Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 3, 2026
Use of Animal Model of Sepsis to Evaluate Novel Herbal Therapies
Published on: April 11, 2012
Astragaloside IV protects against polymicrobial sepsis through inhibiting inflammatory response and apoptosis of
Ren Liu1, Hequn Jiang1, Ye Tian2
1Department of Anesthesiology, Fuzhou General Hospital of Nanjing Military Command, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.
Background:
Sepsis is a major clinical challenge in modern medicine, representing one of the leading causes of death in developed countries. The syndrome is a consequence of a dysregulated immune response, including early uncontrolled systemic inflammation and prolonged immunosuppression in the late phase. The present study was conducted to investigate the therapeutic effects of astragaloside IV (ASI-IV) on the cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced sepsis in mice.
Materials And Methods:
C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into sham control + vehicle, CLP + vehicle, and CLP + ASI-IV groups. ASI-IV (3 mg/kg) was intravenously injected 1 h after CLP surgery. Survival rate, bacterial clearance, inflammatory mediators, phagocytes emigration, histopathology, and lymphocyte apoptosis were examined. The effects of ASI-IV on peritoneal macrophage activation and its underlying mechanisms were also evaluated.
Results:
We reported that treatment with ASI-IV significantly improved survival in septic mice. In agreement with this protective effect, the pathologic damage that was typically seen in lung and spleen was ameliorated; the level of bacterial burden was lessened; inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in circulation were profoundly reduced; lymphocyte apoptosis was inhibited. ASI-IV suppressed LPS-induced macrophage activation through inhibiting NF-κB and ERK1/2 signaling pathways.
Conclusions:
ASI-IV protected mice against polymicrobial sepsis by inhibiting inflammatory response and lymphocyte apoptosis. Therefore, ASI-IV might provide a novel therapeutic approach for septic patients.
