title: Effects of a Chinese medical herbs complex on cellular immunity and toxicity-related conditions of breast cancer patients.
abstract: Rose geranium (Pelargonium graveolens, Geraniaceae) has anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties, and promotes wound healing. Similarly, Ganoderma tsugae (Ganodermataceae), Codonopsis pilosula (Campanulaceae) and Angelica sinensis (Apiaceae) are traditional Chinese herbs associated with immunomodulatory functions. In the present study, a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted to examine whether the Chinese medicinal herb complex, RG-CMH, which represents a mixture of rose geranium and extracts of G. tsugae, C. pilosula and A. sinensis, can improve the immune cell count of cancer patients receiving chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy to prevent leucopenia and immune impairment that usually occurs during cancer therapy. A total of fifty-eight breast cancer patients who received chemotherapy or radiotherapy were enrolled. Immune cell levels in patient serum were determined before, and following, 6 weeks of cancer treatment for patients receiving either an RG-CMH or a placebo. Administration of RG-CMH was associated with a significant reduction in levels of leucocytes from 31·5 % for the placebo group to 13·4 % for the RG-CMH group. Similarly, levels of neutrophils significantly decreased from 35·6 % for the placebo group to 11·0 % for the RG-CMH group. RG-CMH intervention was also associated with a decrease in levels of T cells, helper T cells, cytotoxic T cells and natural killer cells compared with the placebo group. However, these differences between the two groups were not statistically significant. In conclusion, administration of RG-CMH to patients receiving chemotherapy/radiotherapy may have the capacity to delay, or ease, the reduction in levels of leucocytes and neutrophils that are experienced by patients during cancer treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, No. 110, Section 1, Jianguo North Road, Taichung 40201, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Zhuang
authors.forename: H F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: M Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Y C
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Y Y
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: G T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Shane
authors.forename: C-K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D007970:Leukopenia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019891:Leukopoiesis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D020011:Protective Agents; C571291:RG-CMH