A study published in The American Journal of Chinese Medicine found that polysaccharides from astragalus, also known as huang qi in Chinese medicine, exhibit antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects that may be useful against hypertension. In the study, a team of Chinese researchers looked at the function of astragalus polysaccharides on pulmonary arterial hypertension.
The Chinese research team conducted the study in rats that they injected with monocrotaline to induce pulmonary arterial hypertension.
They gave the animals 200 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) of astragalus polysaccharides once every two days for two weeks.
Based on the results, the researchers found that treatment with astragalus polysaccharides reduced the severity of monocrotaline-induced pulmonary artery hypertension.
In addition, the treatment warded off oxidative stress, promoted vasodilation, and reduced inflammation.
In sum, the findings of the study suggest that treatment with astragalus polysaccharides can help attenuate monocrotaline-induced pulmonary artery hypertension by promoting vasodilation and reducing inflammation.
To read more studies on the health benefits of astragalus, visit ChineseMedicine.news.
Journal Reference:
Yuan LB, Hua CY, Gao S, Yin YL, Dai M, Meng HY, Li PP, Yang ZX, Hu QH. ASTRAGALUS POLYSACCHARIDES ATTENUATE MONOCROTALINE-INDUCED PULMONARY ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION IN RATS. The American Journal of Chinese Medicine. 19 May 2017; 45(4): 773-789. DOI: 10.1142/S0192415X17500410