Electroacupuncture Potentiates Astragaloside IV Cerebral Delivery via P-Glycoprotein-Mediated Transcellular Transport: A Novel Blood-Brain Barrier Penetration Strategy for Ischemic Stroke Therapy.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Astragaloside IV (AS-IV) exhibits therapeutic potential in central nervous system (CNS) disorders. However, its brain bioavailability is restricted by P-glycoprotein (P-gp)-mediated efflux at the blood-brain barrier (BBB). This study aims to investigate whether electroacupuncture (EA) can enhance the cerebral delivery of AS-IV by inhibiting nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) nuclear translocation to downregulate P-gp expression.

Methods

The permeability of the BBB was assessed using Evans blue (EB) staining and transmission electron microscopy. The intracerebral concentration of AS-IV was quantified by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The therapeutic efficacy of AS-IV in combination with EA was evaluated using triphenyltetrazolium chloride (T

SUBMITTER: Ouyang L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12710072 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature