[Scutellaria barbata extract enhances efficacy and reduces toxicity of chemotherapy in hepatoma H22-bearing mice].
OBJECTIVE
To study the assistant effect of Scutellaria barbata extract (ESB) in 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) chemotherapy.


METHODS
A mouse model of transplanted hepatoma H22 was used in this study to evaluate the synergic and attenuating effects of ESB in chemotherapy. Tumor inhibition rate, life span of mice and the toxicity of chemotherapy were observed. The body weight, tumor weight, thymus index and spleen index in H22-bearing mice were also measured. The phagocytotic function of macrophages was studied by observing phagocytization of peritoneal macrophages.


RESULTS
The increase of body weight in 5-FU plus ESB groups was higher than that in 5-FU group, and the side effects such as anorexia, abdominal distention and athrepsy were relieved. Compared with untreated group, prolonged lifetime in 5-FU plus high-dose ESB group and 5-FU plus low-dose ESB group was improved. Life prolongation rates in 5-FU plus high-dose ESB group and 5-FU plus low-dose ESB group were 61.46% and 23.59% respectively. High-dose ESB, 5-FU, 5-FU plus low-dose ESB and 5-FU plus high-dose ESB could inhibit the tumor growth, and the tumor inhibition rates were 36.98%, 42.26%, 52.45% and 65.28%, respectively. Thymus index and spleen index were increased significantly in 5-FU plus low-dose ESB group and 5-FU plus high-dose ESB group. White blood cell (WBC) count was decreased obviously in 5-FU group, while the count of WBC was increased in 5-FU plus low-dose ESB group and 5-FU plus high-dose ESB group. The phagocytotic function of macrophages was also increased in 5-FU plus low-dose ESB group and 5-FU plus high-dose ESB group.


CONCLUSIONS
ESB can enhance the effect of chemotherapy, relieve the side effects and improve immune function of mice in chemotherapy. These results suggest that ESB, as a biochemical modulator to enhance the therapeutic effects, is useful in cancer chemotherapy.
Dai
Zhi-jun
ZJ
Department of Oncology, Second Hospital, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shannxi Province 710004, China. dzj0911@126.com
Wang
Xi-jing
XJ
Ji
Zong-zheng
ZZ
Li
Zong-fang
ZF
Tang
Wei
W
Kang
Hua-feng
HF
Ma
Xiao-bin
XB
Liu
Lei
L
D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008114:Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011897:Random Allocation; D031363:Scutellaria
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D010936:Plant Extracts; C524947:Scutellaria barbata extract; D005472:Fluorouracil