Traditional Chinese Medicine in Regulating Tumor Microenvironment.

Tumor microenvironment (TME) is a complex and integrated system containing a variety of tumor-infiltrating immune cells and stromal cells. They are closely connected with cancer cells and influence the development and progression of cancer. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is an important complementary therapy for cancer treatment in China. It mainly eliminates cancer cells by regulating TME. The aim of this review is to systematically summarize the crosstalk between tumor cells and TME, and to summarize the research progress of TCM in regulating TME. The review is of great significance in revealing the therapeutic mechanism of action of TCM, and provides an opportunity for the combined application of TCM and immunotherapy in cancer treatment.

Hirudin enhances perforator flap survival: Clinical application report and mechanistic exploration.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Hirudin, a potent anticoagulant, is used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to treat thrombotic conditions and prevent postoperative thrombosis. Coagulation-related vascular complications are a common cause of perforator flaps failure. This study explores hirudin's potential to enhance flap growth by mitigating coagulation-related issues. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients were divided into GroupⅠ(hirudin group) and GroupⅡ(control). Laboratory tests covered red blood cell count (RBC), hematocrit (HCT), platelet count (PLT), monocyte count (MONO), prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), fibrinogen (FIB), and D-Dimer. Clinical parameters, including capillary refill time (CRT), flap swelling, and survival status, were evaluated. Animal experiments used Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats to establish random skin flaps. The experimental side received hirudin injection, while the control side received saline. Flaps were photographed to calculate survival rate, and CD31 immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis was performed to calculate microvessel density (MVD). RESULTS: The study, with 29 patients, found significant CRT differences between groups on postoperative days 2 and 6 (p = 0.027; p = 0.019), favoring GroupⅠ. Swelling severity varied significantly over time; GroupⅡhad more pronounced swelling. GroupⅠshowed superior flap growth with fewer complications, statistically significant (p = 0.033). Specific lab indicators (MONO, PT, and FIB) were significant at certain times. In animal experiments, the experimental side consistently had higher flap survival and slightly increased CD31 expression at various times, with higher MVD on days 2 and 6. CONCLUSIONS: Hirudin enhances flap survival through diverse mechanisms, supporting its role as a complementary approach in perforator flap surgeries.

Clinical Efficacy and Gut Microbiota Regulating-Related Effect of Si-Jun-Zi Decoction in Postoperative Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients: A Prospective Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients frequently encounter a deteriorated quality of life (QOL), disturbed immune response, and disordered homeostasis. Si-Jun-Zi Decoction (SJZD), a well-known traditional Chinese herbal formula, is frequently employed in clinical application for many years. Exploration is underway to investigate the potential therapeutic effect of SJZD for treating postoperative NSCLC. OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of SJZD on QOLs, hematological parameters, and regulations of gut microbiota in postoperative NSCLC patients. METHODS: A prospective observational cohort study was conducted, enrolling 65 postoperative NSCLC patients between May 10, 2020 and March 15, 2021 in Yueyang Hospital, with 33 patients in SJZD group and 32 patients in control (CON) group. The SJZD group comprised of patients who received standard treatments and the SJZD decoction, while the CON group consisted of those only underwent standard treatments. The treatment period was 4 weeks. The primary outcome was QOL. The secondary outcomes involved serum immune cell and inflammation factor levels, safety, and alterations in gut microbiota. RESULTS: SJZD group showed significant enhancements in cognitive functioning (P = .048) at week 1 and physical functioning (P = .019) at week 4. Lung cancer-specific symptoms included dyspnea (P = .001), coughing (P = .008), hemoptysis (P = .034), peripheral neuropathy (P = .019), and pain (arm or shoulder, P = .020, other parts, P = .019) eased significantly in the fourth week. Anemia indicators such as red blood cell count (P = .003 at week 1, P = .029 at week 4) and hemoglobin (P = .016 at week 1, P = .048 at week 4) were significantly elevated by SJZD. SJZD upregulated blood cell cluster differentiation (CD)3+ (P = .001 at week 1, P < .001 at week 4), CD3+CD4+ (P = .012 at week 1), CD3+CD8+ (P = .027 at week 1), CD19+ (P = .003 at week 4), increased anti-inflammatory interleukin (IL)-10 (P = .004 at week 1, P = .003 at week 4), and decreased pro-inflammatory IL-8 (P = .004 at week 1, p = .005 at week 4). Analysis of gut microbiota indicated that SJZD had a significant impact on increasing microbial abundance and diversity, enriching probiotic microbes, and regulating microbial biological functions. CONCLUSIONS: SJZD appears to be an effective and safe treatment for postoperative NSCLC patients. As a preliminary observational study, this study provides a foundation for further research.

