Effects of a Chinese medical herbs complex on cellular immunity and toxicity-related conditions of breast cancer patients.
Br J Nutr
; 107(5): 712-8, 2012 Mar.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-21864416
ABSTRACT
Rose geranium (Pelargonium graveolens, Geraniaceae) has anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties, and promotes wound healing. Similarly, Ganoderma tsugae (Ganodermataceae), Codonopsis pilosula (Campanulaceae) and Angelica sinensis (Apiaceae) are traditional Chinese herbs associated with immunomodulatory functions. In the present study, a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted to examine whether the Chinese medicinal herb complex, RG-CMH, which represents a mixture of rose geranium and extracts of G. tsugae, C. pilosula and A. sinensis, can improve the immune cell count of cancer patients receiving chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy to prevent leucopenia and immune impairment that usually occurs during cancer therapy. A total of fifty-eight breast cancer patients who received chemotherapy or radiotherapy were enrolled. Immune cell levels in patient serum were determined before, and following, 6 weeks of cancer treatment for patients receiving either an RG-CMH or a placebo. Administration of RG-CMH was associated with a significant reduction in levels of leucocytes from 31·5 % for the placebo group to 13·4 % for the RG-CMH group. Similarly, levels of neutrophils significantly decreased from 35·6 % for the placebo group to 11·0 % for the RG-CMH group. RG-CMH intervention was also associated with a decrease in levels of T cells, helper T cells, cytotoxic T cells and natural killer cells compared with the placebo group. However, these differences between the two groups were not statistically significant. In conclusion, administration of RG-CMH to patients receiving chemotherapy/radiotherapy may have the capacity to delay, or ease, the reduction in levels of leucocytes and neutrophils that are experienced by patients during cancer treatment.
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Neoplasias da Mama
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Medicamentos de Ervas Chinesas
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Substâncias Protetoras
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Imunidade Celular
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Leucopenia
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Antineoplásicos
Tipo de estudo:
Clinical_trials
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Etiology_studies
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Incidence_studies
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Observational_studies
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Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Female
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Humans
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Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Br J Nutr
Ano de publicação:
2012
Tipo de documento:
Article