Hepatitis B virus and primary hepatocellular carcinoma: treatment of HBV carriers with Phyllanthus amarus.
A viricide capable of eliminating hepatitis B virus (HBV) from chronic carriers should, theoretically, decrease the risk of primary hepatocellular carcinoma. Extracts of Phyllanthus amarus have been shown to inhibit the DNA polymerase of HBV and woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV) in vitro. Three of four recently infected WHV carriers treated i.p. with P. amarus extract lost WHV, animals infected for greater than or equal to 3 months showed a decrease in virus levels. Preliminary results in human carriers treated orally with P. amarus for 1 month indicated that approximately 60% of the carriers lost HBV during the observation period.
Blumberg
B S
BS
Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA.
Millman
I
I
Venkateswaran
P S
PS
Thyagarajan
S P
SP
D000818:Animals; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002353:Carrier State / Q000188:drug therapy; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000201:enzymology; D006524:Hepatitis, Viral, Animal / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008392:Marmota; D019384:Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D019384:Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors; D010936:Plant Extracts