Intrapleural injection of brucea javanica oil emulsion provided a long-term benefits in patient with malignant pleural effusion from pleural mesothelioma: A case report.

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a severe form of cancer that originates from mesothelium cells. Around 54-90% of mesotheliomas are associated with pleural effusions. Brucea Javanica Oil Emulsion (BJOE) is the processed oil derived from the seeds of Brucea javanica, which has shown potential as a treatment option for several types of cancer. Here, we present a case study of a MPM patient with malignant pleural effusion who received intrapleural injection of BJOE. The treatment resulted in the complete response of pleural effusion and chest tightness. While the precise mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of BJOE for pleural effusion are not yet fully understood, it has demonstrated a satisfactory clinical response without significant adverse effects.

Feiyanning formula modulates the molecular mechanism of osimertinib resistance in lung cancer by regulating the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway.

Feiyanning Formula (FYN), a Chinese herbal formula derived from summarized clinical experience, is proven to have anti-tumor effects in lung cancer patients. Osimertinib, a third-generation epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI), can improve progression-free survival and overall survival of patients but drug resistance is inevitable. The current study evaluated the effects of FYN in osimertinib-resistant HCC827OR and PC9OR cells. FYN preferentially inhibited the proliferation and migration of HCC827OR and PC9OR cells. Moreover, FYN and osimertinib exhibited synergistic inhibitory effects on proliferation and migration. Real-time qPCR (RT-qPCR) and western blotting results indicated that FYN downregulated gene and protein levels of GSK3ß and SRFS1, which are enriched in the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway. Besides, FYN inhibited tumor growth and exhibited synergistic effects with osimertinib in vivo. Collectively, the results suggested that FYN exerted an anti-osimertinib resistance effect via the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway.

Chinese Herbal Medicine (Yiqi-Yangyin-Jiedu Decoction) Combined With Osimertinib as First-Line Treatment in EGFR Mutation-Positive Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer (CATLA-2): A Study Protocol for a Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) significantly improve the prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with EGFR mutation-positive. Although third-generation EGFR-TKI osimertinib is demonstrated with superior efficacy compared with first-generation EGFR-TKIs, acquired resistance to EGFR-TKIs remains the bottleneck. The Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) Yiqi-Yangyin-Jiedu decoction (YYJD) has been shown to delay acquired resistance to first-generation EGFR-TKIs in the CATLA study, but there is no high-level evidence for its effect when combined with osimertinib. This trial aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of YYJD combined with osimertinib as first-line treatment in EGFR mutation-positive advanced NSCLC. Methods: This is a double-blind, multi-center, randomized controlled trial conducted in eight hospitals in China. A total of 314 participants will be randomly assigned to the osimertinib plus YYJD group (O+YYJD) or the osimertinib plus placebo group (O+placebo). Treatment will last until disease progression or death. Patients diagnosed with advanced NSCLC harboring EGFR Ex19del or L858R will be enrolled if they are ready to take osimertinib as first-line treatment, aged 18-74 years old, and provide signed informed consent. The primary outcome is progression-free survival (PFS). The secondary outcomes include a comparison of overall survival (OS), objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), and quality of life (QoL). The analysis will be based on intention-to-treat and per-protocol subject analysis principles. Discussion: The goal of this trial is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of YYJD when added to osimertinib as first-line treatment in EGFR mutation-positive advanced NSCLC.

Anticancer Action of Xiaoxianxiong Tang in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer by Pharmacological Analysis and Experimental Validation.

