Synergistic protection of astragalus polysaccharides and matrine against ulcerative colitis and associated lung injury in rats

Figure 1 Flow chart of animal grouping. APS: Astragalus polysaccharides.

Figure 2 Astragalus polysaccharides combined with matrine improve histopathological changes in rats with ulcerative colitis. A and B: Histopathological changes of colon (A) and lung tissues (B) in various groups analyzed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. APS: Astragalus polysaccharides.

Figure 3 Astragalus polysaccharides combined with matrine inhibit diamine oxidase activity in rats with ulcerative colitis. A: Serum endotoxin levels in various groups detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; B: Serum diamine oxidase activity in various groups detected by spectrophotometry. ^aP < 0.05 and ^bP < 0.01 vs normal group; ^cP < 0.05 and ^dP < 0.01 vs model group. APS: Astragalus polysaccharides; ET: Endotoxin; DAO: Diamine oxidase.

Figure 4 Astragalus polysaccharides combined with matrine inhibit the expression of zonula occludens-1 and Occludin in lung and colon tissues of rats with ulcerative colitis. A and B: Zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) expression in colon (A) and lung tissues (B) in various groups detected by Western blot analysis; C and D: Occludin expression in colon (C) and lung tissues (D) in various groups detected by immunohistochemistry analysis. ^aP < 0.05 and ^bP < 0.01 vs normal group; ^cP < 0.05 and ^dP < 0.01 vs model group. APS: Astragalus polysaccharides; ZO-1: Zonula occludens-1; N: Normal group; M: Model group; SC: Salazopyrine control group; MT: Matrine treatment group; AT: Astragalus polysaccharides treatment group; MM: Monomer mixture group.

Figure 5 Astragalus polysaccharides combined with matrine relieve inflammatory response and oxidative stress injury in lung tissues of rats with ulcerative colitis. A and B: Tumor necrosis factor-α (A) and interleukin-1β levels (B) in lung tissues in various groups detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); C-E: Activities of superoxide dismutase (C), malondialdehyde (D), and myeloperoxidase (E) in lung tissues in various groups determined with commercial detection kits. ^aP < 0.05 and ^bP < 0.01 vs normal group; ^cP < 0.05 and ^dP < 0.01 vs model group. APS: Astragalus polysaccharides; TNF-α: Tumor necrosis factor-α; IL-1β: Interleukins-1β; MPO: Myeloperoxidase.

Figure 6 Astragalus polysaccharides combined with matrine increase trefoil factor 3 expression in lung and colon tissues of rats with ulcerative colitis. A and B: Trefoil factor 3 (TFF3) expression in colon (A) and lung tissues (B) in various groups detected by immunohistochemistry analysis. ^aP < 0.05 vs normal group; ^cP < 0.05 vs model group; ^eP < 0.05 vs salazopyrine control group. APS: Astragalus polysaccharides; TFF3: Trefoil factor 3.