Treatment with Astragali radix and Angelicae radix enhances erythropoietin gene expression in the cyclophosphamide-induced anemic rat.
Anemia is a common cause of morbidity and disease and reduces the quality of life. This study examined the effect of a combination treatment (AAC) using Astragali radix (AMW) and Angelicae radix (AGW) in cyclophosphamide (CYP)-induced anemic rats on erythropoietin (EPO) expression and hematological parameters. Male 4-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups with or without CYP-induced anemia and individual or the combined herbal treatments according to the experimental protocol. After treatment, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was used to evaluate the effects of AAC on erythropoietin expression, and blood and serological parameters were measured. The EPO mRNA levels were lower in the CYP-treated group, compared to the normal group, and higher in the AAC-treated group. In the CYP-treated group, the serum iron concentration, total iron-binding capacity, and vitamin B(12) level were lower, but these were normal or almost normal in the AAC-treated group. The CYP-treated group gained less weight than the normal group, but weight gain was partially normalized in the AAC group. The feed efficiency ratio was lowest in the CYP group, but the differences were not significant. The numbers of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, the hematocrit, and the hemoglobin level were measured. The results revealed a reduced number of blood cells in the CYP-treated group, whereas the AAC-, AMW-, and AGW-treated groups showed significantly enhanced blood cell numbers compared to the CYP-treated control group and the AAC-treated group. AAC enhanced EPO mRNA expression in the CYP-induced anemic rat and improved the hematological parameters and vitamin B(12) status.
Chang
Mun Seog
MS
Department of Prescriptionology, College of Oriental Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Kim
Do Rim
DR
Ko
Eun Bit
EB
Choi
Bong Jae
BJ
Park
Soo Yeon
SY
Kang
Soon Ah
SA
Park
Seong Kyu
SK
D000740:Anemia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D029969:Angelica; D000818:Animals; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000009:adverse effects; D027885:Astragalus propinquus; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D001773:Blood Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000009:adverse effects; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000187:drug effects; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects*; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy; D018517:Plant Roots; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects
D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D004921:Erythropoietin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D007501:Iron; D014805:Vitamin B 12