Danggui Buxue Tang Benefits and Side Effects

What is Danggui Duxue Tang? Danggui Buxue Tang, a
Chinese herbal formula containing 83.3 percent of Huanggi (Radix
Astragali) and 16.7 percent of Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis), has been
used to treat ailments in women since AD 1247.

What are the potential health benefits of Danggui Duxue Tang?
Hong Kong researchers demonstrated that Danggui Buxue Tang
triggered the phosphorylation of estrogen receptor alpha and
extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 in a time-dependent manner.
[1]

Same group of researchers from Hong Kong prepared Danggui Buxue
Tang at different ratios of Huanggi and Danggui and treated cultures of
T-lymphocytes and macrophages with these herbal combinations. They
found that combinations induced cell proliferation, secretion of
interleukin-2 and phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated
kinase and the ratio of 5:1 had the strongest immunomodulatory
effects. [3]

Zhang H and co-workers from Sichuan University, China, has shown
that Danggui Buxue Tang could regulate blood lipid, inhibit the genes
expression of MCP-1, ICAM-1 and CD36 in a study of rats. [2] Zhang
further studied its effects on inflammation in diabetic atherosclerosis
rats. He and his co-workers found that Danggui Buxue Tang decreased
the concentrations of C-reactive protein and TNF-alpha (tumour
necrosis factor-alpha), produced a higher survival rate and less body
weight loss, and decreased water intake in diabetic atherosclerosis in
GK rats. [4]

Danggui Buxue Tang is also used widely in China for stimulating red
blood cell production and enhancing cardiovascular function.
Researchers from Wuhan University, China, found that intake of
Danggui Buxue Tang partially attenuated the increases in blood
glucose, triglycerides and cholesterol in STZ-diabetic rats. They
suggest that Danggui Buxue Tang as an adjuvant therapy may benefit
diabetes. [5]

What is Indirubin?
Indirubin is a bis-indole found in Danggui Longhui Wan.

Researchers from Germany identified indirubin and its analogues as
potent inhibitors of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs). Indirubin
interacts with the kinase's ATP-binding site through van der Waals
interactions and three hydrogen bonds. Indirubin-3'-monoxime inhibits
the proliferation of a large range of cells, mainly through arresting the
cells in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle. [A2]

Indirubin has also been reported to have anti-leukemia activities.
French researchers proposed the indirubin and its derivatives are
anti-cancer molecules. They noticed that the cytotoxic effects of
indirubins are aryl hydrocarbon receptor -independent and the
mechanism is more likely to be linked to its activation in their cell
studies. [A1]

Korean researchers, Moon MJ and co-workers, synthesized a series of
indirubin and tested the inhibition activities against several human
cancer cell lines. They found that 5-nitro, halide, and bulky group
containing acylamino substituted analogs showed high anti-proliferative
effects. [A3]

Though Danggui Buxue Tang has been used for many years, its side effects have not studied
thoroughly. Clinical studies are also needed to support the claims. This article is for your
information only. Discuss with your doctor before using any supplements or herbal medicine.
All rights are reserved 2006

[A1] Knockaert M, et al, Independent actions on cyclin-dependent kinases and aryl
hydrocarbon receptor mediate the antiproliferative effects of indirubins. Oncogene. 2004 May
27;23(25):4400-12. [A2] Hoessel R, et al, Indirubin, the active constituent of a Chinese
antileukaemia medicine, inhibits cyclin-dependent kinases. Nat Cell Biol. 1999 May;1(1):60-7.
[A3] Moon MJ, et al, Synthesis and structure-activity relationships of novel indirubin derivatives
as potent anti-proliferative agents with CDK2 inhibitory activities. Bioorg Med Chem. 2006 Jan
1;14(1):237-46. Epub 2005 Sep 22. [1] Gao QT, et al, Danggui Buxue Tang - A Chinese herbal
decoction activates the phosphorylations of extracellular signal-regulated kinase and estrogen
receptor alpha in cultured MCF-7 cells. FEBS Lett. 2007 Jan 23;581(2):233-40. Epub 2006
Dec 14. [2] Zhang H, et al, The effects of Danggui-Buxue-Tang on blood lipid and expression
of genes related to foam cell formation in the early stage of atherosclerosis in diabetic GK rats.
Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2006 Dec 11. [3] Gao QT, et al, A Chinese herbal decoction, Danggui
Buxue Tang, prepared from Radix Astragali and Radix Angelicae Sinensis stimulates the
immune responses. Planta Med. 2006 Oct;72(13):1227-31. Epub 2006 Aug 10. [4] Zhang H, et
al, Danggui-Buxue-Tang decoction has an anti-inflammatory effect in diabetic atherosclerosis
rat model. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2006 Nov;74(2):194-6. Epub 2006 May 19. [5] Zhang YW,
et al, Suppression of transforming growth factor-beta1 gene expression by Danggui buxue tang,
a traditional Chinese herbal preparation, in retarding the progress of renal damage in
streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Horm Metab Res. 2006 Feb;38(2):82-8.

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