[Effect of Astragalus membranaceus on erythrocyte sodium content and sodium transport in the coronary heart disease].

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Astragalus membranaceus (AM) on erythrocyte sodium content and sodium transport in the coronary heart disease(CHD). 67 cases of CHD was randomly divided into treatment group (TG) and control group (CG), TG (45 cases) were treated with AM intravenous 24 g/d infused into 5% glucose 250 ml, CG (22 cases) with 5% glucose 250 ml. After a curable stage of 14 days, results showed that the erythrocyte sodium content was markedly decreased and the sodium pump activity was significantly increased (P less than 0.01 respectively) in TG; but no significant difference in membrane permeability to sodium was observed. There were no difference in erythrocyte sodium content and sodium transport in CG. It was suggested that AM had the effects to increase erythrocyte activity of sodium pump.