Abstract
The potential values of Chinese herbal formulas in treating various diseases are well known. In addition to more than 2,000 years of history, herbal medicine is appreciated for its remarkable efficacy in a lot of cases, which warrants a role in public health care worldwide, especially in East Asian countries. Liver cancer is the second most fatal cancer across the world. Recent studies have extensively investigated the chemical profiles and pharmacological effects of Chinese herbal medicine formulas on liver cancer. Either through observational follow-up or experimental studies, multiple herbal formulas have benefits implicated in the management of liver cancer. However, complex composition of each formula imposes restrictions on promoting clinical practice and global recognition. Therefore, understanding the mode of action of Chinese herbal medicine formulas in depth may offer sufficient evidence for their clinical use. This review highlighted the chemical characteristics and molecular mechanisms of actions of prominent Chinese herbal medicine formulas and summarized the correlated findings on the potential use in liver cancer treatment. At last, the present progresses of Chinese herbal medicine formulas in the perspective of clinical trials are discussed.
Highlights
Liver cancer is highly fatal, with an estimation of 841,000 new cases and 782,000 new deaths for liver cancer that occurred around the world in 2018 (Bray et al, 2018)
Previous reports identified the tumor suppression of hepatocellular carcinoma after Huanglian Jiedu decoction (HJD) administration, and further investigation indicated that eukaryotic elongation factor 2 might be a new target of the formula in attenuating cancer progression (Wang et al, 2015a)
Human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 and MHC97H cells were exposed to Fuzheng Yiliu decoction (FYD), and the findings showed inhibitory actions of FYD in tumor progression, invasion, and migration (Peng et al, 2018)
Summary
Liver cancer is highly fatal, with an estimation of 841,000 new cases and 782,000 new deaths for liver cancer that occurred around the world in 2018 (Bray et al, 2018). With 2,000-year empirical evidence, Chinese medicine has always been characterized with holistic perspective and syndrome differentiation Based on these principles of diagnosis and treatment, cancer is rather believed as the “cumulative toxicity” of internal organs that combines several patterns of syndrome (Liu et al, 2015). According to the principles of Chinese medicine, liver cancer is being considered the cumulative toxicity of internal organs that combines several patterns of syndrome such as Qi-blood deficiency, phlegm stagnation, blood stasis, spleen deficiency, or damp-toxin condensation. As such, clarifying the molecular mechanisms underground the anticancer action of Chinese herbal medicine formulas might shed new light on liver cancer treatment. Previous reports identified the tumor suppression of hepatocellular carcinoma after HJD administration, and further investigation indicated that eukaryotic elongation factor 2 might be a new target of the formula in attenuating cancer progression (Wang et al, 2015a). In order to illuminate the synergy as well as the action mechanism of the ingredients on hepatocellular carcinoma, Zhang and colleagues
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