IMMUNOMODULATIVE EFFECTS OF CHINESE HERBS IN MICE TREATED WITH CARCINOGEN

Abstract

Extracts of Chinese herbs and their mixture “Shi-Ka-Ron” were administered with carcinogen, N-butyl-nitrosoamine (BBN), and their effects on macrophages and lymphocytes were studied. Peritoneal macrophages were significantly retarded both in their number and chemotactic activity by BBN treated. Blastogenic responsiveness to Concanavalin A of spleen lymphocytes also decreased significantly in BBN-treated mice. NK cell activity of lymphocytes was slightly suppressed by BBN treatment.Extract of Astragali radix showed protective effects on all 5 items studied. The number of macrophages and lymphocytes, and the functions of macrophages and lymphocytes maintained as same or more as normal levels in BBN plus Astragali extract-treated mice.Extract of Cnidii rhizoma showed the protective effects on the functions of macrophages and lymphocytes from BBN treatment but not on their numbers. E xtract of Lithospermi radix protected the retardation of lymphocyte function.“Shi-Ka-Ron” protected only chemotactic activity of macrophages and NK cell activity of lymphocytes but did not their numbers or blastogenic activity in spite of the mixture of herb extracts. These results suggest that the Chinese herbs may moderate each other's activity as mentioned from old time in China.