Danggui buxue tang--a Chinese herbal decoction activates the phosphorylations of extracellular signal-regulated kinase and estrogen receptor alpha in cultured MCF-7 cells.
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.
Gao
Qiu T
QT
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.
Choi
Roy C Y
RC
Cheung
Anna W H
AW
Zhu
Judy T T
JT
Li
Jun
J
Chu
Glanice K Y
GK
Duan
Ran
R
Cheung
Jerry K H
JK
Jiang
Zhi Y
ZY
Dong
Xiao B
XB
Zhao
Kui J
KJ
Dong
Tina T X
TT
Tsim
Karl W K
KW
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
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