Glycoside Compounds from Blood-Nourishing Chinese Medicinal Herbs: Structural Characteristics, Pharmacological Mechanisms, and Therapeutic Potential for Thrombocytopenia

TL;DR

This paper reviews glycoside compounds from traditional Chinese herbs and their potential to treat thrombocytopenia by improving blood cell production and immune balance.

Contribution

The paper systematically summarizes glycoside compounds from blood-nourishing herbs and their therapeutic potential for thrombocytopenia.

Findings

Glycoside compounds improve hematopoiesis through anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.

They modulate hematopoietic signaling pathways like PI3K/AKT and regulate immune balance via the Treg/Th17 axis.

These compounds show promise as novel therapeutic candidates for thrombocytopenia.

Abstract

Thrombocytopenia is a common hematological disorder characterized by reduced platelet counts and an increased risk of bleeding, for which current pharmacological treatments are often limited by adverse effects, drug resistance, or high costs. Traditional Chinese medicinal herbs such as ginseng, notoginseng, peony root, and astragalus have long been used for blood-nourishing and qi-tonifying purposes and are frequently prescribed for conditions associated with blood deficiency and hematopoietic dysfunction. This review systematically summarizes glycoside compounds derived from these herbs, focusing on their structural characteristics and pharmacological activities relevant to thrombocytopenia. Accumulating evidence indicates that glycosylation enhances the solubility, bioavailability, and stability of aglycones, thereby influencing their biological effects. Preclinical studies suggest that glycoside compounds may improve the hematopoietic microenvironment through anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory actions, potentially reducing immune-mediated platelet destruction. In addition, they may promote thrombopoiesis by modulating hematopoietic signaling pathways, such as PI3K/AKT, and by restoring immune balance, particularly via regulation of the Treg/Th17 axis. Collectively, these multi-target effects on hematopoiesis and immune regulation highlight glycoside compounds as promising lead candidates for the development of novel therapeutic approaches to thrombocytopenia.

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