We therefore developed a LAIV formulation, the physicochemical pr

We therefore developed a LAIV formulation, the physicochemical properties of which were known. Estimates for methods and temperatures of filtration, expected losses in processing, procedures for setting titres and use of a diluting medium were based on experience with Selleckchem BMN 673 the measles vaccine. Results of subsequent studies on this ‘plug in’ approach matched scientifically predicted expectations. Being a pandemic vaccine, there was a need for it to be available in multi-dose vials for mass campaigns as well as in single doses for the commercial market. The vaccine was to be reconstituted with water and administered using a system that ensures accurate measurement of dose, maximum

reusable parts and for multi-dose vials, no shared contact of the device among recipients. However, certain hurdles were encountered such as producing water for inhalation for the single-dose diluent as the interaction of water for inhalation in such small volumes with type 1 glass vials resulted in conductivity shifts. While it is possible to overcome this issue with more expensive type 1 vials treated with ammonium sulphate, regulatory agencies need to review if this AZD2281 mouse increase in cost is justified, as conductivity is not as relevant a parameter for intranasal administration as it is for parenteral administration. An intranasal spray, rather than drops, was developed in order to maximize the coverage

area and reduce the potential of pulmonary entrainment in recipients in the upright position. The development of the device presented major challenges since it had to be inexpensive and have a dead volume <100 μL (a loss of vaccine easily compensated

by increasing the titre). Existing snap-on metered dose sprays did not fit SII’s 13 mm vials and would not guarantee that a consistent dose could be safely administered to multiple recipients. Therefore, a spray device fitted to the tip of a syringe was employed (Fig. 2). The syringe measured the dose accurately, and the spray device, in conjunction crotamiton with the syringe, generated a spray that maximized coverage and ensured sufficient positive displacement. This eliminated the need for the recipient to lie down during administration. Regarding packaging, there was a concern that vaccinators might mistake the vaccine as an injection if a needle is provided, especially since training in the field is not always optimum. The package was made needle free by developing a “needle-free transfer device” that cannot be used to inject the vaccine accidentally. This device is attached to a syringe to draw water from the vial, add it to the vaccine container and to withdraw the reconstituted vaccine. Similarly, the diluent was called “sterile water for inhalation” (SWFInh) instead of “water for injection” to avoid errors. Sterile water for inhalation is covered in the US pharmacopoeia.

6) due to swelling of HPMC in contact with an aqueous medium and

6) due to swelling of HPMC in contact with an aqueous medium and form a gel layer to whole tablet to control the drug release rate. The results obtained indicated that maximum release of RAM occurred in phosphate buffer pH 6.8 which was supported by Yuan et al.10 The tablets of batch (T3) showed uniform thickness (4.58 ± 0.37 to 4.5 ± 0.23 mm) and diameter (6.21 ± 0.13 to 6.35 ± 0.18 mm). The hardness was found to be

5.5 ± 0.6 kg/cm2. The friability and weight variation was within the official limits of <1% and ±5% respectively. The disintegration time taken by outer tablets was less than 15 min. In tab-in-tab formulations, RAM core tablets were not shown vertical and horizontal displacements in outer NIF tablet areas. This shows the center position of core tablet MK-8776 price in formulation. The NIF release was good and maximum BIBW2992 in vitro drug release in 2 h was seen (Fig. 7) due to its increase dissolution rate from gelatin microcapsules. It revealed that the compression of NIF-loaded gelatin microcapsules with excipients not playing major role in its release when compared with microcapsules.

The core tablet of RAM was CR and experienced 80% dissolution in 8 h under mild dissolution test conditions as shown in Fig. 8. RAM is unstable and can be easily degraded into different impurities. So in order to make RAM in stable dosage form, Eudragit was covered as an enteric coating polymer and lag time was observed at 2 h due to its resistance to SGF. Initially Eudragit delayed the disintegration time and later HPMC formed protective gel layer which controlled the penetration of additional water into the tablet. As the outer gel layer fully hydrated and dissolved, a new inner layer must replace it and be cohesive and continuous enough to retard the influx of water and control drug diffusion.13 Some small differences in evaluation parameters were observed in optimized tab-in-tab formulation as shown in Table 2. The dissolution study of the optimized batch at zero month and 3 months showed

