Download PDF
Planta Med 2006; 72(13): 1227-1231
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-947186
Letter
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

A Chinese Herbal Decoction, Danggui Buxue Tang, Prepared from Radix Astragali and Radix Angelicae Sinensis Stimulates the Immune Responses

Qiu T. Gao1 , Jerry K.  H. Cheung1 , Jun Li1 , Glanice K. Y. Chu1 , Ran Duan1 , Anna W. H. Cheung1 , Kui J. Zhao1 , 2 , Tina T. X. Dong1 , Karl W. K. Tsim1
  • 1Department of Biology, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay Road, Hong Kong
  • 2Beijing Friendship Hospital, Affiliate of Capital University of Medical Sciences, Beijing, P. R. China
Further Information

Publication History

Received: February 20, 2006

Accepted: June 1, 2006

Publication Date:
10 August 2006 (online)

Also available at
    Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

Danggui Buxue Tang (DBT), a Chinese medicinal decoction that is used commonly for treating women’s ailments, contains Radix Astragali and Radix Angelicae Sinensis. The ratio of Radix Astragali and Radix Angelicae Sinensis used in DBT should be 5 : 1 as described in China in 1247 A.D. In order to verify the efficacy of this ancient formulation in stimulating the immune responses, DBT prepared from different drug ratios was applied onto cultured T-lymphocytes and macrophages. In cultured T-lymphocytes, DBT induced markedly cell proliferation, secretion of interleukin-2 and phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase. In addition, the phagocytosis of cultured macrophages was increased by DBT treatment. The immunomodulatory effects of DBT were revealed to be the strongest in the extract derived from the drug ratio of 5 : 1. The current results verified that the ancient formulation of DBT has been optimized in stimulating immune responses.

Abbreviations

DBT: Danggui Buxue Tang

ERK: extracellular signal-regulated kinase

IL-2: interleukin-2

TCM: traditional Chinese medicine

References

  • 1 Zheng X Y. Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China. Beijing; Chemical Industry Press, China 2005
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 2 Han S B, Kim Y H, Lee C W, Park S M, Lee H Y, Ahn K S. et al . Characteristic immunostimulation by angelan isolated from Angelica gigas Nakai.  Immunopharmacology. 1998;  40 39-48
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 3 Wu D Z, Song C Q, Hen Z F, Kong J L, Fan Y, Hu Z B. Effects of Angelicae Sinensis decoction for supplementing blood on the cardiac function in myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury of rats.  Pharm Clin Chin Mater Med. 1999;  15 3-6
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 4 Ning L, Chen C X, Jin R M, Wu Y P, Zhang H G, Sun C L. et al . Effect of components of Dang-Gui-Bu-Xue decoction on hematopenia.  Chin J Chin Mater Med. 2002;  27 50-3
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 5 Song Z H, Ji Z N, Lo C K, Dong T T, Zhao K J, Li O T. et al . Chemical and biological assessment of a traditional Chinese herbal decoction prepared from Radix Astragali and Radix Angelicae Sinensis: orthogonal array design to optimize the extraction of chemical constituents.  Planta Med. 2004;  70 222-7
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 6 Roit I M. The anatomy of immune response. In: Roitt IM, editor Essential immunology. London; Blackwell Scientific 1994: p 147
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 7 Dong T TX, Zhao K J, Gao Q T, Zhao N J, Zhu T T, Li J. et al . Chemical and biological assessment of a Chinese herbal decoction containing Radix Astragali and Radix Angelicae Sinensis: determination of drug ratio in having optimized properties.  J Agric Food Chem.. 2006;  54 2767-74
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 8 Wu B C, Sun X F, Yang G Y. Studies on different combination of the Dang Gui Buxue decoction.  Chin Med Material Hei Long Jiang. 1989;  4 41-5
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 9 Li Y K, Xu J, Zhang X C. Pharmacology study on Dang Gui Buxue decoction.  Chin J Herbal Pharmacol Ther. 1992;  8 16-20
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 10 Mak D HF, Chiu P Y, Dong T XX, Tsim K WK, Ko K M. Dang-Gui Buxue Tang produces a more potent cardioprotective effects than its component herb extracts and enhances glutathione status in rat heart mitochondria and erythrocytes.  Phytother Res. 2006;  30 561-7
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 11 Ma X Q, Shi Q, Duan J A, Dong T T, Tsim K W. Chemical analysis of Radix Astragali (Huangqi) in China: a comparison with its adulterants and seasonal variations.  J Agric Food Chem. 2002;  50 4861-6
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 12 Zhao K J, Dong T TX, Tu P F, Song Z H, Lo C K, Tsim K WK. Molecular genetic and chemical assessment of Radix Angelica (Danggui) in China.  J Agric Food Chem. 2003;  51 2576-83
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 13 Jain J, Almquist S J, Heiser A D, Shlyakhter D, Leon E, Memmott C. et al . Characterization of pharmacological efficacy of VX-148, a new, potent immunosuppressive inosine 5′-monophosphate dehydrogenase inhibitor.  J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2002;  302 1272-7
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 14 Tung E K, Choi R C, Siow N L, Jiang J X, Ling K K, Simon J. et al . P2Y2 receptor activation regulates the expression of acetylcholinesterase and acetylcholine receptor genes at vertebrate neuromuscular junctions.  Mol Pharmacol. 2004;  66 794-806
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 15 Foukas L C, Katsoulas H L, Paraskevopopulou N, Metheniti A, Lambropoulou M, Marmaras V J. Phagocytosis of Escherichia coli by insect hemocytes requires both activation of the ras/mitogen-activated protein kinase signal transduction pathway for attachment and 3 integrin for internalization.  J Biol Chem. 1998;  273 14 813-8
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar

Dr. Karl W. K. Tsim

Department of Biology

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Clear Water Bay Road

Hong Kong SAR

People’s Republic of China

Phone: +852-2358-7332

Fax: +852-2358-1559

Email: botsim@ust.hk