title: Danggui buxue tang--a Chinese herbal decoction activates the phosphorylations of extracellular signal-regulated kinase and estrogen receptor alpha in cultured MCF-7 cells.
abstract: Danggui buxue tang (DBT), a Chinese herbal decoction used to treat ailments in women, contains radix Astragali (Huangqi; RA) and radix Angelicae Sinensis (Danggui; RAS). The weight ratio of RA to RAS used in DBT must be 5:1 as stipulated as early as AD 1247; however, DBT's mechanism of action has never been described. Here, the estrogenic effects of DBT were investigated by determining the phosphorylations of estrogen receptor alpha (ER alpha) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (Erk1/2) in cultured MCF-7 cells. The application of DBT triggered the phosphorylation of ER alpha and Erk1/2 in a time-dependent manner. In contrast to the effect of estrogen, DBT triggered ER alpha phosphorylation at both S118 and S167. This DBT-specific phosphorylation was not triggered by an extract of one of the individual herbs, or by mixing the extracts of RA and RAS. DBT-induced downstream signals are described here. These signals suggest the uniqueness of this Chinese herbal decoction that requires a well-defined formulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Center for Chinese Medicine R&D, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay Road, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Qiu T
authors.initials: QT
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Roy C Y
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Anna W H
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: Judy T T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Glanice K Y
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Ran
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.forename: Jerry K H
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: Zhi Y
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Xiao B
authors.initials: XB
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Kui J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Tina T X
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Karl W K
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Tsim
mesh_terms: D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000592:standards; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000819:agonists*; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000187:drug effects; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000187:drug effects; D010766:Phosphorylation; D048789:Phytoestrogens / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000592:standards; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D048789:Phytoestrogens; D010936:Plant Extracts; C477279:danggui buxue decoction; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3