some changes in drugs release profiles (Figs. 9 and 10). Both the dissolution studies showed the typical similar profiles but drugs PDK4 release was somewhat lower. NIF endures stability problem due to its photosensitive nature. Formulation of RAM dosage form leads to decrease in its assay due to mechanical stress, compression, manufacturing processes, excipients, storage conditions, heat, moisture, and alkaline pH (7–9). Tab-in-tab formulation was developed to overcome such problems and to improve the stability of drugs.4 The release NIF from formulation (T3) was completed in about 2 h and appeared to be rapidly and readily absorbed through GI tract as shown in Fig. 11. The results suggested that the higher initial plasma concentration of NIF were due to the increase in dissolution rate and due to the crystallinity change to amorphous form in the gelatin microcapsule at stomach. NIF absorption was less influenced and no potential interaction with RAM could readily be detected.

Starting the simulation at time = 0 with no glutamate in the inte

Starting the simulation at time = 0 with no glutamate in the interior of the probe, the glutamate concentration rises with an exponential time constant ∼ 8.5 s to a steady state level (data not shown). At steady state, [Glu] inside the probe is elevated relative to the healthy region far from the probe (Fig. 4B1). With

sigma = 0 (i.e. no this website tissue damage), [Glu] in the probe is equal to the ambient [Glu] in the healthy tissue. With gradients of damage from sigma = 100 to 300 μm, steady-state glutamate levels in the probe range from ∼3 to 10 μM (Fig. 4B1). Decreasing the glutamate diffusion coefficient from its value in buffer, which is higher than in brain (Kullmann et al., 1999), increases the predicted steady state [Glu] measured in the probe (Fig. 4B2). Increasing or decreasing the leak rate L ( Fig. 4B3) also influences steady state [Glu] predicted in the probe volume. Glutamate transporters limit receptor activity on different time scales in the brain by restricting the spread of synaptically released glutamate as well as by maintaining low ambient glutamate concentrations (for reviews, see Danbolt, 2001, Tzingounis and Wadiche, 2007 and Vandenberg and Ryan, 2013). The steady-state ambient concentration of extracellular

glutamate at any click here point in brain reflects the balance of fluxes through sources and sinks in the neuropil. The data presented here indicate that transporters can establish steep concentration gradients when glutamate is supplied by passive Calpain diffusion from a pseudo-infinite source. Although we have used the neuronal transporter EAAT3 in these studies, its equilibrium thermodynamics are indistinguishable from the predominant astroglial transporter EAAT2 (Levy et al., 1998). With EAAT3 transporter

densities similar to those reported for EAAT2 in hippocampal astroglial membranes (∼104/μm2; Lehre and Danbolt, 1998) the concentration gradient between a 10 μM source concentration and the cell surface was found to exceed two orders of magnitude. The steepness of the gradient formed would be further increased if diffusion were reduced, as for example in tortuous neuropil (Kullmann et al., 1999). Conversely, reduction of transporter density or activity will reduce the steepness of the gradient and increase [Glu] at the cell surface. Reduced glutamate transport by loss or metabolic impairment is implicated in a broad range of neurodegenerative disorders (Sheldon and Robinson, 2007) including stroke (Rossi et al., 2000), traumatic brain injury (Goodrich et al., 2013), epilepsy (Coulter and Eid, 2012), Huntington’s disease (Faideau et al., 2010), ALS (Rothstein, 2009), and Alzheimer’s disease (Scimemi et al., 2013).

Incidence varied greatly by geography with the highest rate ultra

Incidence varied greatly by geography with the highest rate ultrasound-detected intussusception of 581 per 100,000 child-years detected in the south (Vellore) and the lowest rate of 28 per 100,000 child-years detected in the north (Delhi). Approximately half (52%) of the intussusceptions were transient

and none required surgery. No cases occurred within 28 days of vaccination and no children died. The initial clinical trial results for the indigenously produced rotavirus vaccine, Rotavac, showed that the vaccine was 56% effective against severe rotavirus gastroenteritis during the first year of life which is comparable to the GS-7340 solubility dmso efficacy of the other internationally available vaccines in developing country settings [1], [33], [34] and [35]. In a follow-up analysis, the vaccine efficacy was shown to be sustained through the second year of life with an efficacy of Selleck JQ1 49% in the second year of life unlike the other available vaccines which showed

a substantially reduced efficacy during the second year of life in some developing country settings [36]. The vaccine provided comparable protection against a wide variety of strains. Forty infants would need to be vaccinated to prevent a severe episode of rotavirus gastroenteritis and 21 infants would need to be vaccinated to prevent an episode of rotavirus gastroenteritis of any severity. There are additional oral rotavirus vaccines in the pipeline in India (Table 1). One such vaccine is an oral bovine rotavirus pentavalent vaccine (BRV-PV) containing almost bovine-human reassortant strains of serotype G1, G2, G3, G4, and G9 that has been developed by the Serum Institute of India, Ltd. in collaboration

National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the United States [37]. This vaccine has completed animal toxicity studies and Phase I and II clinical trials in adults, toddlers, and infants and was found to be safe and immunogenic. Seroconversion rates were similar to those reported for Rotarix in India. Phase III trials to assess its efficacy against severe rotavirus gastroenteritis are planned. Another bovine human reassortant vaccine under development by Shantha Biotechnics Limited based on the National Institutes of Health’s bovine-human reassortant strains [38]. This oral bovine human reassortant tetravalent vaccine (BRV-TV) expresses serotypes G1, G2, G3, and G4. In Phase I/II clinical trials, all three concentrations of antigen tested were immunogenic and resulted in an increase in anti-rotavirus IgA antibodies. The vaccine arm with the highest concentration of antigen had the highest sero-response rate and also exceeded that of the RotaTeq arm.

The inhibition of adenovirus vector expression by MVA was also co

The inhibition of adenovirus vector expression by MVA was also confirmed through in vitro experiments. Furthermore, the suppression factor(s) included an undefined soluble protein, besides cytokines such as type I IFN. Two viral vectors were used in this study: One vector was an E1/3-deleted adenovirus vector expressing the secreted alkaline phosphatase SEAP gene (Ad-SEAP), HIVIIIB gp160 Env (Ad-HIV)

[4], the green fluorescent protein (Ad-GFP) or mCherry fluorescent protein (Ad-Cherry). Another vector was modified vaccinia virus Ankara expressing HIVBH2 gp160 Env and a report gene LacZ (MVA-HIV, a kind gift from Dr. Bernard Moss, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD) or the green fluorescent protein (MVA-GFP). The Ad vector was propagated in HEK293 cells and purified over www.selleckchem.com/products/SB-203580.html CsCl as described elsewhere [5]. The total concentration of virions in each preparation was calculated by using the following formula: 1 OD260=1012 viral particle (vp)/ml1 OD260=1012 viral particle (vp)/ml The MVA virus was propagated in the BHK21 cell line and purified by one round of ultracentrifuge over 36% sucrose. The MVA virus was titrated Fulvestrant mouse in the BHK21 cell line to determine the number of plaque forming units (pfu). Eight-week-old BALB/c mice (H-2Dd) were purchased from

Japan SLC Inc. (Shizuoka, Japan). The mice were immunized with an intramuscular injection of 1010 vp of Ad-HIV and Ad-GFP, 107 pfu of MVA-HIV, or 105–7 pfu of MVA-GFP. All experiments were performed in accordance with the guidelines of the University

Animal Care and Use Committee of the Animal Research Center, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine. The assay was performed as described previously [25]. The H-2Dd/p18 tetramer (RGPGRAFVTI; synthesized by NIH Tetramer Core Facility, Atlanta, GA) labeled with phycoerythrin (PE) was used for the tetramer assay. Briefly, 100 μl of heparinized whole mouse blood was stained with 0.25 μg of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC-conjugated) anti-mouse CD8a antibody (clone 53-6.7; eBioscience, San Diego, CA), along with 0.05 μg of tetramer reagent at room temperature for 30 min. The cells were nearly then fixed with 100 μl of OptiLyse B-Lysing solution (Beckman Coulter, Marseille Cedex, France) at room temperature for 10 min. Erythrocytes were lysed by adding 1 ml of H2O and washed with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). To detect antigen-specific memory T cells, the cells were co-stained with PE-p18 tetramer, FITC-anti CD8 antibody, 0.1 μg of phycoerythrin/cyanin7 (PE Cy7)-conjugated anti-mouse CD62L antibody (clone MEL-14; Biolegend, San Diego, CA), and 0.25 μg of Alexa Fluor 647-conjugated anti-mouse CD127 antibody (clone SB/199; AbD Serotec, Oxford, UK), similar to the tetramer assay described herein. The p18 tetramer+CD62L+CD127+CD8 T cells and p18 tetramer+CD62L−CD127+CD8 T cells were respectively defined as central memory (CM) CD8 T cells and effector memory (EM) CD8 T cells.

