Inhibition by shi-quan-da-bu-tang (TJ-48) of experimental hepatocarcinogenesis induced by N-nitrosomorpholine in Sprague-Dawley rats.

The effect of Shi-Quan-Da-Bu-Tang (TJ-48) on hepatocarcinogenesis induced by N-nitrosomorpholine (NNM) was investigated in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Rats were given drinking water containing NNM for 8 weeks, and also from the start of the experiment, regular chow pellets containing 2.0 or 4.0% TJ-48 until the end of the experiment. Preneoplastic and neoplastic lesions staining for the placental type of glutathione-S-transferase (GST-P) or gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) were examined histochemically. In week 15, quantitative histological analysis showed that prolonged administration of either 2.0 or 4.0% TJ-48 in the diet significantly reduced the size, volume and/or number of GST-P-positive and GGT-positive hepatic lesions. This treatment also caused a significant increase in the proportion of interleukin-2 receptor-positive lymphocytes among the lymphocytes infiltrating the tumours as well as a significant decrease in the labelling index of preneoplastic lesions. These findings indicate that TJ-48 inhibits the growth of hepatic enzyme-altered lesions, and suggests that its effect may be in part due to activation of the immune system.