A polysaccharide isolated from the medicinal herb Bletilla striata induces endothelial cells proliferation and vascular endothelial growth factor expression in vitro.

A polysaccharide from the traditional Chinese medicinal herb, Bletilla striata (Thunb.) Reichb. f., was isolated, purified and characterized. It induced the proliferation of human umbilical vascular endothelial cells and the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor up to 156% and 147% of control after 72 h, respectively.