While exercise frequency, type, and time are relatively easy to q

While exercise frequency, type, and time are relatively easy to quantify, quantifying exercise intensity is

more complex. Quantification of exercise intensity has been achieved in the domain of strength training, where intensity is routinely measured using selleck chemicals llc the 1-repetition maximum (1RM) method (Thompson et al 2010). Aerobic training programs use intensity measures such as percentage of maximal oxygen uptake or percentage of heart rate maximum to determine the appropriate intensity for inducing a cardiovascular training effect (Thompson et al 2010). The Borg rating of perceived exertion scale was first developed as a measure of aerobic exercise intensity (Borg 1982) and more recently has What is already known on this topic: Exercise programs designed to challenge a person’s balance can improve balance ability in older adults. Exercises are normally prescribed by defining the frequency, intensity, type, and duration of exercise. Exercise needs to be performed near the limits of an individual’s capacity to induce a training effect. What this study adds: Although numerous trials of balance exercise interventions in older

adults have been conducted, none has quantified the intensity of the challenge to the individual’s balance system. No psychometrically validated tools exist to measure the intensity of the challenge to an older person’s balance system. In determining the optimum level of challenge of balance exercises, recommendations commonly relate to the difficulty of the balance task, rather than to the intensity of the activity relative to the ability of the individual (Thompson et al 2010, Tiedemann et al Trichostatin A 2011). Therefore, although it is known a person is performing one task that

may be more difficult than another, it is not clear how to quantify the challenge of that task to the balance capability of that individual. Specialist practitioners in the field of falls and balance have reported being unable to identify an ideal balance exercise intensity prescription method, other than to say that the balance exercises prescribed need to be challenging (Haas et al 2012). Given that there are four factors used to prescribe exercise, if one factor is missing or measured inconsistently, optimal prescription dosage is confounded. To date, there has Cell press been no systematic investigation of whether or how the intensity of balance exercise prescription has been determined in trials of balance rehabilitation programs. The research questions for this review were therefore: 1. How has balance exercise intensity been reported and prescribed in trials of balance exercise interventions? A three-phase process was used to identify articles appropriate for inclusion in this review. In the first phase, the lead investigator (MF) conducted a search in December 2011 to identify all systematic reviews published between 2006 and 2011 that included balance exercise interventions.

Previous history of back pain has been highlighted

as a p

Previous history of back pain has been highlighted

as a prognostic Docetaxel indicator in other studies (Mallen et al., 2007), but this was not supported here, probably due to the very high proportion of the sample with prior back pain (87%). Although a wide range of prognostic indicators were included here, other factors have been identified elsewhere (e.g. Mallen et al., 2007 and Foster et al., 2010) and it would be useful to examine these. Replication in other samples, perhaps with recent onset back pain, would be useful, as the current sample was mixed, and contained many people with long duration of pain. A strength of this study is presentation of the contribution of prognostic factors to poor outcome through the use of adjusted PAF calculations. Whilst adjustment for confounding is considered essential for models of outcome prediction, adjustment of PAFs is rare. Table 3 demonstrates that proportions can change substantially following adjustment, and presentation of unadjusted proportions would considerably overestimate the contribution of several factors. Although there was loss to follow-up in the study, the

sample is representative of baseline responders. Attrition biases are unlikely to substantially influence the RRs reported here, as comparisons are Selleckchem Apoptosis Compound Library within the sample. However, as the proportions corresponding to each factor are based on associations and risk factor prevalence, these may be affected. In this analysis, 47% of the sample had high pain intensity at baseline, compared to 46% in the total baseline sample; loss to follow-up is therefore unlikely Bay 11-7085 to have affected the proportions reported. However, initial response to the survey was 65%, and it is likely that non-responders were different to baseline responders. The impact of this is difficult to assess due to lack of information, but it is likely