Xiaoxianxiong Tang (XXXT) is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine formula. Evidence is emerging supporting the benefits of XXXT in ameliorating therapy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The purpose of this study aimed to explore the effects and mechanisms of XXXT through network pharmacological analysis and biological validation. TCMSP database was used to identify potentially active compounds in XXXT with absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion screening, and their potential targets. The disease targets related to NSCLC were predicted by searching for Therapeutic Target database, GeneCards database, DrugBank database, and DisGeNET database. Of the 4385 NSCLC-related targets, 156 targets were also the targets of compounds present in XXXT. Subsequently, GO function and KEGG pathway enrichment and PPI network analyses revealed that, of the 95 targets and 20 pathways influenced by 20 ingredients in XXXT, 20 targets were associated with patient survival, and XXXT could exert an inhibitory action on the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway. Moreover, XXXT restrained the proliferation of A549 and H460 cells in a concentration-dependent manner and suppressed the mRNA and protein levels of key targets CCNA2, FOSL2, and BIRC5 closely linked to the PI3K-AKT pathway. Hence, XXXT has the potential to improve therapy for NSCLC by targeting the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway.

Agrimol B present in Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb impedes cell cycle progression of cancer cells through G0 state arrest.

Cancer recurrence poses a significant challenge. At the cellular level, recurrence takes place as a result of reactivation of dormant cancer cells residing at G0 phase. The aim of the study was to identify compounds that can trap prostate and lung cancer cells in G0 phase from a new Chinese herb recipe, Astringent recipe, consisting of Radix Paeoniae Alba, Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb, Fructus Mume, Fritillaria thunbergii Miq., Ganoderma Lucidum Karst, and Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge. Astringent recipe impeded cell cycle progression in prostate and lung cancer cells by rounding them up at G0 phase by flow cytometric analysis of cancer cells stained with Hoechst 33342 and Pyronin Y, respectively, for DNA and RNA. The anti-cancer efficacy of the recipe was found to be attributable to Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb. Further study established that agrimol B, a polyphenol derived from Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb, contributed to the activity of the herb. The action of agrimol B on the cancer cells was likely derived from its effect on c-MYC, SKP2 and p27 by immunoblotting and immunofluorescence. Oral administration of Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb or agrimol B reduced growth of prostate cancer cell xenograft in animal. In conclusion, Agrimol B can enrich for prostate and lung cancer cells in G0 state and influence key regulators that govern G0 status.

A TCM Formula YYWY Inhibits Tumor Growth in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer and Enhances Immune-Response Through Facilitating the Maturation of Dendritic Cells.

In worldwide, lung cancer has a major socio-economic impact and is one of the most common causes of cancer-related deaths. Current therapies for lung cancer are still quite unsatisfactory, urging for alternative new treatments. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is currently increasingly popular and exhibits a complicated intervention in cancers therapy. In this study, we evaluated the anti-tumor effect and explored the mechanisms of a TCM formula Yangyinwenyang (YYWY) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) models. YYWY induced the apoptosis of lung cancer cells in vitro. In Lewis NSCLC-bearing mice model, YYWY significantly inhibited the tumor growth. Further, RNA-seq analysis and immunostaining of the tumor tissue implied the critical role of YYWY in the regulation of immune response, especially the dendritic cells (DCs) in the effect of YYWY. Therefore, we focused on DCs, which were the initiator and modulator of the immune response. YYWY facilitated the maturation of DCs through MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways and promoted the release of the cytokines IFN-γ, interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-2, IL-12, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α by DCs. Moreover, the YYWY-matured DCs enhanced the proliferation of T cells and promoted the differentiation of T cells into T helper Th1 and cytotoxic T cell (CTL). In addition, YYWY increased the ratio of Th1/Th2 (IFN-γ/IL-4 radio). Collectively, our findings clearly suggested that YYWY exerted an anti-tumor effect on NSCLC, at least partially through facilitating the mature DCs to activate the proliferation and differentiation of T cells.

