Effects of glycyrrhizae and glycyrrhizic acid on cellular immunocompetence in low-dose gamma-ray irradiated mice.

BACKGROUND: For both animals and human beings, it is important to prevent damage from ionizing radiation and to restore immunocompetence following irradiation. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of glycyrrhizae (GL) and glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) on cellular immunocompetence in low dose gamma-ray-irradiated mice. METHODS: Six- to 8-week-old ICR strain' Crl:CD-1-ICR (BR) strain male mice, bred in the Institute of Cancer Research, U.S.A., were chosen and divided into four groups. Group A was the normal control. Group B, the experimental control, received 1 Gy of whole body gamma-ray irradiation. Groups C and D, the experimental groups, were treated with 500 mg/kg of GL (orally) and 5 mg/kg body weight of GA (i.p.), respectively, once a day, 5 days a week for 2 weeks after gamma-irradiation. The tested mice were killed, at 6 different intervals to measure their leukocyte and differential counts. Cellular immunocompetence was measured by the 3H-thymidine uptake in each group. RESULTS: One gray of gamma-ray irradiation had evident inhibition on the leukocyte and differential counts and the cellular immunity of mice. GL and GA could help to restore the decreased leukocyte counts and the cellular immunocompetence in low dose gamma-irradiated mice. CONCLUSION: GL and GA could help to restore decreased leukocyte counts and the cellular immunocompetence in low-dose gamma-ray-irradiated mice.

Therapeutic effects of moxibustion on experimental tumor.

This work investigated the therapeutic effects of the improved form of moxibustion (MT) on experimental tumor. Sarcoma 180 cells (1 x 10(7)) were transplanted into the subcutaneous tissue in the breast area of female ICR mice. Mice bearing a tumor were divided into one control and four experimental groups. The experimental groups were treated with MT for 1, 2, 3 and 4 times (abbreviated as MT1, MT2, MT3, MT4, respectively). This study showed that the experimental group treated with MT3 displayed the optimal therapeutic response. The longest mean survival time (87.8 days) within 120 days after treatment of MT3 significantly differed from the control group (60.2 days). In addition, uptake of 86Rb-radioactive tracer significantly decreased in tumors treated with MT3. The improved form of moxibustion used in this study is a reliable model of localized hyperthermia in tumor therapy.

Effects of gypenosides on cellular immunity of gamma-ray-irradiated mice.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of gypenosides (Gs) on cellular immunocompetence in the gamma-ray-irradiated mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Tested mice of ICR strain were treated continuously with Gs for 10 days before or after 4 Gy gamma-irradiation. Body weight and splenic weight of mice were measured. The blastogenic response of splenocytes to mitogens, such as PHA, Con A and LPS were also detected. The cellular immunocompetence was measured by 3H-thymidine incorporation in each tested mouse. RESULTS: Body weight as well as splenic weight decreased in gamma-ray-irradiated mice. The blastogenic responses of splenocytes to mitogens were inhibited after gamma-ray irradiation. To treat with Gs was effective to enhance the recovery of body weight, splenic weight and immunocompetence in gamma-ray-irradiated mice from radiation damage. CONCLUSIONS: Four Gy gamma-ray irradiation could decrease splenic weight and cellular immunocompetence of mice. Gs could help the recovery of the splenic weight and cellular immunocompetence in gamma-ray-irradiated mice.

Effects of glycyrrhizae and glycyrrhizic acid on cellular immunocompetence of gamma-ray-irradiated mice.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of glycyrrhizae (GL) and glycyrrhizic acid (GA) on cellular immunocompetence in the gamma-ray-irradiated mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Tested mice of ICR strain were treated with GL and GA for 10 days continuously after 4 Gy gamma-irradiation. The counts of total leukocytes, lymphocytes, neutrophils and monocytes in peripheral blood of mice were measured. The blastogenic responses of splenocytes to mitogens, such as PHA, PWM, Con A and LPS were also detected. The cellular immunocompetence was measured by 3H-thymidine incorporation in each tested mouse. RESULTS: The leukocytes and their differential counts decreased in gamma-irradiated mice. The blastogenic responses of splenocytes to mitogens were inhibited by gamma-ray irradiation. GL and GA were effective in enhancing the recovery of leukocyte count and the blastogenic responses of splenocytes to mitogens, such as PHA, PWM, Con A and LPS from the inhibition of 4 Gy gamma-irradiation. CONCLUSIONS: Four Gy gamma-ray irradiation can decrease leukocytes and their differential counts, and the blastogenic responses of splenocytes of mice. GL and GA can help the recovery of the cellular immunocompetence in the gamma-irradiated mice.

