Myelophil, a mixture of Astragali Radix and Salviae Radix extract, moderates toxic side effects of fluorouracil in mice.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of Myelophil, an extract containing Astragali Radix and Salviae Radix, for reducing complications induced by 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in a gastrointestinal cancer model.


METHODS
We injected 5-FU into mice and then administered Myelophil to examine the ability of the drug to treat the side effects of 5-FU in mice. Peripheral blood counts, histological examinations, and colony-forming assays of bone marrow were conducted, followed by swimming tests and assessment of survival times.


RESULTS
Myelophil restored red and white blood cells and platelets in blood, and recovered cell density in bone marrow to levels comparable to those observed within the control group. In addition, Myelophil significantly increased colony-forming unit granulocyte-macrophage (CFU-GM) and CFU-erythroid (CFU-E) compared to the control group. We confirmed that interleukin-3 gene expression was upregulated by Myelophil in spleen cells. Myelophil administration also doubled the survival rate of mice that were severely myelosuppressed as a result of 5-FU injection at a lethal dose of 70%. Finally, the swimming performance of mice significantly improved as a result of Myelophil treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
These results provide experimental evidence in support of clinical applications of Myelophil to minimize 5-FU-induced myelosuppression and improve general post-chemotherapy health.
Shin
Jang Woo
JW
East-West Cancer Center, Dunsan Oriental Hospital of Daejeon University, 1136 Dunsan-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon 302122, Korea.
Lee
Myong Min
MM
Son
Jin Young
JY
Lee
Nam Heon
NH
Cho
Chong Kwan
CK
Chung
Won Kyu
WK
Cho
Jung Hyo
JH
Son
Chang Gue
CG
D000818:Animals; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D001855:Bone Marrow Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004906:Erythrocyte Count; D005472:Fluorouracil; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D007377:Interleukin-3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D010976:Platelet Count; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D007377:Interleukin-3; C530779:Myelophil; D005472:Fluorouracil