title: A Chinese herbal decoction, Danggui Buxue Tang, prepared from Radix Astragali and Radix Angelicae Sinensis stimulates the immune responses.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay Road, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Qiu T
authors.initials: QT
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Jerry K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Glanice K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Ran
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.forename: Anna W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: Kui J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Tina T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Karl W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Tsim
mesh_terms: D029971:Angelica sinensis / Q000737:chemistry*; D027885:Astragalus propinquus / Q000737:chemistry*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical / Q000592:standards; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000276:immunology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D007376:Interleukin-2; D010936:Plant Extracts; C477279:danggui buxue decoction; C044613:angelicae sinensis extract; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases