The present study was focused on improving the quality of rice koji by fermentation with a selected Aspergillus oryzae strain and a plant Astragalus radix. A. oryzae KCCM 60345 was used as main inoculant and the Astragalus radix was added as supplement in rice koji preparation. LC-MS based metabolite analysis and tyrosinase inhibitory activities were studied for different time periods. A. oryza...

Astragalus polysaccharide is a major component of radix astragali, a vital qi-reinforcing herb medicine with favorable immune-regulating effects. In a previous animal experiment, we demonstrated that astragalus polysaccharide effectively alleviates ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) of cardiac muscle through the regulation of the inflammatory reactions. However, the relationship between this her...

The protective effects of two Chinese herbs, astragalus mongholicus, polygonum multiflorum and astragalus mongholicus-polygonum multiflorum in combination against thymus injury induced by cyclophosphamide were evaluated by transmission electron microscopy, image analysis, DNA gel electrophoresis as well as flow cytometry. Results showed that mice pretreated with cyclophosphamide had degenerated...

Selenium-accumulator plants synthesize selenium compounds that differ from those produced by nonaccumulators. To determine if there are any subcellular differences between accumulators and nonaccumulators in the use of selenomethionine in vitro, polysomes from Astragalus crotalariae (accumulator) and Astragalus lentiginosis (nonaccumulator) were translated in the presence of selenomethionine. P...

Astragalus L. is a perennial herbaceous genus belonging to the family Fabaceae. Chromosome morphology was defined for the first time in four species of Astragalus namely; A. antalyensis A.Duran & Podlech, A. nezaketae A.Duran & Aytaç, A. cariensis Boiss. & A. schizopterus Boiss. All species contained diploid chromosome numbers of 2n = 16. However, polyploid cells (4x = 32) were also observed in...

Astragalus membranaceus is a famous Chinese medicinal herb. Polysaccharides are the most important functional constituent in Astragalus membranaceus. In the present study, the effects of Astragalus membranaceus polysaccharides (APS) on exercise endurance capacity were evaluated in mice using swimming exercise. The antioxidant properties of APS were also investigated through the 1,1diphenyl-2-pi...