A novel combination of four flavonoids derived from Astragali Radix relieves the symptoms of cyclophosphamide‐induced anemic rats

By using a feedback system control scheme, the best combination of formononetin, ononin, calycosin and calycosin-7-O-β-D-glucoside deriving from Astragali Radix, was shown to activate hypoxia response element, a regulator for erythropoietin (EPO) transcription, in kidney fibroblast. In cyclophosphamide-induced anemic rats, the treatment of combined flavonoids, or EPO, improved the levels of red blood cell, white blood cell, hemoglobin and hematocrit. In addition, the altered levels of anti-oxidant capacity, super oxidase dismutase and malondialdehyde, triggered in anemic rats, were restored to control levels by the treatment of flavonoids. Here, we proposed a possible therapy by using the common flavonoids in treating anemia.