Efficacy of the traditional Chinese medicine, Buyang Huanwu Decoction, at preventing taxane-induced peripheral neuropathy in breast cancer patients: A prospective, randomized, controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Buyang Huanwu Decoction (BYHWD) is a traditional Chinese prescription, originally derived from Yi Lin Gai Cuo during the Qing Dynasty. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of BYHWD in the prevention of taxane-induced peripheral neuropathy (TIPN) in patients with breast cancer. METHODS: This single-center, statistician-blinded, parallel-group, simple randomized, no-treatment controlled study was conducted at the China-Japan Friendship Hospital in Beijing. Sixty breast cancer patients scheduled to receive nab-paclitaxel-based chemotherapy were randomly assigned to either the BYHWD group (N = 30) or the control group (N = 30) using simple randomization procedures. The data analysts were unaware of the treatment allocation. The primary efficacy endpoints were the incidence and severity of TIPN in the 2 groups, assessed using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) and Patients' Neurotoxicity Questionnaire (PNQ). The secondary efficacy endpoint was the score of Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast for both groups. The primary safety endpoints were routine blood test results and liver and renal functions. Both groups were subjected to 4 chemotherapy cycles. Efficacy and safety analyses were conducted on an intention-to-treat basis. RESULTS: The incidence of TIPN in the BYHWD group was 50.0%, which was lower than the 80.0% incidence in the control group (ß = -1.881 [95%CI -3.274, -.488]; P = .008, adjusted). The probability of TIPN in the BYHWD group was 15.2% of that in the control group, representing a significant reduction in incidence (odds ratio = .152, [95%CI .038, 0.614]; P = .008, adjusted). The CTCAE and PNQ grades of the BYHWD group were 1.527 and 1.495 points lower than those of the control group at the same cycle, respectively (CTCAE: ß = -1.527 [95%CI -2.522, -.533]; P = .003, adjusted; PNQ: ß = -1.495 [95%CI -2.501, -.489]; P = .004, adjusted, respectively). After treatment, the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast scores in the BYHWD group were significantly better than those in the control group (P = .003), especially in the physiological, functional, and additional concerns domains. CONCLUSION: Buyang Huanwu decoction (BYHWD) can effectively prevent TIPN and improve the quality of life in patients with breast cancer.

Isolation, purification and identification of etiolation substrate from fresh-cut Chinese water-chestnut (Eleocharis tuberosa).

Fresh cut Chinese water-chestnut is a popular ready-to-eat fresh-cut fruit in China. However, it is prone to etiolation and the chemicals responsible for this process are not known yet. To address this problem, we extracted phytochemicals from etiolated Chinese water-chestnut and separated them using MPLC and column chromatography. Four compounds were obtained and their structures were determined by interpretation of UV, TLC, HPLC and NMR spectral data and by comparison with reported data. We identified these compounds as eriodictyol, naringenin, sucrose and ethyl D-glucoside. Among those, eriodictyol and naringenin were both isolated for the first time in fresh-cut Chinese water-chestnut and are responsible for the yellowing of this fruit cutting.