title: Therapeutic Effect of Astragalus Polysaccharides on Hepatocellular Carcinoma H22-Bearing Mice.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of astragalus polysaccharides (APSs), active constituents of astragalus, in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and their potential as a promising candidate for future anticancer drug development. Astragalus polysaccharide was administered at different doses to HCC H22-bearing mice to investigate their antitumor effects. Results revealed that APS inhibited the growth of H22 cells with a tumor inhibition rate in the APS 400 mg·kg-1group of 59.01%. Astragalus polysaccharides significantly increased the spleen and thymus indexes, and also the interleukin (IL) 2, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor α cytokine concentration in serum, indicating that APS influences immune-regulating properties involved in antitumor activity. In addition, APS increased Bax protein expression and decreased Bcl-2 protein expression; these proteins are apoptosis-regulating factors responsible for cell death or survival. Further development and exploration of APS may enable it to become an effective clinical agent for liver cancer therapy.
authors.affiliation: Bone Marrow Transplantation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xiaoyu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.affiliation: College of Life Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Weibiao
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.affiliation: College of Life Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: College of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xinghong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ding
keywords: Bax protein; Bcl-2 protein; astragalus; cytokines; hepatocellular carcinoma; polysaccharides