Effects of Glycyrrhizae and Glycyrrhizic acid on radiation injury in mice.

The effects of Glycyrrhizae (GL) and Glycyrrhizic acid (GA) on promoting the recovery of mice from radiation injury were investigated. Two hundred ICR strain male mice, 6-8 weeks old, were randomly divided into four groups. Group A was the normal control. Group B, the experimental control, was treated with 4 Gy gamma-ray irradiation. Groups C and D, the experimental groups, were treated with 500 mg/kg of GL (oral administration) and 5 mg/kg body weight of GA (i.p.), respectively, for ten days after gamma-ray irradiation. Eight mice in each group were sacrificed on days 5, 12, 26 and 33 post irradiation to measure the weights of spleen, thymus and testes, and the biosynthetic rates of DNA in these organs. The results revealed that 4 Gy gamma-ray irradiation evidently inhibited the weights of spleen, thymus and testes, and their DNA biosynthetic rates. GL and GA enhanced the recovery of these organs in mice from the injury of gamma-ray irradiation.

Protective effects of Gynostemma pentaphyllum in gamma-irradiated mice.

Radiation protective effects of Gynostemma Pentaphyllum (Gp) were investigated in gamma-irradiated mice. Animals were sacrificed on days 5, 15, 25 and 35 after gamma-irradiation. GOT, GPT, serum IgG and leukocyte counts were measured. Proliferation of splenocytes stimulated by mitogens, such as PHA, Con A, and LPS were detected and compared. The results showed that all parameters measured in this study were decreased and proliferation of splenocytes stimulated by mitogens were repressed in gamma-irradiated mice. Gp helped to recover the decreased leukocyte counts, GOT, GPT and IgG in serum and the proliferation of splenocytes stimulated by PHA, LPS and Con A in the gamma-ray irradiated mice.

Effects of Ganoderma lucidum and krestin on subset T-cell in spleen of gamma-irradiated mice.

Effects of Ganoderma lucidum (Gl) and Krestin (PSK) extracts on spleen, thymus and splenocytes in gamma-irradiated mice were investigated in this study. ICR strain male mice were divided into five groups. Group A was the normal control. Group B, the experimental control, was treated with Gl. Group C, the radiation treatment control, was treated with whole body exposure to 4 Gy gamma-irradiation (RT). Group D was treated with RT and Gl. Group E was treated with RT and PSK. The dosage of Gl was 400 mg/day/kg body weight and PSK was 500 mg/day/kg body weight. Our results indicated that the relative thymus weight in groups D and E were higher than group C on day 28 after gamma-irradiation. Group D was the highest in all the experimental groups. CD4 and CD8 splenocytes in group D were higher than group C on days 7 and 28. Gl was better than PSK in repairing the damage of subset T-cells in the spleen of gamma-irradiated mice.

Effects of Ganoderma lucidum and krestin on cellular immunocompetence in gamma-ray-irradiated mice.

