Jin R, Wan L L, Mitsuishi T
Dept. of Medical Technology, College of Medical Care and Technology, Cunma University, Maebashi, Japan.
Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 1995 Feb;15(2):101-3.
The Shi-ka-Ron, and its constituent Chinese herbs Lithospermum erythrorhizon, Astragalus membranaceus and Ligusticum Wallichii were administered with antitumor agent, mitomycin C (MMC) to ICR mice, and their effects on murine macrophages and lymphocytes were studied. Peritoneal macrophages were significantly inhibited both in their number and chemotactic activity by MMC treatment. Splenic weight and blastogenic responsiveness to Concanavalin A of spleen lymphocytes also decreased significantly in MMC-treated mice. NK cell activity was also suppressed by MMC treatment. When these mice were orally treated with extracts of Shi-ka-ron or each Chinese herbs mentioned above, it showed protective effects to immunosuppressive mice on all 5 items studied. The number of macrophages, and the functions of macrophages and lymphocytes maintained the same or more than normal levels in MMC plus each group of these extracts treated mice. These results suggest that the Shi-Ka-Ron and Chinese herbs could resist immunosuppression induced by antitumor agent MMC, and its mechanisms might be correlated with stimulation of the RES (reticuloendothelial system), activation of T cell blastogenesis and NK cell cytotoxicity.
