Immunomodulative Effects of Chinese Herbs in Mice Treated with Anti-tumor Agent Cyclophosphamide

Pro-inflammatory cytokine gene expression and nitric oxide regulation of aqueous extracted Astragali radix in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells

“…According to our results, ARE reduced immunosuppression caused by MTX in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. The similar results have been reported that Astragali radix can reverse the effect of decreasing NK cell activity caused by cyclophosphamide and may restore the impaired cell mediated immunity in burned mice (Jin et al, 1994a(Jin et al, , 1994bLiang et al, 1994). Macrophages have the secretion capacity for various mediators such as the IL-1, IL-6, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and TNF␣, which lead to secondary immune response such as proliferation of T and B cells, activation of macrophages for phagocytosis, and killing of microorganisms.…”

“…1016/j.jep.2005.03.009 cytokine production effect of Astragalus extract on lymphocyte function is depressed by anticancer agents or carcinogens. Also, the effect of Astragalus polysaccharides on T-cell blastogenic and interleukin-2 producing activities in burned mice has been reported (Jin et al, 1994a(Jin et al, , 1994bLiang et al, 1994).…”

Astragali Radix elicits anti-inflammation via activation of MKP-1, concomitant with attenuation of p38 and Erk

“…Reports also state that AR astragalosides may inhibit liver fibrosis by reducing TNF-␣ and TGF-␤1 production, as well as by scavenging active oxidants in activated Kupffer cells (Gui et al, 2006). In immuno-suppressed mouse spleen cells and Raw 264.7 cells, AR has been shown to induce proliferation (Lee et al, 2003(Lee et al, , 2005 and to reverse not only cyclophosphamide-induced repression of NK cell activity (Jin et al, 1994) but also impaired cell-mediated immunity in burned mice (Liang et al, 1994). AR also appears to exert immunomodulatory effects by regulating the expression of cytokines such as IL-1␣, IL-1␤, IL-6, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) as well as the production of nitric oxide (NO) (Lee et al, 2005).…”

The Efficacy of Shikonin on Cartilage Protection in a Mouse Model of Rheumatoid Arthritis

“…LE has long been used in traditional Asian medicine for the treatment of skin measles, chicken pox, hepatitis and skin cancer. It has been reported that extracts from the roots of LE restored immunosuppression induced by cyclophosphamide, an anti-tumor agent [12]. Additionally, LE extracts have been found to suppress LPS-and IFN-γ-induced production of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and TNF-α by macrophages [13] and to inhibit the mutagenic effects of the carcinogen, N-butyl-N-butanolnitrosamine [14].…”