The effects of Ganoderma lucidum (Gl) and Krestin (PSK) extracts on cellular immunocompetence, leukocyte counts and differential count in gamma-irradiated mice were investigated in this study. ICR strain male mice were used and randomly divided into five groups. Group A is normal control. Group B, the experimental control, was treated with Gl. Group C, the radiation treatment control, was treated with whole body exposure to 4 Gy gamma-irradiation (RT). Group D was treated with RT and Gl. Group E was treated with RT and PSK. The dosage of Gl was 400 mg/day/kg body weight and PSK was 500 mg/day/kg body weight. After irradiation, six mice from each group were sacrificed on day 7 and the other six on day 28. Cellular immunocompetence was measured by means of 3H-thymidine incorporation with splenic cells stimulated through mitogens such as PHA, Con A and LPS. The results revealed that relative splenic weight in Groups D and E were higher than group C on day 28 after gamma-irradiation, Group D was the highest in all the experimental groups. Leukocyte counts were decreased significantly in Groups D and E on day 7, the former was a little higher than the latter. Gl administration showed an increase in the leukocyte count in Group D on day 28. The blastogenic response of splenocytes to PHA and Con A in groups D and E were higher than in Group C on days 7 and 28. We suggested that Gl and PSK were effective in enhancing the recovery of cellular immunocompetence from gamma-ray irradiation.

Combined effects of chuling (Polyporus umbellatus) extract and mitomycin C on experimental liver cancer.

Chuling (Polyporus umbellatus), one of the commonly used Chinese medical herbs, was combined with mitomycin C and then studied against intrahepatic implantation of sarcoma 180 tumor cells in mice. Oral administration of chuling extract, intraperitoneal injection of mitomycin C and the combination of both increased the life span of tumor-bearing mice 71.6%, 70.1% and 119.9%, respectively. The same treatments were found to be cytotoxic to Sarcoma-180-induced liver tumor cells. The synthetic rates of DNA, RNA and protein were all inhibited measurably by the combined treatment. Histopathological studies showed that lymphocytes infiltrated and surrounded the cancer cells, and there was some fibrosis found in normal cells and cancer cells. These results indicate the potential use of chuling as an anticancer agent.

Effects of kuei-pi-tang on cellular immunocompetence of gamma-irradiated mice.

Kuei-Pi-Tang is a kind of traditional Chinese medicine which has been suggested to have therapeutic effects on hemato-deficient disease and radiation injuries. In order to further investigate its protection function, this study is focused on the efficacy of kuei-pi-tang on cellular immunocompetence of gamma-ray irradiated mice. ICR strain male mice were chosen and divided into several groups for their different treatments of 4 Gy gamma-ray whole body irradiation and kuei-pi-tang administration. After the treatments, six to eight mice from each group were sacrificed on days 1, 5, 12, 19, 26 and 33. The body and splenic weights of mice by different treatments were measured and the splenic cells separated thereafter. The changes of cellular immunocompetence in mice following treatments were measured by 3H-thymidine incorporation. The results revealed that 4 Gy of gamma-ray irradiation inhibits the increases of body and splenic weights and exerts a pronounced inhibitory effect on the incorporative rates of 3H-thymidine in the splenic lymphoid cells which have been stimulated by mitogens. kuei-pi-tang administration seems to increase the recovery of the cellular immunocompetence, especially for the treatment of kuei-pi-tang administered with the concentration of 20 mg/20 g body weight after gamma-ray irradiation.

Effects of jen-sheng-yang-yung-tang on cellular immunocompetence of gamma-irradiated mice.

This study was conducted to determine the therapeutic effects of Jen-Sheng-Yang-Yung-Tang on mice irradiated by gamma-ray. A total of 160 male ICR strain mice, 6-7 weeks of age, were chosen to receive different treatment of radiation and Jen-Sheng-Yang-Yung-Tang. After the treatments, six to eight mice from each group were sacrificed on days 1, 5, 12, 19, 26 and 33. The body and splenic weights of mice by different treatments were measured and the splenic cells were separated under aseptic conditions, thereafter. The changes of cellular immunocompetence in mice following treatments were measured by 3H-thymidine incorporation in each experimental mouse. The results revealed that 4 Gy of gamma-ray irradiation inhibited the increases of body and splenic weights and exerted an obvious inhibitory effect on the blastogenic responses of the splenic lymphoid cells after being stimulated by mitogens such as PHA, Con A, PWM and LPS. Jen-Sheng-Yang-Yung-Tang administration seemed to help the recovery of cellular immunocompetence in the gamma-ray irradiated mice. Among these treatments, Jen-Sheng-Yang-Yung-Tang administered with the concentration of 20 mg/20 g body weight after irradiation enhanced the recovery of radiation damages and had the highest efficacy of any other kinds of treatments.

