Planta Med 2008; 74(4): 392-395
DOI: 10.1055/s-2008-1034322
Pharmacology
Original Paper
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

A Chinese Herbal Decoction Prepared from Radix Astragali and Radix Angelicae Sinensis Induces the Expression of Erythropoietin in Cultured Hep3B Cells

Qiu T. Gao1 , Jerry K. H. Cheung1 , Roy C. Y. Choi1 , Anna W. H. Cheung1 , Jun Li1 , Zhi Y. Jiang1 , Ran Duan1 , Kui J. Zhao1 , 3 , An W. Ding2 , Tina T. X. Dong1 , Karl W. K. Tsim1
  • 1Department of Biology and Center for Chinese Medicine, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay Road, Hong Kong, P. R. CHina
  • 2Jiangsu Key Laboratory for TCM Formulae Research (LTCMF), Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, P. R. China
  • 3Beijing Friendship Hospital, Affiliate of Capital University of Medical Sciences, Beijing, P. R. China
Weitere Informationen

Publikationsverlauf

Received: October 3, 2007 Revised: January 28, 2008

Accepted: January 29, 2008

Publikationsdatum:
07. März 2008 (online)

Abstract

Danggui Buxue Tang (DBT), a Chinese medicinal decoction used commonly for treating women’s ailments, contains Radix Astragali (RA) and Radix Angelicae Sinensis (RAS). According to Chinese medicinal theory, this decoction is to nourish the blood function; this, however, has not been demonstrated on the molecular level. In order to reveal the hematopoietic effect of this decoction, DBT was applied to cultured Hep3B human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. The treatment of DBT induced mRNA expression of erythropoietin (EPO) in a dose-dependent manner and peaked at ∼2.5-fold induction. The secreted EPO in cultured Hep3B cells was quantified by ELISA: the treatment of DBT potentiated the effect of hypoxia-induced EPO expression in the cultured cells. In addition, the DBT-induced EPO expression could be abolished by pre-treatment with U0126, a mitogen-activated kinase inhibitor. The current results verified the hematopoietic function of this ancient herbal decoction.

Abbreviations

DBT:Danggui Buxue Tang

EPO:erythropoietin

ERK:extracellular signal-regulated kinase

MAP:mitogen-activated protein

RA:Radix Astragali

RAS:Radix Angelicae Sinensis

TCM:traditional Chinese medicine

TGFβ:transforming growth factor beta

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Dr. Karl W. K. Tsim

Department of Biology

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Clear Water Bay Road

Hong Kong

People’s Republic of China

Telefon: +852-2358-7332

Fax: +852-2358-1559

eMail: BOTSIM@ust.hk