Differences in the Mechanisms by Which Yang-Invigorating and Qi-Invigorating Chinese Tonifying Herbs Stimulate Mitochondrial ATP Generation Capacity

According to Chinese medicine theory, Yang/Qi playsa pivotal role in driving physiological functions in the body, these beinghighly dependent on mitochondrial ATP production. Consistent with this,Yang/Qi-invigorating Chinese tonifying herbs have been found to stimulatemitochondrial ATP generation capacity (ATP-GC) in H9c2 cardiomyocytes. In thepresent study, we have demonstrated that Yang-invigorating Chinese tonifyingherbs (namely, Eucommiae Cortex, Cibotii Rhizoma, Dipsaci Radix, Cynomorii Herba,Cistanches Herba, Cuscutae Semen, EpimediiHerba and Morindae Radix) andQi-invigorating Chinese tonifying herbs (namely, Ginseng Radix,Pseudostellariae Radix, Quinquefolii Radix, Codonopsis Radix, Astragali Radix,Atractylodis Rhizoma, Juiubae Fructus, Fici Simplicissimae Radix and DioscoreaeOppositae Radix) act by different mechanisms to stimulate mitochondrial ATP-GC.While Yang-invigorating herbs fluidize mitochondrial membranes and thus stimulate ATP-GC, Qi-invigorating herbscan enhance cellular glutathione status and increase ATP-GC. The differentmechanisms by which Yang-invigorating herbs and Qi-invigorating herbs stimulatemitochondrial ATP-GC may serve as the basis for establishing biomarkersfor Yang/Qi-invigorating herbs and herbal health products in general.