title: Huangqi-Honghua combination and its main components ameliorate cerebral infarction with Qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome by antioxidant action in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Combination of Radix Astragali (Huangqi) and Carthamus tinctorius L. (Honghua) has been extensively used as traditional herb medicine in China for the treatment of stroke and myocardial ischemia diseases with Qi deficiency and blood stasis (QDBS) syndrome.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of Huangqi-Honghua combination (HH) and its main components astragaloside IV (AS-IV) and Hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA) on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (IR) with QDBS in rat model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male rats were randomly divided into the following six groups: sham group, QDBS+I/R model group and treatment group including AS-IV, HSYA, AS-IV+HSYA and HH. The whole blood viscosity (WBV), plasma viscosity (PV), neurological examination, infarct volume, histopathology changes and some oxidative stress markers were assessed after 24h of reperfusion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HH and its main components AS-IV+HSYA could significantly decrease WBV, PV, and also significantly ameliorate neurological examination and infarct volume after 24h of reperfusion. They also significantly increased expression of Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), activities of antioxidants, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), led to decrease levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AS-IV and HSYA are responsible for the main curative effects of HH. The study may provide scientific information to further understanding the mechanism(s) of HH and its main components in removing blood stasis and ameliorating cerebral infarction. Additionally, AS-IV and HSYA appear to have synergistic effects on neuroprotection.
authors: Department of Pharmacy, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Shaanxi, Xi׳an 710032, PR China.
authors: Jinyi
authors: J
authors: Cao
authors: Health Department of General Logistics Department, CPLA, Beijing 010842, PR China.
authors: Zhengyu
authors: Z
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Pharmacy, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Shaanxi, Xi׳an 710032, PR China.
authors: Yanrong
authors: Y
authors: Zhu
authors: Department of Pharmacy, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Shaanxi, Xi׳an 710032, PR China.
authors: Yuwen
authors: Y
authors: Li
authors: Department of Pharmacy, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Shaanxi, Xi׳an 710032, PR China.
authors: Chao
authors: C
authors: Guo
authors: Department of Pharmacy, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Shaanxi, Xi׳an 710032, PR China.
authors: Kai
authors: K
authors: Gao
authors: Department of Pharmacy, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Shaanxi, Xi׳an 710032, PR China.
authors: Lei
authors: L
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Pharmacy, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Shaanxi, Xi׳an 710032, PR China.
authors: Xiaopeng
authors: X
authors: Shi
authors: Department of Pharmacy, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Shaanxi, Xi׳an 710032, PR China.
authors: Xiaofang
authors: X
authors: Zhang
authors: Department of Pharmacy, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Shaanxi, Xi׳an 710032, PR China. Electronic address: Yangtian_1973@163.com.
authors: Zhifu
authors: Z
authors: Yang
authors: Department of Pharmacy, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Shaanxi, Xi׳an 710032, PR China. Electronic address: adwen-2012@hotmail.com.
authors: Aidong
authors: A
authors: Wen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D027885:Astragalus propinquus; D001809:Blood Viscosity / Q000187:drug effects; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D031187:Carthamus tinctorius / Q000737:chemistry; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D019413:Qi; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; C079426:Honghua extract, Carthamus tinctorius; D008315:Malondialdehyde; C027492:Huang Qi
keywords: Astragaloside IV; Astragaloside IV (PubChem CID: 13943297); Carthamus tinctorius L.; Cerebral infarction; Hydroxysafflor yellow A; Hydroxysafflor yellow A (PubChem CID: 6443665); Qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome; Radix Astragali