Adjuvant Chemotherapy with Chinese Herbal Medicine Formulas Versus Placebo in Patients with Lung Adenocarcinoma after Radical Surgery: a Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: The toxicity and side effects caused by adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT) after radical surgery for lung adenocarcinoma (LAC) lead to early termination frequently. This study was conducted to provide an objective basis for the effect of Chinese herbal medicine formulas (CHMFs) combined with chemotherapy in reducing toxicity and enhancing efficacy of ACT. METHOD: From February 17th, 2012 to March 20th, 2015, 233 patients from 7 hospitals diagnosed with LAC in IB~IIIA stage were randomly assigned into ACT + CHMF group (116 patients) and ACT + placebo group (117 patients). CHMF was taken orally until the end of chemotherapy. Chemotherapy-related toxic, side effects were investigated as the primary outcome. Disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were used as the secondary outcome. RESULTS: At one week following chemotherapy, the incidence of dry mouth, diarrhea and thrombocytopenia significantly decreased in CHMF group (P = 0.017, P = 0.033, P = 0.019, respectively). At two weeks following chemotherapy, fatigue and diarrhea were more obvious in the placebo group (P = 0.028, P = 0.025, respectively). In addition, patients in the CHMF group showed an increase in median DFS from 37.1 to 51.5 months compared with placebo group although there was no statistical significance (P = 0.16). In the stage IB subgroup, the CHMF group had a significantly better DFS (HR (95% CI) = 0.53 (0.28-0.99), P = 0.046). There was no significant difference in OS between the groups (P = 0.72). CONCLUSION: For patients with LAC, ACT combined with CHMF after radical surgery can prolong the DFS time especially in the early stage, and reduces the chemotherapy-related toxic and side effects. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT01441752. Registered 14 July, 2011.

CPF impedes cell cycle re-entry of quiescent lung cancer cells through transcriptional suppression of FACT and c-MYC.

Blockade of cell cycle re-entry in quiescent cancer cells is a strategy to prevent cancer progression and recurrence. We investigated the action and mode of action of CPF mixture (Coptis chinensis, Pinellia ternata and Fructus trichosanthis) in impeding a proliferative switch in quiescent lung cancer cells. The results indicated that CPF impeded cell cycle re-entry in quiescent lung cancer cells by reduction of FACT and c-MYC mRNA and protein levels, with concomitant decrease in H3K4 tri-methylation and RNA polymerase II occupancy at FACT and c-MYC promoter regions. Animals implanted with quiescent cancer cells that had been exposed to CPF had reduced tumour volume/weight. Thus, CPF suppresses proliferative switching through transcriptional suppression of FACT and the c-MYC, providing a new insight into therapeutic target and intervention method in impeding cancer recurrence.

Transcriptional regulation of G2/M regulatory proteins and perturbation of G2/M Cell cycle transition by a traditional Chinese medicine recipe.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Hedyotis diffusa Willd. (H) and Scutellaria barbata D.Don (S) are ancient anti-cancer Chinese herb medicines. When combined, known as HS, it is one of the most commonly prescribed Chinese Medicines for cancer patients today in China. AIM OF THE STUDY: The prevention of disease progression is a dominant concern for the growing number of men with prostate cancer. The purpose of this work is to evaluate the action and mode of action of Chinese Medicine recipe HS in inhibiting prostate cancer progression in preclinical models. METHODS: Effects of HS were analyzed in prostate cancer cell lines by evaluating proliferation, cell cycle profile, DNA damage and key regulators responsible for G2 to M phase transition. The transcriptional activities of these regulators were determined by RT-PCR and ChIP. The efficacy of HS in vitro was validated in an animal model. RESULTS: HS treatment was observed to reduce DNA content and accumulated prostate cancer cells at the G2/M phase. Immunolabeling for phospho-Histone H3 in association with nocodazole to capture mitotic cells confirmed that HS impeded G2 to M transition. After excluding DNA damage-induced G2 arrest, it was revealed that HS reduced expression of Cyclin B1, CDK1, PLK1 and Aurora A at both protein and mRNA levels, with concomitant reduction of H3K4 tri-methylation at their promoter-regions. Animals that received oral administration of HS with a dosage relevant to clinical application showed reduced tumor volume and weight with a reduction of Cyclin B1, CDK1, PLK1 and Aurora A protein levels. CONCLUSIONS: HS acts by impeding the G2 to M transition of prostate cancer cells. It is likely that the mode of action is transcriptionally suppressing proteins governing mitotic entry, without eliciting significant DNA damage.

