Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Chinese medicine and compound recipe can promote mesenchymal stem cells proliferation and differentiation. Under certain condition, MSCs can differentiate into cardiomyocyte-like cells and neural-like cells and improve cardio-cerebrovascular disease.
OBJECTIVE: To discuss influence of Chinese medicines on different source-derived stem cells and analyze application of stem cells in cardio-cerebrovascular diseases.
METHODS: A computer-based online search of Wanfang and VIP database was performed for related articles published between 1990 and 2011 with key words “Chinese medicine, stem cell, proliferation, differentiation, target” in Chinese. Articles regarding roles of Chinese medicines in stem cells proliferation and differentiation, transplantation of stem cells for brain ischemia or brain injury in combination with Chinese medicines, and Chinese medicine-treated stem cells for cardiovascular diseases, were included. After reading the titles and abstracts, 30 articles were analyzed.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Chinese medicines can directly target to stem cells in vivo to promote their proliferation and differentiation and can change microenvironment of stem cells to promote cells survival and functional building or regulate immune function to relieve or eliminate rejection. Although stem cells transplantation has not frequently used in combination with Chinese medicines for cardio-cerebrovascular diseases, they have exhibited special clinical values. Therefore, transplantation of stem cells in combination with traditional Chinese medical theory may provide novel approaches for stem cells transplantation and effective methods for application of Chinese medicines in life science domains.