The protective effect of hochu-ekki-to (TJ-41) , a Japanese herbal medicine, against HSV-1 infection in mitomycin C-treated mice
Kido, T.; Mori, K.; Daikuhara, H.; Tsuchiya, H.; Ishige, A.; Sasaki, H.
Anticancer Research 20(6a): 4109-4113
2000
ISSN/ISBN: 0250-7005 PMID: 11131680 Document Number: 525036
Background: Immmunosuppression and infectious disease in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy is a serious problem. Immunopotentiating drugs may show a therapeutic efficacy. Materials and Methods: The protective effect of Hochu-ekki-to (TJ-41), a Japanese traditional herbal medicine, on mitomycin C (MMC)-induced immunosuppression has been investigated. Spleen weight, the number of forming colonies of granulocytes and macrophages (CFU-GM) in the bone-marrow cells, natural killer (NK) activity in splenocytes and susceptibility to lethal herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) infection were evaluated. Results: Oral administration of TJ-41 (2000 mg/kg/day) restored MMC-induced decline of spleen weight, CFU-GM and NK activity (20.6% to 68.4%, 48.8% to 77.7%, 21.1% to 95.1%, respectively). Moreover, MMC treatment resulted in a lethal HSV-1 infection and TJ-41 showed a preventive effect. Conclusion: TJ-41 may be beneficial for the treatment of infectious diseases in immunocompromized patients receiving chemotherapeutic drugs.