Chinese Herbal Medicine Combined With EGFR-TKI in EGFR Mutation-Positive Advanced Pulmonary Adenocarcinoma (CATLA): A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Background: To determine the clinical activity and safety of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) combined with epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKI) in patients with advanced pulmonary adenocarcinoma (ADC) and the ability of CHM combined with EGFR-TKI to activate EGFR mutations. Methods: Three hundred and fifty-four patients were randomly assigned to EGFR-TKI (erlotinib 150 mg/d, gefitinib 250 mg/d, or icotinib 125 mg tid/d) plus CHM (TKI+CHM, N = 185) or EGFR-TKI plus placebo (TKI+placebo, N = 169). Progression-free survival (PFS) was the primary end point; the secondary end points were overall survival (OS), objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), quality of life [Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Lung (FACT-L) and Lung Cancer Symptom Scale (LCSS)], and safety. Results: The median PFS was significantly longer for the TKI+CHM group (13.50 months; 95% CI, 11.20-16.46 months) than with the EGFR-TKI group (10.94 months; 95% CI, 8.97-12.45 months; hazard ratio, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.51-0.90; P = 0.0064). The subgroup analyses favored TKI+CHM as a first-line treatment (15.97 vs. 10.97 months, P = 0.0447) rather than as a second-line treatment (11.43 vs. 9.23 months, P = 0.0530). Patients with exon 19 deletion had a significantly longer PFS than with 21 L858R. The addition of CHM to TKI significantly improved the ORR (64.32% vs. 52.66%, P = 0.026) and QoL. Drug-related grade 1-2 adverse events were less common with TKI+CHM. Conclusions: TKI+CHM improved PFS when compared with TKI alone in patients with EGFR mutation-positive advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Clinical Trial Registration: www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT01745302.

Herbal formula Yangyinjiedu induces lung cancer cell apoptosis via activation of early growth response 1.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been extensively used in clinical practices and proven to be effective against cancer. However, the underlying mechanisms remain to be investigated. In this study, we examined the anticancer activities of Chinese herbal formula Yangyinjiedu (YYJD) and found that YYJD exhibits cytotoxicity against lung cancer cells. Transcriptome analysis indicated that 2178 genes were differentially expressed (P < 0.05) upon YYJD treatment, with 1464 being (67.2%) up-regulated. Among these, we found that the tumour suppressor early growth response 1 (EGR1) is the most activated. We demonstrated that EGR1 contributes to YYJD-induced apoptosis in A549. Through dissecting EGR1-associated transcriptional network, we identified 275 genes as EGR1 direct targets, some targets are involved in apoptosis. Lastly, we observed that YYJD enhances EGR1 expression and induces cell death in tumour xenografts. Collectively, these findings suggest that YYJD exerts its anticancer activities through EGR1 activation, thus providing the evidence for its potential clinical application for lung cancer patients.

Maintenance Chemotherapy With Chinese Herb Medicine Formulas vs. With Placebo in Patients With Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer After First-Line Chemotherapy: A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind Trial.

Background: Chinese Herb Medicine Formulas (CHMF) was reported to improve the quality of life (QoL) in advanced NSCLC patients. The present study was designed to investigate whether maintenance chemotherapy plus CHMF in patients would improve QoL and progression-free survival (PFS). Methods: Seventy-one patients were enrolled from 8 medical centers in China, and were randomly assigned to a maintenance chemotherapy plus CHMF group (n = 35) or a maintenance chemotherapy plus placebo group (n = 36). The outcome measures included PFS, Karnofsky performance status (KPS) scores, QoL (assessed with the lung cancer symptom scale (LCSS) questionnaire), and adverse events (AEs). Results: Patients in the CHMF group showed significant improvements in median PFS (HR = 0.55, 95% CI 0.28-0.88, P = 0.019), KPS scores (P = 0.047), fatigue (cycle [C] 3: P = 0.03), interference with daily activities (C3: P = 0.04) and dyspnea (C2: P = 0.03) compared with patients in the placebo group. Compared with the placebo group, the incidence of AEs decreased in the CHMF group, including loss of appetite (C2: P = 0.011, C4: P = 0.004) and dry mouth (C4: P = 0.011). Conclusion: The essential finding of our study is that maintenance chemotherapy combined with CHMF may prolong PFS, relieve symptoms, improve QoL and alleviate the side effects.

