Nrf2 participates in mechanisms for reducing the toxicity and enhancing the antitumour effect of Radix to S180-bearing mice by herbal-processing technology.

Radix Hook. f. (Celastraceae) (LGT) has outstanding curative efficacy; however, side effects include high toxicity, particularly hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity. To investigate detoxification mechanisms of LGT through processing separately with each of these medicinal herbs including Flower Thunb. (Caprifoliaceae) (JYH), Radix Pall. (Ranunculaceae) (BS), Herba Hance (Primulaceae) (JQC), Radix et Rhizoma Fisch. (Fabaceae) (GC) and Seed L. (Fabaceae) (LD) in S180-bearing mice by involving nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2). LGT raw and processed products were orally administered at 60 mg/kg to KM male mice inoculated with S180 tumour cells for 14 consecutive days, and blood, tumour, liver and kidney were taken to observe the detoxifying effects and biological mechanisms. Herbal-processing technology significantly weakened hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity evoked by LGT with ED of the converted triptolide in each processed-herb product for serum alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, creatinine and urea nitrogen of 9.3, 16.6, 2.5 and 4.2 μg/kg, for liver glutathione, glutathione -transferase, catalase, tumour necrosis factor-α and interleukin-10 of 114.9, 67.8, 134.1, 7.7, 4171.6 μg/kg, and for kidney 21.9, 20.5, 145.0, 529.7, 19.4 μg/kg, respectively. Moreover, herbal-processing technology promoted the accumulation of Nrf2 into the nucleus, and upregulated mRNA expression of and . Additionally, herbal-processing technology enhanced the tumour inhibition rate with ED 12.2 μg/kg. Herbal-processing technology improves the safety and effectiveness of LGT in cancer treatment, and future research may be focused on the Nrf2-related molecules.