that the prevalence of prognostic indicators would be lower among non-responders. However, even a 10% change in the prevalence of the prognostic indicator would only make a difference in the proportion of poor outcome associated with pain intensity of around 4% (e.g. reducing high pain intensity prevalence from 47% to 37% would lead to an unadjusted proportion of 77% compared with 81% in Table 3), indicating that our results are likely to be broadly generalisable. Comparisons are also difficult to make with other samples due to the different measures used, lack of information about prevalence of prognostic indicators, and the inability to produce adjusted figures without the original data. As proportions differ according to the prevalence of exposure and strength of association, estimates of the potential contributions of prognostic indicators should be made for individual settings.

The delayed TPm crystal growth seen in the CARS dissolution imagi

The delayed TPm crystal growth seen in the CARS dissolution imaging (Fig. 8) was expected to affect the TPa dissolution rate and Fig. 9 shows that this was the case. Fig. 9 shows the dissolution profiles for TPa and TPm compacts undergoing dissolution using MC solution as the dissolution medium. From Fig. 9 it can be seen that the

characteristic decrease in dissolution rate associated with TPm growth on the surface of TPa compacts (Fig. 7) is no longer seen. Instead the TPa compacts reach a concentration of about 150 μg/mL and remain there for the duration of the experiment. The dissolution behavior of the TPm compacts appear minimally affected by the use of the MC dissolution medium as

they reach a concentration of about 80 μg/mL and remain there for the duration of the experiment. This concentration is the same Gefitinib manufacturer as was observed for water without the polymer, revealing that the solubility of the drug is not affected by the polymer in solution, and therefore the different dissolution profiles obtained with and without polymer solution are not solubility mediated. The steady-state intrinsic dissolution rates were calculated to be 700 ± 130 μg/min/cm2 and 350 ± 40 μg/min/cm2 for the compacts prepared from TPa and TPm respectively (assuming both compacts had a perfectly planar surface). Since the solubility of the TPa is twice that of TPm in water at 25 °C [29], a two-fold increase in the dissolution rate of the compact prepared from TPa would theoretically only be expected if there were http://www.selleckchem.com/products/abt-199.html no conversion to the monohydrate. However, an increase in surface area of the compacts prepared from TPa after TPm formation was observed in water which affected the dissolution behavior, and therefore a surface area increase can also be expected to affect those the dissolution profiles

in the polymer solution. Additionally, from Fig. 9 there are noticeable fluctuations in the steady-state concentrations (when compared to Fig. 7) of both TPa and TPm this is attributed to bubbles in the dissolution medium not removed by sonication. The inherent confocality, chemical specificity, and speed provided by CARS microscopy increases the spatial and chemical resolution of the system providing advantages over existing approaches including traditional optical microscopy and Raman microscopy based on spontaneous Raman scattering. The biggest advantage when compared to traditional optical microscopy is the fact that the detected signal is generated when the excitation beams match the Raman vibrational mode for the chemical of interest this provides chemical selectivity. If the excitation laser frequencies are incorrect or the sample is the wrong chemical then no resonant signal is generated.

In order to determine the relatedness of the local isolate to the

In order to determine the relatedness of the local isolate to these Streptomyces strains. The phylogenetic tree (as displayed by the Tree View program) revealed that the locally isolated strain is closely related (99.3%) to with 16S rRNA gene sequence of Streptomyces fradiae BLU9931 price Gene Bank accession number AB184776, score 2866, and characterized as S. fradiae MTCC 11051 ( Fig. 2). The optimum conditions for antifungal metabolite production were observed at pH 8, temperature 28 °C, agitation 180 rpm and glucose concentration 2.5% and the highest activity

was observed equivalent to 40 mm (ZoI) against the C. albicans MTCC 183. The antifungal metabolite production was monitored over a period of 12 days. Antibiotic production was started after 48 h of incubation in culture broth. The rate of antifungal metabolite production correlated

with growth rate of the S. fradiae. The antibiotic compound production was highest at 5th day of incubation in the late log phase with the zone of inhibition 40 mm against C. albicans MTCC 183 and remained constant at 10th day of incubation after then gradually decreases. The pH of the culture broth was within the range 7.2–7.8 throughout fermentation. n-butanol and methanol was found to be best solvent for extracellular and intracellular antifungal activity respectively as they inhibited the growth of all fungal strains. Isolate showed very low intracellular activity as compared to the extracellular activity. After extraction, a brown yellow color active compound Phosphatidylinositol diacylglycerol-lyase was obtained. The active compound was soluble in methanol, ethanol, acetone, methyl acetate, n-butanol, water but not Autophagy Compound Library mouse in benzene, chloroform and diethyl ether. The bioactive crude product of S. fradiae showed potent inhibitory effect as MIC and MFC values against the fungal test pathogens. The MIC and MFC values of the bioactive product were found in the range of

