Identification of Angelica oil as a suppressor for the biological properties of Danggui Buxue tang: a Chinese herbal decoction composes of Astragali Radix and Angelica Sinensis Radix

Ethnopharmacological relevance

Danggui Buxue Tang (DBT), a Chinese herbal decoction commonly used in treating women?s ailments, contains two herbs: Angelica Sinensis Radix (ASR) and Astragali Radix (AR). Traditionally, ASR had to be pre-treated with yellow wine before the herbal preparation, which reduced the amount of volatile oil in water extract of ASR and DBT, and meanwhile the volatile oil-reduced DBT processed better bioactivities in cell cultures. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of volatile oil from ASR (Angelica oil) on the solubility of AR-derived ingredients and the biological properties of DBT.

Materials and methods

To standardize Angelica oil, four marker chemicals in ASR were determined by GC-QQQ-MS/MS. Subsequently, fifteen gram of AR was boiled with different amounts of Angelica oil. The amounts of astragaloside IV, calycosin, formononetin, total polysaccharides, total saponins and total flavonoids, all derived from AR, were extracted and determined by HPLC-UV/ELSD. To reveal the effect of Angelica oil on DBT functions, several cell assays related to the traditional functions of DBT were selected, including anti-platelet aggregation, induction of NO production, hematopoetic, estrogenic and osteogenic properties.

Results

The inclusion of Angelica oil in AR during preparation significantly decreased the amount of AR-derived astragaloside IV, calycosin, formononetin, total saponins and total flavonoids in the final water extract. In parallel, an inclusion of Angelica oil caused a decrease of DBT?s estrogenic and hematopoetic activities in cultured cells. Moreover, the Angelica oil decreased DBT-induced cell proliferation of cultured MG-63 and endothelial cells.

Conclusions

The results indicated that Angelica oil was a negative regulator for DBT chemically and biologically, which supported the traditional practice of preparing DBT by using the wine-treated ASR.     

Danggui to Angelica sinensis root: Are potential benefits to European women lost in translation? A review

Ethnopharmacological relevance

Danggui (Chinese Angelica root; Dong quai; Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels.) is a traditional Chinese herbal remedy with a long history of use in China, Korea and Japan. Even today it is still one of the herbs most commonly used by Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioners in China, as well as Europe. It is mainly used for the treatment of women's reproductive problems, such as dysmenorrhea, amenorrhoea, menopause, among others. Using Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels. root as the example, this Review examines the ease with which the use of a Traditional Chinese Herbal Remedy can be transposed from one culture to another. By examining the more recent literature, a number of aspects are considered by the author to be potentially lost in translation: (i) identity and quality (phytochemistry); (ii) tradition of use and processing (smoke-drying, stir-frying, with and without wine); (iii) method of use and traditional types of Chinese herbal medicines; (iv) ethnic differences (Caucasian vs. Asian); (v) efficacy, safety and potential for western drug–herb interactions.

Materials and methods

This review is based on evaluation of the literature available in scientific journals, textbooks, electronic sources such as ScienceDirect, PubMed, Scopus, etc., as well as other web-sites.

Results

A vast amount of information concerning the use of Angelica sinensis exists in the public domain. Many aspects associated with the use of the root are deemed problematical, such as identity, processing, amount and types of constituents, tradition of use in combination with other Chinese herbs, ethnicity of users, etc. Numerous constituents have been isolated with phthalides, ferulic acid and polysaccharides showing biological activities.

Conclusion

In spite of the potential activities associated with the traditional use of danggui, and the many trials using the Chinese system of ‘Zheng differentiation’, well-designed western-style clinical trials carried out using the authenticated, chemically standardized crude drug material to confirm clinical efficacy are in short supply. However increasing research into Angelica sinensis extracts and constituents shows that many of the traditional uses are not without scientific basis.     

Inhibition of airway inflammation by the roots of Angelica decursiva and its constituent,columbianadin

Ethnopharmacological relevance

The roots of Angelica decursiva Fr. Et Sav (Umbelliferae) have been frequently used in traditional medicine as anti-inflammatory, antitussive, analgesic agents and expectorant, especially for treating cough, asthma, bronchitis and upper respiratory tract infections. To establish the scientific rationale for the clinical use of Angelica decursiva and to identify new agents for treating inflammatory lung disorders, pharmacological evaluation of the roots of Angelica decursiva and the isolated constituents was performed.

Methods

In vitro study was carried out using two lung cells, lung epithelial cells (A549) and alveolar macrophages (MH-S). The inflammatory markers such as IL-6 and nitric oxide (NO) for each cell line were examined. For in vivo study, a mouse model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury was used and the effects on lung inflammation were established by measuring the cell numbers in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and by histological observation.