Cancer chemoprevention and therapy using chinese herbal medicine.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) plays an indispensable role in cancer prevention and treatment. Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) is a key component of TCM and has been practiced for thousands of years. A number of naturally occurring products from Chinese herbs extracts exhibit strong inhibitory properties against carcinogenesis, including CHM single-herb extracts, CHM-derived active components, and CHM formulas (the polyherbal combinations), which regulate JAK/STAT, MAPK, and NF-Ò¡B pathways. The present review aims to report the cancer-preventive effect of CHM with evidence from cell-line, animal, epidemiological, and clinical experiments. We also present several issues that have yet to be resolved. In the future, cancer prevention by CHM will face unprecedented opportunities and challenges.

Herbal formula YYJD inhibits tumor growth by inducing cell cycle arrest and senescence in lung cancer.

Lung cancer represents a major cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Although various tactics and anti-tumor drugs have been used to improve curative effects, five-year survival rate of lung cancer patients remains poor. In this study, we investigated the action and underlying mechanisms of our recently optimized Chinese herbal formula Yangyinjiedu (YYJD) against lung cancer. YYJD significantly inhibits the proliferation of lung cancer cell lines (95-D, A549, H460 and H1975) by inducing cell cycle arrest and senescence in a dose-dependent manner. In particular, YYJD induces significant G2/M phase arrest and inhibits the colony formation of lung cancer cells. Moreover, we found that administration of YYJD could inhibit the growth of xenografted lung cancer cells in nude mice without loss in body weight. Our findings suggest that the herbal formula YYJD is a potential anti-tumor agent against lung cancer.

[Inhibitory Effect of Feiji Recipe on IDO Induced Immune Escape on the Murine Model of Lewis Lung Carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of Feiji Recipe (FR) intervening indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) induced immune escape on the murine model of Lewis lung carcinoma. Methods Totally 48 C57BL/6 mice inoculated with Lewis lung cancer cells transfected with human (enhanced green fluorescent protein,EGFP)-IDO gene were divided into four groups according to radom digit table, i.e., the model group (administered with normal saline by gastrogavage) , the Chinese medicine group (treated with FR Decoction at the daily dose of 100 mg/g by gastrogavage), the 1-methyl-D-trytaphan (1-MT) group (administered with 1-MT mixed liquor at the daily dose of 100 mg/kg by gastrogavage), and the Paclitaxel group (treated with Paclitaxel at the daily dose of 15 mg/kg by peritoneal injection), 12 in each group. The intervention was started from the 2nd day of modeling. The survival time was observed in 24 of them. Ratios of CD4+ CD25+ FoxP3+ regulatory T cells (Treg) in the spleen were detected in the rest 24 mice by flow cytometry respectively. RESULTS: Compared with the model group, the survival time was significantly prolonged in the Chinese medicine group and the 1-MT group (P < 0.01); ratios of Treg cells remarkably decreased in the Chinese medicine group, the 1-MT group, and the Paclitaxel group (P < 0. 01). Compared with the Paclitaxel group, the survival time was significantly prolonged in the Chinese medicine group and the 1-MT group (P < 0.01); ratios of Treg cells decreased significantly in the 1-MT group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: FR could inhibit the proliferation of lung cancer cells and immune eseape, improve the immune function, and prolong the survival of tumor-bearing mice.

New Ent-Kaurane-Type Diterpene Glycosides and Benzophenone from Ranunculus muricatus Linn.

Two new ent-kaurane diterpene glycosides, ranunculosides A (1) and B (2), and a new benzophenone, ranunculone C (3), were isolated from the aerial part of Ranunculus muricatus Linn. The chemical structures of compounds 1-3 were established to be (2S)-ent-kauran-2ß-ol-15-en-14-O-ß-d-glucopyranoside, (2S,4S)-ent-kauran-2ß,18-diol-15-en-14-O-ß-d-glucopyranoside, and (R)-3-[2-(3,4-dihydroxybenzoyl)-4,5-dihydroxy-phenyl]-2-hydroxylpropanoic acid, respectively, by spectroscopic data and chemical methods. The absolute configuration of 1 was determined by the combinational application of RP-HPLC analysis and Mosher's method.