New Potential Pharmacological Functions of Chinese Herbal Medicines via Regulation of Autophagy

Law, Betty Yuen Kwan; Mok, Simon Wing Fai; Wu, An Guo; Lam, Christopher Wai Kei; Yu, Margaret Xin Yi; Wong, Vincent Kam Wai

doi:10.3390/molecules21030359

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New Potential Pharmacological Functions of Chinese Herbal Medicines via Regulation of Autophagy

by

Betty Yuen Kwan Law

^†,

Simon Wing Fai Mok

^†,

An Guo Wu

,

Christopher Wai Kei Lam

,

Margaret Xin Yi Yu

and

Vincent Kam Wai Wong

^*

State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau, China

^*

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

^†

These authors contributed equally to this works.

Molecules 2016, 21(3), 359; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules21030359

Submission received: 20 January 2016 / Revised: 29 February 2016 / Accepted: 9 March 2016 / Published: 17 March 2016

(This article belongs to the Collection Herbal Medicine Research)

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Abstract

Autophagy is a universal catabolic cellular process for quality control of cytoplasm and maintenance of cellular homeostasis upon nutrient deprivation and environmental stimulus. It involves the lysosomal degradation of cellular components such as misfolded proteins or damaged organelles. Defects in autophagy are implicated in the pathogenesis of diseases including cancers, myopathy, neurodegenerations, infections and cardiovascular diseases. In the recent decade, traditional drugs with new clinical applications are not only commonly found in Western medicines, but also highlighted in Chinese herbal medicines (CHM). For instance, pharmacological studies have revealed that active components or fractions from Chaihu (Radix bupleuri), Hu Zhang (Rhizoma polygoni cuspidati), Donglingcao (Rabdosia rubesens), Hou po (Cortex magnoliae officinalis) and Chuan xiong (Rhizoma chuanxiong) modulate cancers, neurodegeneration and cardiovascular disease via autophagy. These findings shed light on the potential new applications and formulation of CHM decoctions via regulation of autophagy. This article reviews the roles of autophagy in the pharmacological actions of CHM and discusses their new potential clinical applications in various human diseases.

Keywords: autophagy; natural products; novel functions; Chinese herbal medicines

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MDPI and ACS Style

Law, B.Y.K.; Mok, S.W.F.; Wu, A.G.; Lam, C.W.K.; Yu, M.X.Y.; Wong, V.K.W. New Potential Pharmacological Functions of Chinese Herbal Medicines via Regulation of Autophagy. Molecules 2016, 21, 359. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules21030359

AMA Style

Law BYK, Mok SWF, Wu AG, Lam CWK, Yu MXY, Wong VKW. New Potential Pharmacological Functions of Chinese Herbal Medicines via Regulation of Autophagy. Molecules. 2016; 21(3):359. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules21030359

Chicago/Turabian Style

Law, Betty Yuen Kwan, Simon Wing Fai Mok, An Guo Wu, Christopher Wai Kei Lam, Margaret Xin Yi Yu, and Vincent Kam Wai Wong. 2016. "New Potential Pharmacological Functions of Chinese Herbal Medicines via Regulation of Autophagy" Molecules 21, no. 3: 359. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules21030359

APA Style

Law, B. Y. K., Mok, S. W. F., Wu, A. G., Lam, C. W. K., Yu, M. X. Y., & Wong, V. K. W. (2016). New Potential Pharmacological Functions of Chinese Herbal Medicines via Regulation of Autophagy. Molecules, 21(3), 359. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules21030359

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New Potential Pharmacological Functions of Chinese Herbal Medicines via Regulation of Autophagy

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