scholarly journals The Osteogenic Function of Danggui Buxue Tang, a Herbal Decoction Containing Astragali Radix and Angelicae Sinensis Radix, Is Optimized by Boiling the Two Herbs Together: Signaling Analyses Revealed by Systems Biology

Processes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 1119
Author(s):  
Kenneth K L Kwan ◽  
Tin Yan Wong ◽  
Anna X. D. Yu ◽  
Tina T. X. Dong ◽  
Henry H. L. Lam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systems Biology ◽  
Herbal Extract ◽  
Complex Biological System ◽  
Astragali Radix ◽  
Danggui Buxue Tang ◽  
Herbal Mixture ◽  
Herbal Decoction ◽  
Cellular Pathways ◽  
Angelicae Sinensis ◽  
Rat Osteoblasts

The therapeutic efficacy of a herbal mixture, being multi-target, multi-function and multi-pathway, is the niche of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Systems biology can dissect the network of signaling mechanisms in a complex biological system. In preparing TCM decoctions, the boiling of herbs together in water is a common practice; however, the rationale of this specific preparation has not been fully revealed. An approach of mass-spectrometry-based multi-omics was employed to examine the profiles of the cellular pathways, so as to understand the pharmacological efficacy of Danggui Buxue Tang (DBT), a Chinese herbal mixture containing Astragali Radix and Angelicae Sinensis Radix, in cultured rat osteoblasts and mesenchymal stem cells. The results, generated from omics analyses, were compared from DBT-treated osteoblasts to those of treating the herbal extract by simple mixing of extracts from Astragali Radix and Angelicae Sinensis Radix, i.e., herbal mixture without boiling together. The signaling pathways responsible for energy metabolism and amino acid metabolism showed distinct activation, as triggered by DBT, in contrast to simple mixing of two herbal extracts. The result supports that boiling the herbs together is designed to maximize the osteoblastic function of DBT, such as in energy and lipid metabolism. This harmony of TCM formulation, by having interactive functions of two herbs during preparation, is being illustrated. The systems biology approach provides new and essential insights into the synergy of herbal preparation. Well-defined multiple targets and multiple pathways in different levels of omics are the key to modernizing TCM.

scholarly journals Functions of Danggui Buxue Tang, a Chinese Herbal Decoction Containing Astragali Radix and Angelicae Sinensis Radix, in Uterus and Liver are Both Estrogen Receptor-Dependent and -Independent

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oliver Zierau ◽  
Ken Y. Z. Zheng ◽  
Anja Papke ◽  
Tina T. X. Dong ◽  
Karl W. K. Tsim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Estrogen Receptor ◽  
Ovariectomized Rats ◽  
Transcript Expression ◽  
Astragali Radix ◽  
Danggui Buxue Tang ◽  
Chinese Herbal ◽  
Herbal Decoction ◽  
Estrogenic Properties ◽  
Angelicae Sinensis

Danggui Buxue Tang (DBT), a herbal decoction containing Astragali Radix (AR) and Angelicae Sinensis Radix (ASR), has been used in treating menopausal irregularity in women for more than 800 years in China. Pharmacological results showed that DBT exhibited significant estrogenic propertiesin vitro, which therefore suggested that DBT could activate the nuclear estrogen receptors. Here, we assessed the estrogenic properties of DBT in an ovariectomizedin vivorat model: DBT was applied to the ovariectomized rats for 3 days. The application of DBT did not alter the weight of uterus and liver, as well as the transcript expression of the proliferation markers including the estrogen receptorsαandβ. However, DBT stimulated the transcript expression of the estrogen responsive genes. In addition, the inductive role of DBT on the expression of members of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor family in uterus and liver of ovariectomized rats was confirmed. These responses of DBT however were clearly distinct from the response pattern detectable here for 17β-estradiol. Therefore, DBT exhibited weak, but significant, estrogenic propertiesin vivo; however, some of its activities were independent of the estrogen receptor. Thus, DBT could be an exciting Chinese herbal decoction for an alternative treatment of hormone replacement therapy for women in menopause without subsequent estrogenic side effects.

scholarly journals Integrated Omics Reveals the Orchestrating Role of Calycosin in Danggui Buxue Tang, a Herbal Formula Containing Angelicae Sinensis Radix and Astragali Radix, in Inducing Osteoblastic Differentiation and Proliferation

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth K L Kwan ◽  
Tin Yan Wong ◽  
Anna X D Yu ◽  
Tina T X Dong ◽  
Henry H N Lam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systems Biology ◽  
Herbal Medicine ◽  
Signaling Pathways ◽  
Osteoblastic Differentiation ◽  
Herbal Formula ◽  
Astragali Radix ◽  
Danggui Buxue Tang ◽  
Integrated Omics ◽  
Differentiation And Proliferation ◽  
Angelicae Sinensis

Systems biology unravels the black box of signaling pathway of cells; but which has not been extensively applied to reveal the mechanistic synergy of a herbal formula. The therapeutic efficacies of a herbal formula having multi-target, multi-function and multi-pathway are the niches of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Here, we reported an integrated omics approach, coupled with the knockout of an active compound, to measure the regulation of cellular signaling, as to reveal the landscape in cultured rat osteoblasts having synergistic pharmacological efficacy of Danggui Buxue Tang (DBT), a Chinese herbal formula containing Angelicae Sinensis Radix and Astragali Radix. The changes in signaling pathways responsible for energy metabolism, RNA metabolism and protein metabolism showed distinct features between DBT and calycosin-depleted DBT. Here, our results show that calycosin within DBT can orchestrate the osteoblastic functions and signaling pathways of the entire herbal formula. This finding reveals the harmony of herbal medicine in pharmacological functions, as well as the design of drug/herbal medicine formulation. The integration of systems biology can provide novel and essential insights into the synergistic property of a herbal formula, which is a key in modernizing TCM.

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