Chemical and biological assessment of Angelica herbal decoction: comparison of different preparations during historical applications.
The commonly used Angelica herbal decoction today is Danggui Buxue Tang (DBT), which is a dietary supplement in treating menopausal irregularity in women, i.e. to nourish "Qi" and to enrich "Blood". According to historical record, many herbal decoctions were also named DBT, but the most popular formulation of DBT was written in Jin dynasty (1247 AD) of China, which contained Astragali Radix (AR) and Angelicae Sinensis Radix (ASR) with a weight ratio of 5:1. However, at least two other Angelica herbal decoctions recorded as DBT were prescribed in Song (1155 AD) and Qing dynasties (1687 AD). Although AR and ASR are still the major components in the DBT herbal decoctions, they are slightly varied in the herb composition. In order to reveal the efficiency of different Angelica herbal decoctions, the chemical and biological properties of three DBT herbal extracts were compared. Significantly, the highest amounts of AR-derived astragaloside III, astragaloside IV, calycosin and formononetin and ASR-derived ferulic acid were found in DBT described in 1247 AD: this preparation showed stronger activities in osteogenic, estrogenic and erythropoetic effects than the other two DBT. The current results supported the difference of three DBT in chemical and biological properties, which could be a result of different herbal combinations. For the first time, this study supports the popularity of DBT described in 1247 AD.
Division of Life Science and Center for Chinese Medicine, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay Road, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Wendy Li
WL
Zhang
Ken Yu-Zhong
KY
Zheng
Kevin Yue
KY
Zhu
Janis Ya-Xian
JY
Zhan
Cathy Wen-Chuan
CW
Bi
Jian-Ping
JP
Chen
Crystal Ying-Qing
CY
Du
Kui-Jun
KJ
Zhao
David Tai-Wai
DT
Lau
Tina Ting-Xia
TT
Dong
Karl Wah-Keung
KW
Tsim
D015107:4-Butyrolactone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis; D029969:Angelica / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D027885:Astragalus propinquus / Q000737:chemistry*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D003373:Coumaric Acids / Q000032:analysis; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004920:Erythropoiesis / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005960:Glucosides / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007529:Isoflavones / Q000032:analysis; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000187:drug effects; D012503:Saponins / Q000032:analysis; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000032:analysis
D003373:Coumaric Acids; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D005960:Glucosides; D007529:Isoflavones; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D012503:Saponins; D014315:Triterpenes; C526426:calycosin-7-O-beta-D-glucoside; C477279:danggui buxue decoction; C121707:7,3'-dihydroxy-4'-methoxyisoflavone; C007768:formononetin; C052064:astragaloside A; C027820:ligustilide; C004999:ferulic acid; D015107:4-Butyrolactone