Results

Water and 70% ethanol extracts of the roots of Angelica decursiva showed considerable inhibitory activity against LPS-induced lung inflammation in mice following oral administration at a dose of 400 mg/kg. Five coumarin derivatives including columbianadin, umbelliferone, umbelliferone 6-carboxylic acid, nodakenin and nodakenetin were isolated. Among the isolated compounds, columbianadin was found to possess strong inhibitory activity against the inflammatory response of IL-1β-treated A549 cells and LPS-treated MH-S cells. Columbianadin was found to inhibit NO production by down-regulation of inducible NO synthase. Moreover, columbianadin was also proved to possess significant inhibitory activity against LPS-induced lung inflammation following oral administration at a dose of 20–60 mg/kg.

Conclusions

The roots of Angelica decursiva were proved to be effective in the treatment of lung inflammation. Columbianadin can be a potential new agent for treating inflammatory lung disorders.     

当归川芎配伍对急性血瘀大鼠血液流变学和凝血功能的影响

目的探讨当归川芎配伍对急性血瘀大鼠血液流变学和凝血功能的影响。方法制造大鼠急性血瘀模型,观察当归不同配伍比例对急性血瘀大鼠血液流变学和全血黏度（WBV）和血浆黏度（PV）凝血功能（活化部分凝血活酶时间（APTT）、凝血酶原时间（PT）及纤维蛋白原含量（FIB））的影响。结果当归川芎（1．5：1）组及当归川芎（1：1）组全血黏度及血浆黏度均显著低于模型组（P均〈0．05）;当归川芎（1．5：1）组及当归川芎（1：1）组全血黏度及血浆黏度均显著低于当归川芎（1：0）组及当归川芎（0：1）组（P均〈0．05）。当归川芎（1．5：1）组及当归川芎（1：1）组PT及APTT均长于模型组,而FIB低于模型组,组间比较有显著性差异（P均〈0．05）;当归川芎（1．5：1）组及当归川芎（1：1）组PT及APTT均长于当归川芎（1：0）组及当归川芎（0：1）组,而FIB低于当归川芎（1：0）组及当归川芎（0：1）组,且组间比较有显著性差异（P均〈0．05）。结论当归川芎（1．5：1）及当归川芎（1：1）配伍均能明显改善急性血瘀大鼠血液流变学特征和凝血功能。     

黄芪当归合剂对慢性肾脏病3～4期患者肾功能及中医证候要素影响的研究

目的评价黄芪当归合剂与慢性肾脏病（CKD）不同原发病、不同CKD分期以及不同中医证候疗效间的关系。方法采用多中心、开放标签、患者自身治疗前后对照试验设计,符合纳入标准的32例CKD 3～4期患者,在维持原CKD基本治疗的基础上,加用黄芪当归合剂（黄芪、当归各30 g）,每日1剂,疗程3个月。比较患者治疗前、治疗1、2、3个月末血肌酐（SCr）、估算的肾小球滤过率（eGFR）、24 h尿蛋白定量（UTP）、血浆白蛋白（ALB）、血红蛋白（Hb）以及相关中医证候要素积分的变化,并分别比较不同原发病（慢性肾小球肾炎、慢性肾小管间质病及高血压肾损害）、不同CKD分期（CKD 3期及CKD 4期）以及符合气血两虚证与非气血两虚证的患者上述疗效指标的差异。结果黄芪当归合剂可使78.12%（25/32）的受试者肾功能得到改善。与治疗前比较,治疗3月末患者SCr下降［（12.08±10.11）%］,eGFR上升［（21.14±18.55）%］,ALB上升［（2.76±1.97）%］,差异有统计意义（均P〈0.05）。中医证候要素积分方面,与治疗前比较,治疗3月末患者气虚、血虚及阴虚证积分下降,而湿热、浊毒证积分升高（均P〈0.05）。除了高血压肾损害的阴虚证候要素积分差值较肾小球肾炎和肾小管间质病升高（P〈0.05）,不同CKD原发病以及不同CKD分期患者之间各指标无明显差异（P〉0.05）。气血两虚证与非气血两虚证患者SCr下降率分别为（19.82±8.30）%和（5.24±10.75）%,气虚两虚证患者SCr下降率更高,差异有统计学意义 （P〈0.05）;中医证候要素积分差值方面,与非气血两虚证比较,气血两虚证患者治疗后气虚和血虚证候要素积分差值明显升高,差异具有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。结论黄芪当归合剂可改善CKD患者肾功能、提高患者ALB,对CKD相关的气虚、血虚及阴虚证亦有改善,尤其适合CKD患     

