title: An herbal decoction of Radix astragali and Radix angelicae sinensis promotes hematopoiesis and thrombopoiesis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A decoction containing Radix angelicae sinensis and Radix astragali (Danggui Buxue Tang, DBT) has been used to raise the "Qi" and nourish the "Blood". However, its effects on haematopoiesis and particularly thrombopoiesis have not been studied.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to examine the effects of DBT on hematopoiesis and thrombopoiesis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A myelosuppression mouse model was treated with DBT (10mg/kg/day). Peripheral blood cells from DBT and thrombopoietin-treated samples were counted on days 0, 7, 14 and 21. Then CFU assays were used to determine the effects of DBT on the megakaryocytic progenitor cells and other lineages. Last, analyses of annexin V, caspase-3, and mitochondrial membrane potential were conducted in megakaryocytic cell line M-07e.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Morphological examination showed that DBT treatment significantly increased the recovery of the megakaryocytic series. DBT significantly enhanced the platelet recovery and CFU-MK formation in vivo. DBT significantly promoted CFU-MK and CFU-F formation. Last, we observed the antiapoptotic effects of DBT on M-07e cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DBT might promote haematopoiesis and thrombopoiesis in the mouse model through (i) directly promoting the growth of megakaryocytes; (ii) indirectly promoting the growth of bone marrow stromal cells; (iii) inhibiting apoptosis of megakaryocytes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, PR China. yangmo@hkucc.hku.hk
authors.forename: Mo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Godfrey C F
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Ruixia
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Margaret H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: Sau Wan
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Ching Po
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: Jie Yu
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Liangjie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D029971:Angelica sinensis; D000818:Animals; D017304:Annexin A5 / Q000378:metabolism; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D027883:Astragalus Plant; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000187:drug effects; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006410:Hematopoiesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008533:Megakaryocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018517:Plant Roots; D010976:Platelet Count; D011833:Radiation Injuries, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D034061:Thrombopoiesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D013926:Thrombopoietin / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D017304:Annexin A5; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D010936:Plant Extracts; C477279:danggui buxue decoction; D013926:Thrombopoietin; D053148:Caspase 3