The avian coronavirus causes infectious bronchitis (IB), which is one of the most serious diseases affecting the avian industry worldwide. However, there are no effective strategies for controlling the IB virus (IBV) at present. Therefore, development of novel antiviral treatment strategies is urgently required. As reported, astragalus polysaccharides (APS) have potential antiviral effects against several viruses; however, the antiviral effect of APS against IBV remains unclear. In this study, we explored whether APS had the potential to inhibit IBV infectionby utilizing several in vitro experimental approaches. To this end, the effect of APS on the replication of IBV was examined in chicken embryo kidney (CEK) cells. Viral titers were calculated by using the plaque formation assay, and the cytotoxicity of APS was tested by utilizing a Cell Counting Kit-8 assay. The expression of viral mRNA and cytokine (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α) mRNA transcripts was determined by real-time quantitative RT-PCR(qRT-PCR). IBV titers in infected CEK cells treated with APS were significantly reduced in a dose-dependent manner, indicating that APS inhibited IBV replication in vitro. We also found that the decreased viral replication after APS treatment was associated with reduced mRNA levels of the cytokines IL-1B, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α. In conclusion, these results suggest that APS exhibit antiviral activities against IBV and it may represent a potential therapeutic agent for inhibiting the replication of IBV.

The avian coronavirus causes infectious bronchitis (IB), which is one of the most serious diseases affecting the avian industry worldwide. However, there are no effective strategies for controlling the IB virus (IBV) at present. Therefore, development of novel antiviral treatment strategies is urgently required. As reported, astragalus polysaccharides (APS) have potential antiviral effects against several viruses; however, the antiviral effect of APS against IBV remains unclear. In this study, we explored whether APS had the potential to inhibit IBV infectionby utilizing several in vitro experimental approaches. To this end, the effect of APS on the replication of IBV was examined in chicken embryo kidney (CEK) cells. Viral titers were calculated by using the plaque formation assay, and the cytotoxicity of APS was tested by utilizing a Cell Counting Kit-8 assay. The expression of viral mRNA and cytokine (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α) mRNA transcripts was determined by real-time quantitative RT-PCR(qRT-PCR). IBV titers in infected CEK cells treated with APS were significantly reduced in a dose-dependent manner, indicating that APS inhibited IBV replication in vitro. We also found that the decreased viral replication after APS treatment was associated with reduced mRNA levels of the cytokines IL-1B, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α. In conclusion, these results suggest that APS exhibit antiviral activities against IBV and it may represent a potential therapeutic agent for inhibiting the replication of IBV.

Historically, botanicals have been reported to possess good antioxidative activities as demonstrated by their free radical scavenging property rendering their usage in liver protection. In this study, we describe the potential use of MAP, a standardized blend comprising three extracts from Myristica fragrans, Astragalus membranaceus, and Poria cocos, in ameliorating chemically induced acute liver toxicities. Acetaminophen (APAP) and carbon tetrachloride (CCl)-induced acute liver toxicity models in mice were utilized. Hepatic functional tests from serum collected at T24, histopathology analysis, and merit of blending three standardized extracts were evaluated. MAP administered at doses of 150-400 mg/kg showed statistically significant and dose-correlated inhibitions of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ranging from 30.8% (P ≤ .05) to 88.1% (P = .0001) in the APAP and 66.9% (P = .002) to 83.7% (P = .0002) in the CClmodels, respectively. Moreover, MAP resulted in up to 75.7%, 60.9%, and 33.3% reductions in serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), bile acid, and total bilirubin, respectively. Mice treated with oral doses of composition of MAP at 300 mg/kg showed statistically significant reduction in hepatocyte necrosis when compared with vehicle control. Unexpected synergistic protection of liver damage was also observed. Therefore, the composition, MAP, could be potentially utilized as an effective hepatic detoxifying agent for the protection of liver damage.