Botanical drugs and stem cells.
The potential to generate virtually any differentiated cell type from stem cells offers the possibility of creating new sources of cells for regenerative medicine. To realize this potential, it will be essential to control stem cell differentiation. Chinese herbal medicine is a major aspect of traditional Chinese medicine and is a rich source of unique chemicals. As such, individual herbs or extracts may play a role in the proliferation and differentiation of stem cells. In this review, we discuss some of the Chinese herbal medicines that are used to treat human diseases such as neuronal degenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and osteoporosis. We also describe the relationship between Chinese herbal medicines and stem cell regulation.
Lin
Po-Cheng
PC
Department of Life Science and Graduate Institute of Biotechnology, National Dong Hwa University, Hualien, Taiwan.
Chang
Li-Fu
LF
Liu
Po-Yen
PY
Lin
Shinn-Zong
SZ
Wu
Wan-Chen
WC
Chen
Wuen-Shyong
WS
Tsai
Chang-Hai
CH
Chiou
Tzyy-Wen
TW
Harn
Horng-Jyh
HJ
D001851:Bone Diseases, Metabolic / Q000628:therapy; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000628:therapy; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000628:therapy; D058953:Neural Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000637:transplantation; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000628:therapy; D055495:Neurogenesis; D044968:Regenerative Medicine
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal