Astragalus polysaccharides combined with ibuprofen exhibit a therapeutic effect on septic rats via an anti-inflammatory cholinergic pathway.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of Astragalus polysaccharides (APS) in combination with ibuprofen (IBU) in the treatment of sepsis and the underlying mechanism. The combined drug treatment was evaluated in a rat model of cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). The serum concentrations of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6 and acetylcholine (ACh) were determined. Nicotinic acetylcholine (nAChR) α7 receptor expression and histopathological changes in the lung tissue were also observed. When compared with untreated rats and rats treated with either component alone, the combined treatment significantly decreased the production of TNF-α and IL-6 (P<0.05), and increased nAChR α7 receptor mRNA expression and the release of ACh in the serum (P<0.05). These results demonstrated that APS combined with IBU can effectively reduce the generation of inflammatory mediators in the serum of CLP-induced septic rats. These effects may be mediated via a cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway involving nAChR α7.