6.25–50 μg/ml of active compound ( Table 1). The supernatant from starch casein nitrate broth of S. fradiae MS02 showed greater potency than the amphotericin B against the yeast, molds and dermatophytes. However, this needs further investigation using purified powdered form of the active component. The antifungal activity of isolate MS02, was seen both on solid as well as in culture broth. 15 Production of antifungal metabolite has been known to be influenced by media components and cultural conditions, such as aeration, agitation, pH, temperature and glucose concentration, which differs from organism to organism. 16 It is well known that variation in pH of the culture medium induces production of new substances that affect antibiotic production. 17 Deviation from optimum temperature for antifungal metabolite production severely affects the yield of antifungal metabolite. 18 Agitation affects aeration and mixing of the nutrients in the fermentation medium.

18 The pH of wheatgrass juice (7 4) is same as the human blood du

18 The pH of wheatgrass juice (7.4) is same as the human blood due to which it is rapidly absorbed in human blood. Wheatgrass increases the HbF level, expands the time period INK1197 datasheet of repeated blood transfusions as well as reduces the amount of total blood transfused in beta-thalassemia patients. Extract of wheatgrass sprout increases HbF production higher to 3–5 folds and improves the quality of life. 16 Its biological

activity was examined on treating transfusion dependent beta-thalassemic patients daily with 100 ml of this compound. It was observed that wheatgrass juice reduced the requirement of packed red cells by 25% or more, causing no adverse effects on patients. 19 Curcuminoid has been shown to exhibit anticarcinogen, antioxidant and anti- inflammation activities.20 and 21 Curcumin, demethoxycurcumin and bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC) are the three main natural curcuminoids found in the rhizomes of Curcuma longa and can be extracted easily from it. These three natural curcuminoids have been shown to increase γ-globin mRNA expression and induction of HbF synthesis in beta-thalassemic K562 cells. An increase in HbF level to 1.4 ± 0.5 folds in beta-thalassemic cells has been found. It possesses some disadvantages like very poor bioavailability and low absorption in the body.

Therefore, there is a further need to elucidate the mechanism of HbF induction and γ-globin mRNA expression by using curcuminoid as a therapeutic agent. 22 One study reported that curcuminoids may reduce oxidative Alectinib ic50 damage in beta-thalassemic patients. Twenty-one patients were treated with curcuminoids (500 mg/d) for 1 year. Blood was collected and was examined for malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), reduced GSH in RBCs, and nontransferrin-bound iron in serum. Higher levels of superoxide dismutase, GSH-Px in red blood cells, MDA, nontransferrin bound iron, and lower levels of RBC GSH were observed which indicated an increase in oxidative stress. More research is needed to determine whether improvement in parameters by curcuminoid is linked with the improvement in symptoms of beta-thalassemia.23

Apicidin [Cyclo(N-O-methyl-L-tryptophan-L-isoleucinyl-D-pipecolinyl-L-2-amino-8-oxodecanoyl)], a fungal metabolite, exhibits antiparasitic activity and aminophylline is known to inhibit histone deacetylase (HDAC).24 Apicidin is a very strong inducer of HbF synthesis as compared with other HDAC inhibitors. It accounts 3-fold increase in HbF/total Hb ratio at the protein level and 16-fold increase in γ-globin mRNA expression. It shows that apicidin is an effective HbF-inducer and has low cytotoxicity. There is a need of more research for the treatment of thalassemia using mice models.25 Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus) is one of the Chinese herbs prescribed for over 2000 years. It consists of functional constituents including flavonoids, amino acids, Astragalus polysaccharides, astragalosides I–VII (saponins), and trace elements.