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)

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

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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 SAR

People’s Republic of China

Phone: +852-2358-7332

Fax: +852-2358-1559

Email: botsim@ust.hk