title: Danggui Buxue Tang attenuates eosinophil infiltration and airway hyperresponsiveness in asthmatic mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Danggui Buxue Tang (DBT), an herbal formula containing Angelica sinensis (AS) and Astragalus membranaceus (AM) (AS:AM = 1:5, designated as DBT1 here), has been used in Chinese medicine to enhance qi and blood circulation. In addition, DBT has served as a treatment for atopic dermatitis in dogs in Taiwan. It also may improve fibrosis in a rat model of pulmonary fibrosis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In this study, we evaluated the effect of oral administration of DBT1 in asthma in ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Female BALB/c mice were sensitized and challenged with OVA and fed with DBT1 or modified formulas of DBT1, designated as DBT2 (AS:AM = 1:1) and DBT3 (AS:AM = 5:1), from days 21 to 27.
  
  
  RESULTS
  DBT1 suppressed airway hyperresponsiveness and eosinophil infiltration in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung, and Th2-associated cytokines and chemokines were inhibited in BALF. In addition, levels of OVA-immunoglobulin E (IgE) also were suppressed in serum. However, treatment with DBT2 or DBT3 showed no improved effects relative to DBT1 in treating asthmatic symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that orally administered DBT (DBT1) can reduce allergic reactions in OVA-sensitized mice.
authors: Brion Research Institute of Taiwan, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Ching-Che
authors: CC
authors: Lin
authors: Chian-Jiun
authors: CJ
authors: Liou
authors: Chien-Ying
authors: CY
authors: Chiang
authors: Wen-Ying
authors: WY
authors: Huang
authors: Wen-Chung
authors: WC
authors: Huang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology; D011897:Random Allocation
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; C477279:danggui buxue decoction; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D010047:Ovalbumin