Combined therapy of mitomycin C and Chinese medical herbs on experimental liver cancer.

In this research, ICR male mice were chosen for intrahepatic implantation of sarcoma 180 tumor cells (1 x 10(7)). The mice were randomly divided into various groups 24 hours after implantation. One of the groups was the tumor control, the others were singly or combinedly treated with mitomycin C (MMC) and Shih Chuan-Ta-Pu-Tang (SCTPT) or Shi-Hung-One (SHO). The results revealed that the mortality rate (MR60) in the tumor control was 100% and the mean survival time (MST60) was 21.11 +/- 10.69 days. The best therapeutic effect appeared in the group treated with the combination of MMC and SHO, its MR6o was 55.0% and MST 60 was 47.0 +/- 13.4 days.

Effects of hyperthermia and photodynamic therapy on BALB/c mice bearing subcutaneous tumors.

The therapeutic effects of photodynamic therapy and hyperthermia on mice bearing subcutaneous tumors were investigated. Ehrlich ascites tumor cells (1 x 10(7)) were implanted subcutaneously into the femoral area of BALB/c mice. A total of 134 tumor-bearing mice were treated with photodynamic therapy, i.e., administration of laser irradiation (514.5 nm, 112.5 mW/cm2 for 11.12 min with a total energy 75 J/cm2) after injection (i.p.) of hematoporphyrin derivative (HPD, 7.5 and 10.0 mg/kg body weight) and/or hyperthermia (by electric heating needles to 44 and 45 degrees C for 30 min) once a day for three successive days. The results revealed that the therapeutic effects of the combination of photodynamic therapy and hyperthermia were improved when compared with photodynamic therapy or hyperthermia alone. A combination of photodynamic therapy (10.0 mg HPD/kg body weight and 75 J/cm2 of total laser irradiation energy) and hyperthermia (44 degrees C for 30 min) had the best therapeutic effect, indicating that the mortality rate within 120 days (MR120) was 12.5% and the mean survival time (MST120) was 113.8 days.

Effects of moxibustion on cellular immunocompetence of gamma-irradiated mice.

The effects of moxibustion on cellular immunocompetence of gamma-irradiated mice were investigated in this study. A total of 240 male young mice (ICR strain), 6-8 weeks of age, were chosen and divided into three groups. Group A was the normal control. Group B, the experimental control, was treated with 400 rad whole body gamma-irradiation. Group C, the experimental group, was treated with moxibustion (MT) after being exposed to gamma-irradiation. Six to eight mice from each group were sacrificed on days 1, 5, 12, 19, 26 and 33 post-irradiation. The body and splenic weights of mice in each group were measured. The cellular immunocompetence was measured by 3H-thymidine uptake in each experimental mouse. The results revealed that 400 rad of gamma-ray irradiation inhibited the increase of body and splenic weights, and exerted a pronounced inhibitory effect on the incorporative rates of 3H-thymidine after being stimulated by mitogens such as PHA, PWM, Con A and LPS in the splenic lymphoid cells. MT seemed to help the recovery of the cellular immunocompetence in the gamma-ray irradiated mice.

Effects of electroacupuncture on leukocytes and plasma protein in the X-irradiated rats.

The effects of electroacupuncture on leukocytes and plasma protein on the X ray-irradiated rats were investigated in the present study. The results showed that X-irradiation had an evident inhibitory effect on the counts of total leukocytes, lymphocytes and neutrocytes, and the concentration of the total plasma protein, plasma albumin, globulin and alpha- and beta-globulin in X-irradiated rats. The electroacupuncture was able to help the X-irradiated rats to recover the counts of the total leukocyte, lymphocyte and neutrocyte. The electroacupuncture had a helpful tendency to recover the concentration of the total plasma protein, albumin, globulin, and alpha- and beta-globulin in the irradiated rats.