Illustration depicting bladder cancer cells being overtaken by angelica sinensis roots.

Danggui's Secret Weapon: Can This Ancient Herb Fight Bladder Cancer?

Beau Callahan in Health & Wellness August 2025 • 4 min read.

"New research explores how N-butylidenephthalide (BP), a compound from the traditional Chinese medicine Danggui, could offer a new approach to treating bladder cancer."

Bladder cancer remains a significant health challenge worldwide, demanding innovative treatment approaches. While conventional methods like chemotherapy exist, their effectiveness can be limited, and the search for alternative or complementary therapies continues. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers a rich source of potential remedies, with Angelica sinensis, known as Danggui, being one such herb with a long history of medicinal use.

Recent studies have focused on N-butylidenephthalide (BP), a compound isolated from Danggui, for its anti-tumorigenic effects in various cancers. This has sparked interest in exploring BP's potential in bladder cancer treatment. New research investigates how BP affects bladder cancer cells, paving the way for new therapeutic strategies.

This article delves into the groundbreaking research exploring BP's effects on human bladder cancer cells. We'll explore how BP inhibits cancer cell growth, induces apoptosis (cell death), and suppresses metastasis. Additionally, we'll examine findings from a population-based study in Taiwan suggesting a correlation between Danggui consumption and a reduced incidence of bladder cancer.

BP's Multi-Pronged Attack on Bladder Cancer Cells

Illustration depicting bladder cancer cells being overtaken by angelica sinensis roots.

The study's in vitro experiments revealed BP's remarkable ability to disrupt bladder cancer cell activity on multiple fronts:

BP triggers apoptosis: BP initiates a process called apoptosis, or programmed cell death, in bladder cancer cells. This process is activated through the mitochondria-intrinsic pathway, a critical mechanism for eliminating damaged or cancerous cells.

Mitochondria Activation: BP activates caspase-9 and caspase-3, key proteins in the mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis pathway.
DNA Fragmentation: TUNEL assays confirmed DNA fragmentation, a hallmark of apoptosis, in BP-treated cancer cells.
Caspase Inhibition Rescue: Blocking caspase-3 partially reversed BP-induced cell death, further confirming the pathway's importance.

BP Hinder Cancer Migration: Metastasis, the spread of cancer cells to other parts of the body, is a major concern in bladder cancer. BP demonstrates the ability to hinder the migration and invasion of bladder cancer cells, potentially preventing or slowing down the metastatic process. BP also modulated the expression of key proteins involved in cell adhesion and migration. It increased E-cadherin, which promotes cell adhesion, and decreased N-cadherin, which facilitates cell migration.

A Promising Adjuvant in Bladder Cancer Therapy?

This research provides compelling evidence for BP's potential as a therapeutic agent in bladder cancer. Its ability to induce apoptosis, suppress migration, and enhance the effectiveness of cisplatin highlights its multi-faceted benefits.

The NHIRD data, indicating a lower incidence of bladder cancer in Angelica sinensis users, further supports BP's potential role in cancer prevention. However, it's crucial to acknowledge the limitations of this study. More research is needed to fully understand the synergistic effects of BP with other therapies and to determine the optimal dosage and delivery methods.

BP, derived from the ancient herb Danggui, could become a valuable tool in the fight against bladder cancer. Its multi-pronged attack on cancer cells, combined with promising epidemiological data, warrants further investigation and clinical trials to unlock its full potential and translate these findings into effective treatments for patients.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1186/s12906-017-2034-3, Alternate LINK

Title: Potential Therapeutic Effects Of N-Butylidenephthalide From Radix Angelica Sinensis (Danggui) In Human Bladder Cancer Cells

Subject: Complementary and alternative medicine

Journal: BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Authors: Sheng-Chun Chiu, Tsung-Lang Chiu, Sung-Ying Huang, Shu-Fang Chang, Shee-Ping Chen, Cheng-Yoong Pang, Teng-Fu Hsieh

Published: 2017-12-01

Everything You Need To Know

What is N-butylidenephthalide (BP) and what role does it play?

N-butylidenephthalide (BP) is a compound extracted from Danggui, an herb used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. It's being investigated for its potential to fight bladder cancer. The study focuses on its effects on human bladder cancer cells in laboratory settings. The research is important because bladder cancer treatment is challenging, and conventional methods are limited. BP offers a potential new approach for therapy.

How does N-butylidenephthalide (BP) affect bladder cancer cells?

BP works by triggering apoptosis, or programmed cell death, in bladder cancer cells. BP activates the mitochondria-intrinsic pathway which leads to cell death. In this pathway, BP activates caspase-9 and caspase-3, essential proteins. The TUNEL assays confirmed DNA fragmentation, a hallmark of apoptosis. Blocking caspase-3 partially reversed BP-induced cell death, further confirming the pathway's importance.

How does N-butylidenephthalide (BP) impact the spread of cancer?

Metastasis is the spread of cancer cells to other parts of the body, a major concern in bladder cancer. BP hinders the migration and invasion of bladder cancer cells, potentially preventing metastasis. It also modulates the expression of key proteins involved in cell adhesion and migration. BP increases E-cadherin, which promotes cell adhesion, and decreases N-cadherin, which facilitates cell migration.

What is Danggui and its connection to the research?

Danggui, also known as Angelica sinensis, is a herb used in Traditional Chinese Medicine with a long history of medicinal use. BP, a compound derived from Danggui, is being explored for its anti-tumorigenic effects. A population-based study in Taiwan suggests a correlation between Danggui consumption and a reduced incidence of bladder cancer, providing another aspect for this research.

What are the implications of this research on N-butylidenephthalide (BP) and bladder cancer treatment?

This research suggests that BP could be a valuable therapeutic agent. Its ability to induce apoptosis, suppress migration, and potentially enhance the effectiveness of cisplatin highlights its multi-faceted benefits. This study reveals BP's potential to disrupt bladder cancer cell activity. These findings open new avenues for innovative treatment strategies against bladder cancer.