莪莲小柴胡汤的抗癌作用及其机制研究

目的：通过重复观察莪莲小柴胡汤（ELXCHT）对荷瘤鼠的抑瘤作用和免疫功能的影响，及其毒副作用，探究其抑瘤机制，为该复方的临床开发和研究提供实验资料。 方法:高、中、低浓度ELXCHT处理组分别给予ELXCHT灌服，对照组给予等量无菌生理盐水，阳性药物处理组给予环磷酰胺(CTX)。通过观察肿瘤生长情况、小鼠体重的变化、胸腺系数、脾脏系数和肿瘤组织光、电镜检测，探索ELXCHT的抑瘤作用和机制及其对免疫功能的影响和副作用。 结果:各用药组均较对照组有明显抑瘤作用（P<0.05），高浓度组与CTX组具有同等的抑瘤效应（P>0.05）。与CTX相比，ELXCHT能够显著提高机体的免疫功能，高浓度组的胸腺系数和脾系数与阳性组的比较有显著差异（P<0.05）；ELXCHT毒副作用较小，实验前各组小鼠体重无显著差异（P>0.05），实验结束时各用药组小鼠体重与CTX处理组比较有显著差异（P<0.05），高、中浓度ELXCHT处理组结束时小鼠体重与对照组比较也有显著差异（P<0.05）；光镜和电镜检测发现3种不同浓度ELXCHT处理组均可见瘤细胞凋亡和坏死，及巨噬细胞吞噬凋亡小体等改变，其中以高浓度ELXCHT处理组最为显著，而CTX处理组部分瘤细胞则以坏死为主。 结论:ELXCHT能有效抑制肿瘤生长，增强机体免疫力和诱导肿瘤细胞凋亡，不良反应少，是应用前景广阔的抗癌中药。

Antitumor action of a Chinese medicine ELXCHT and its mechanism

AIM:To observed the antitumor effect and primary mechanism of E Lian Xiao Chai Hu Tang (ELXCHT), and to investigate its effect on immunologic function and side effect. METHODS:Different doses of ELXCHT (the high, middle and low concentration groups) were given to the treated mice, and equal volume of normal saline was applied to control group (negative control). Cytoxan (CTX) was used as positive control (CTX treatment group). Through the observation of tumor growth, the body weight, thymus coefficient, spleen coefficient, and tumor tissue structure under light microscope and electron microscope were determined. The antitumor effect of ELXCHT, the influence on immunity and side effect were observed. RESULTS:Compared to control group, all the ELXCHT treatment groups showed more obvious inhibition ratio (P<0.05). The high concentration ELXCHT group showed similar inhibition ratio as the CTX treatment group (P>0.05). Compared to CTX treatment group, ELXCHT greatly strengthened the immunity function. The thymus coefficient and spleen coefficient in high concentration ELXCHT group were higher (P<0.05). The toxicity of ELXCHT was very low, the body weights among mice were not statistically different before experiment (P>0.05), the body weights in all ELXCHT treatment groups were statistically higher (P<0.05) than those in CTX treatment group, the body weights in high or mid concentration ELXCHT group were statistically higher (P<0.05) than that in control group. Apoptosis and necrosis of tumor cells and the apoptosis body phagocytized by macrophages were found in all ELXCHT groups under the light and electron microscope, and the high concentration ELXCHT group had the strongest effect. The tumor cells in CTX group were mainly necrosis. CONCLUSION:ELXCHT inhibits the growth of tumor cells and enhances the immunologic function with the least side effect.