Experimental study on protective effect of astragalus on septic shock in rats

Objective: To investigate the effect of astragalus on rats with septic shock and its(mechanism).Methods: Forty male SD rats were randomly divided into shamoperated group,model group,(lowdose) and highdose astragalus groups.Septic shock model was induced by cecal ligation puncture(CLP).Thirty minutes before CLP 10 g/kg or 20 g/kg of Huangqi injection(黄芪注射液)was injected (intravenously) in lowdose and highdose astragalus groups respectively.Shamoperated and model groups received equal volume of saline(5 ml/kg).Every 2 hours during 220 hours after CLP,the mean artery(pressure)(MAP) and heart rate(HR) were monitored via the right femoral artery.Tumor necrosis factorα(TNFα) and interleukin6(IL6) in plasma were measured at 2,5,9 and 20 hours after CLP.Results: MAP decreased progressively after CLP in rats of model group,while HR ascended at first and descended(afterwards).The decrease of MAP was inhibited,and the changes of HR were slight in the two astragalus groups.In the model group,TNFα levels in plasma peaked at 2 hours after CLP,IL6 levels increased firstly and then decreased,peaking at 9 hours.TNFα level was lower in shamoperated group and the two astragalus treatment groups than those in the model group at 2,5 and 9 hours after CLP while IL6 at 5,9 and 20 hours after CLP((P0.05) or P0.01),and TNFα level was lower in highdose astragalus group than that in lowdose astragalus group at 2 hours while IL6 at 9 hours after CLP (both P0.05).(Conclusion): Astragalus has protective effects on septic shock rats by inhibiting the(production) of pro(inflammatory) cytokine TNFα and IL6.