Abstract:
In this study, RAW264.7 cells were employed to investigate the effects of honey-processed
Astragalus on their energy metabolism and polarization, and explore the scientific connotation of the enhanced efficacy of honey-processed
Astragalus on invigorating spleen-stomach and replenishing Qi. The medicated sera were prepared by intragastric administration of rats with water extracts of crude and honey-processed
Astragalus, and the composition changes of medicated sera of crude and honey-processed
Astragalus were analyzed by using LC-MS technology. The cell survival rates were detected and the concentrations of medicated sera were screened through CCK-8 assay. The differences of cell phagocytic rates, ATP energy metabolism, and NO secretion between crude and honey-processed
Astragalus were evaluated by using neutral red phagocytosis assay, ATP detection kit, and NO detection kit. The effects of crude and honey-processed
Astragalus on TNF-
α secretion of RAW264.7 cells were detected by employing ELISA kit. The effects of crude and honey-processed
Astragalus on polarization of RAW264.7 cells were evaluated by utilizing flow cytometry. The differential metabolites related to glycolysis in cell lysates and culture media were screened by using LC-MS technology. The experiment was approved by the experimental animal ethics committee from Shanxi University of Chinese Medicine (No. AWE202407352). The results showed that the contents of betaine, amino acids, and ononin in the prepared medicated sera of rats treated by intragastric administration with water extracts of honey-processed
Astragalus increased compared to those in crude one. The results of CCK-8 experiment showed that there were no cytotoxic effects on RAW264.7 cells in the medicated sera of crude and honey-processd
Astragalus at different concentration. The phagocytic index and ATP yield both increased to varying degrees after administration of the medicated sera to cells. The secretion of NO in normal and inflammatory cells increased and decreased respectively, and the effect of honey-processed
Astragalus was better than that of crude one. The results of ELISA kit showed that the medicated sera of both crude and honey-processed
Astragalus could promote the secretion of TNF-
α in a concentration-dependent manner, and the promoting effect of honey-processed
Astragalus was stronger than that of crude one. The results of flow cytometry showed that the medicated sera of both crude and honey-processed
Astragalus could promote M1-type polarization and inhibit M2-type polarization of RAW264.7 cells, and the effect of honey-processed
Astragalus was better than that of crude one. Compared to crude
Astragalus, the metabolites related to glycolysis in the cell lysates and culture media of the medicated sera of honey-processed
Astragalus were generally on the rise, indicating that the effect on promoting glycolysis of honey-processed
Astragalus was better than that of crude one. In summary, honey-processed
Astragalus can promote the polarization and energy metabolism of RAW264.7 cells, and participate in positive immune regulation, which is correlated with its enhanced effect of invigorating spleen-stomach and replenishing Qi.