当归挥发油给药大鼠尿液比较代谢组学研究

为了分析当归挥发油（Angelica sinensis volatile oil,ASVO）对正常大鼠尿液代谢产物的影响,揭示ASVO影响大鼠体内代谢的可能途径。该实验将50只雄性Wister大鼠随机分成空白对照组、ASVO高（0.352 mL·kg^-1）、中（0.176 mL·kg^-1）、低剂量（0.088 mL·kg^-1）组和阿司匹林（aspirin,ASP）对照组,每组10只,分别给予生理盐水和高、中、低剂量的ASVO及ASP各0.2 mL,连续给药3 d,并利用大鼠代谢笼收集各组大鼠12,24,36,48 h的尿液,应用GC-MS检测不同时段的大鼠尿液代谢指纹图谱,采用主成分分析（principal component analysis,PCA）方法和正交偏最小二乘分析方法（orthogonal partial least-squares discriminant analysis,OPLS-DA）分析,通过变量重要性投影（vriable importance in the projection,VIP）和T检验筛选潜在生物标志物。结果显示,ASVO中剂量组在36 h时对大鼠尿液代谢物影响最大。与空白对照组相比,ASP组与ASVO给药组大鼠尿液中7种代谢物有显著变化（P<0.05）,其中乌头酸、琥珀酸、柠檬酸、α-酮戊二酸、甘氨酸、苹果酸的含量呈升高趋势（P<0.05）,前列腺素含量呈下降状态（P<0.01）,认为ASVO与ASP的作用机制具有相似性。它们对体内代谢的影响可能主要集中于能量代谢、氨基酸代谢以及脂质代谢途径。大鼠灌胃ASVO后可提高机体的能量代谢,抑制炎性物质的产生、增强机体的免疫能力,该结果为进一步阐释ASVO药理作用提供了依据。     

黄芪当归配伍对免疫功能影响的初步研究

目的：研究黄芪当归不同配伍比例对免疫低下小鼠模型免疫作用的影响.方法：用环磷酰胺腹腔注射方法建立免疫低下小鼠模型,应用黄芪当归不同配伍比例水煎液灌胃给药,通过脏器指数、溶血素测定和淋巴细胞转化小鼠体内诱导法观察药物对免疫功能的影响.结果：模型组胸腺指数降低,各给药组与模型组比较差异无统计学意义;溶血素测定,芪归药对配比10∶1高、低剂量组,5∶1高、低剂量组,1∶1高、低剂量组以及1∶2低剂量组可促进小鼠血清IgM的产生;淋巴细胞转化率测定结果显示10∶1高、低剂量组,5∶1高剂量组,1∶1高、低剂量组和1∶2高剂量组可促进淋巴细胞的转化.结论：黄芪当归配伍不同比例有不同程度的促进免疫作用,其中芪归配比10∶1、1∶1对提高小鼠免疫力效果比较显著.     

氯氟氰菊酯悬浮剂在不同吸收材料上的残效观察

目的 用拟除虫菊酯喷洒3种不同吸收材料的表面,观察对中华按蚊的滞留效果.方法 采用GB/T13917.1-2009农药登记卫生用杀虫剂的室内药效试验及评价方法,用强迫接触器做滞留喷洒的室内药效测定.结果 15 mg/m2玻璃药板面存放180d,杀虫效果为100％;25 mg/m2漆木药板面存放45d,杀虫效果为79.24％.25 mgm2水泥药板面存放3d,杀虫效果＜50％.结论 不吸收材料的玻璃药板面对中华按蚊残效最长,半吸收材料的油漆木药板面残效次之,全吸收材料的水泥药板面对中华按蚊残效最差.     

濒危南药白木香萜类合成酶的逆境表达模式分析

目的 通过分析各萜类合成酶的表达,预测各种环境因素和逆境处理对白木香萜类合成的影响。方法 对二年生白木香植株和愈伤组织分别进行多种逆境处理,采用荧光定量PCR分析组织中萜类合成酶基因的表达模式。结果 伤害和火烙均可诱导茎干萜类合成酶转录水平的表达,火烙法诱导效果更明显;低温抑制各类萜类合成酶的转录;愈伤组织的处理中,茉莉酸甲酯（MeJA）对萜类合成酶转录的诱导效果最显著。结论 伤害和火烙均可诱导茎干中萜类的合成,但火烙效果更好,低温不利于白木香结香,多种处理均可诱导愈伤组织萜类合成,其中MeJA诱导效果最佳。     

中药穿心莲和当归对小鼠红细胞血红蛋白再释放的影响

目的：探讨穿心莲和当归对小鼠红细胞血红蛋白再释放的影响。方法：将实验用小鼠雌雄各半按体重均匀分为7组（6个用药组和1个对照组）,按实验设计分别对穿心莲和当归高、中、低浓度用药组小鼠用穿心莲和当归水煎液进行灌胃,对照组用生理盐水灌胃,每天1次,连续灌胃15 d,然后分别采血分离红细胞观察其血红蛋白再释放的情况,并用BandScan扫描定量,进行统计分析。结果：中、高浓度的穿心莲和高浓度的当归都能使小鼠红细胞血红蛋白的再释放增强。结论：穿心莲和当归水煎液均能影响实验小鼠的血红蛋白再释放,但影响程度随浓度不同而有差异。