Anticarcinogenic effects of shikaron, a preparation of eight Chinese herbs in mice treated with a carcinogen, N-butyl-N'-butanolnitrosoamine.
We studied the effects of Shikaron, which is composed of 8 Chinese herb extracts, on carcinogenesis and the cytotoxic activity and cytokine production of lymphocytes in mice treated with a carcinogen, N-butyl-N'-butanolnitrosoamine (BBN). We found a significantly lower incidence of urinary bladder carcinoma in mice treated with BBN plus Shikaron 200 mg/kg/day (5 of 20 mice, 25%), than in mice treated with BBN alone (16 of 20 mice, 80%). Shikaron protected the cytotoxic activity of lymphocytes against YAC-1 cells from suppression by BBN. Cytotoxic activity against P-815 cells significantly increased in mice treated with BBN plus Shikaron, as compared with normal mice and BBN-treated mice. Shikaron also protected production of interleukin-2 and interferon-gamma by lymphocytes from suppression by BBN. These findings strongly suggest that Shikaron exerted an anticarcinogenic effect in carcinogen-treated mice through activation of NK and LAK cells and cytokine production by T lymphocytes.
Kurashige
S
S
Department of Medical Technology, College of Medical Care and Technology, Gunma University, Japan.
Jin
R
R
Akuzawa
Y
Y
Endo
F
F
D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000187:drug effects; D015979:Killer Cells, Lymphokine-Activated / Q000276:immunology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced*
D016207:Cytokines; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal