengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, ChinaDepartment of Heart Disease of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zigong First People’s Hospital, Zigong, ChinaFibrosis is the abnormal deposition of extracellular matrix, characterized by accumulation of collagen and other extracellular matrix components, which causes organ dysfunction and even death. Despite advances in understanding fibrosis pathology and clinical management, there is no treatment for fibrosis that can prevent or reverse it, existing treatment options may lead to diarrhea, nausea, bleeding, anorexia, and liver toxicity. Thus, effective drugs are needed for fibrotic diseases. Traditional Chinese medicine has played a vital role in fibrotic diseases, accumulating evidence has demonstrated that Astragalus (Astragalus mongholicus Bunge) can attenuate multiple fibrotic diseases, which include liver fibrosis, pulmonary fibrosis, peritoneal fibrosis, renal fibrosis, cardiac fibrosis, and so on, mechanisms may be related to inhibition of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), reactive oxygen species (ROS), transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1)/Smads, apoptosis, inflammation pathways. The purpose of this review was to summarize the pharmacology and mechanisms of Astragalus in treating fibrotic diseases, the data reviewed demonstrates that Astragalus is a promising anti-fibrotic drug, its main anti-fibrotic components are Calycosin, Astragaloside IV, Astragalus polysaccharides and formononetin. We also review formulas that contain Astragalus with anti-fibrotic effects, in which Astragalus and Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, Astragalus and Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels are the most commonly used combinations. We propose that combining active components into new formulations may be a promising way to develop new drugs for fibrosis. Besides, we expect Astragalus to be accepted as a clinically effective method of treating fibrosis.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2022.1040350/fullAstragalus mongholicus Bungeactive componentsfibrosisanti-fibrosis effectstraditional Chinese medicine |
| spellingShingle | Yi Zhu Yilu Chai Guojin Xiao Yufei Liu Xiaohong Xie Wei Xiao Pengcheng Zhou Wei Ma Chuantao Zhang Liuying Li Liuying Li Astragalus and its formulas as a therapeutic option for fibrotic diseases: Pharmacology and mechanisms Frontiers in Pharmacology Astragalus mongholicus Bunge active components fibrosis anti-fibrosis effects traditional Chinese medicine |
| title | Astragalus and its formulas as a therapeutic option for fibrotic diseases: Pharmacology and mechanisms |
| title_full | Astragalus and its formulas as a therapeutic option for fibrotic diseases: Pharmacology and mechanisms |
| title_fullStr | Astragalus and its formulas as a therapeutic option for fibrotic diseases: Pharmacology and mechanisms |
| title_full_unstemmed | Astragalus and its formulas as a therapeutic option for fibrotic diseases: Pharmacology and mechanisms |
| title_short | Astragalus and its formulas as a therapeutic option for fibrotic diseases: Pharmacology and mechanisms |
| title_sort | astragalus and its formulas as a therapeutic option for fibrotic diseases pharmacology and mechanisms |
| topic | Astragalus mongholicus Bunge active components fibrosis anti-fibrosis effects traditional Chinese medicine |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2022.1040350/full |
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