1.2.2 Research on Traditional Chinese Medicines

1.2.2 Research on Traditional Chinese Medicines

Over the past 20 years, numerous experimental studies have demonstrated that many kidney-tonifying herbs can promote the growth of hematopoietic stem cells, providing an experimental basis for the treatment of aplastic anemia.

Ma [17] used the in vivo diffusion chamber method to test the effects of kidney-tonifying traditional Chinese medicines on granulocyte progenitor cells, and found that Shouwu, Shudi, Sangshen, Maidong; Tusi Zi, Gouqizi; Huangqi, Dangshen; Buguzhi, Bajitian; Suoyang, Dayun, and six other pairs of herbs significantly increased the CFU-D production rate.

Peng [18] conducted a comprehensive analysis and comparison based on four indicators—microcirculatory vasodilation, exudation, bleeding, and structural damage—and found that Da Tusi Zi Yin effectively alleviated vasodilation, exudation, bleeding, and structural damage in the bone marrow microcirculation of aplastic anemia mice, and had a similar effect on microvascular damage in the earlobe, indicating that kidney-tonifying traditional Chinese medicines improve the treatment of aplastic anemia by reducing or eliminating obstacles in the bone marrow microcirculation, thereby enhancing hematopoiesis.

Zhou [1] used the in vivo diffusion chamber culture method to observe the impact of Baoyuan Tang on hematopoietic cells and found that Baoyuan Tang significantly increased the CFU-D production rate in the mouse diffusion chamber colony-forming cells.

Yu [1] used the in vitro agar culture method to observe the impact of Erxian Wen Shen Tang on hematopoietic cells and found that it significantly increased the production rates of CFU-S and GM-CFU-D. This indicates that Erxian Wen Shen Tang can promote the proliferation of multipotent hematopoietic stem cells and granulocyte progenitor cells in the bone marrow of mice whose hematopoietic function has been impaired by cyclophosphamide, and can also promote the growth of granulocyte progenitor cells and erythroid progenitor cells in the bone marrow of healthy mice.

Severe hypoxia in the bone marrow is often a pathological manifestation of "qi stagnation and blood stasis," and after applying methods to nourish blood, activate blood circulation, regulate qi, and remove stasis, clinical symptoms often improve. Xiao [2] found that active blood circulation drugs such as Chuanxiong Qin can, although they do not directly act on hematopoietic cells, influence the hematopoietic microenvironment in the body, thereby promoting the proliferation of hematopoietic cells, providing solid evidence for the clinical application of blood-activating and stasis-removing drugs in treating hematopoietic system diseases; Danggui polysaccharides can promote the synthesis and secretion of GM-CSF or CM-CSF-like substances by lymphocytes and stromal cells in the hematopoietic microenvironment through direct or indirect pathways, thereby promoting the generation of granulocyte-monocyte blood cells. Shudi can repair RBC and Hb in animals with blood deficiency, accelerate the proliferation and differentiation of bone marrow hematopoietic cells such as CFU-S, and has a significant "blood-generating" effect. Shudi polysaccharides can promote the recovery of granulocyte progenitor cells in the bone marrow of mice affected by cyclophosphamide and provide a certain protective effect against radiation damage.

Using techniques such as in vitro culture of hematopoietic progenitor cells and splenic colony formation, research has found that ginseng saponins can significantly promote the generation of blood cells in mice injected with phenylhydrazine or exposed to ⁶⁰Co irradiation, mainly by promoting the generation of erythroid cells. Ginseng saponin Rg1 can promote mitosis of lymphocytes in human peripheral blood, increasing cell diameter, number, and DNA synthesis. Total saponins from Sanqi have a significant promoting effect on multipotent hematopoietic stem cells (CFU-S) in mice, with active mitosis of granulocyte and erythroid cells in the splenic nodules and increased spleen weight, suggesting that one of the ways Sanqi promotes blood generation is by acting on multipotent hematopoietic stem cells. Huangqi has a significant effect on reducing the number of nucleated cells in the bone marrow of mice caused by cyclophosphamide and suppressing bone marrow proliferation, and also significantly improves WBC, Hb, the number of nucleated cells in the bone marrow, division index, and CM-CSF in rats exposed to ⁶⁰Co irradiation.

2 Basis for Establishing This Research Topic