Astragalus Polysaccharides Attenuate Monocrotaline-Induced Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in Rats

Astragalus polysaccharides (APS) have been shown to possess a variety of biological activities including anti-oxidant and anti-inflammation functions in a number of diseases. However, their function in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is still unknown. Rats received APS (200[Formula: see text]mg/kg once two days) for 2 weeks after being injected with monocrotaline (MCT; 60[Formula: see text]mg/kg). The pulmonary hemodynamic index, right ventricular hypertrophy, and lung morphological features of the rat models were examined, as well as the NO/eNOS ratio of wet lung and dry lung weight and MPO. A qRT-PCR and p-I[Formula: see text]B was used to assess IL-1[Formula: see text], IL-6 and TNF-[Formula: see text] and WB was used to detect the total I[Formula: see text]B. Based on these measurements, it was found that APS reversed the MCT-induced increase in mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) (from 32.731[Formula: see text]mmHg to 26.707[Formula: see text]mmHg), decreased pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) (from 289.021[Formula: see text]mmHg[Formula: see text][Formula: see text] min/L to 246.351[Formula: see text]mmHg[Formula: see text][Formula: see text][Formula: see text]min/L), and reduced right ventricular hypertrophy (from 289.021[Formula: see text]mmHg[Formula: see text][Formula: see text][Formula: see text]min/L to 246.351 mmHg[Formula: see text][Formula: see text][Formula: see text]min/L) ([Formula: see text]0.05). In terms of pulmonary artery remodeling, the WT% and WA% decreased with the addition of APS. In addition, it was found that APS promoted the synthesis of eNOS and the secretion of NO, promoting vasodilation and APS decreased the MCT-induced elevation of MPO, IL-1[Formula: see text], IL-6 and TNF-[Formula: see text], reducing inflammation. Furthermore, APS was able to inhibit the activation of pho-I[Formula: see text]B[Formula: see text]. In couclusion, APS ameliorates MCT-induced pulmonary artery hypertension by inhibiting pulmonary arterial remodeling partially via eNOS/NO and NF-[Formula: see text]B signaling pathways.