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Planta Med 2009; 75(11): 1215-1220
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1185538
Pharmacology
Original Paper
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

In vivo Inhibition of S180 Tumors by the Synergistic Effect of the Chinese Medicinal Herbs Coptis chinensis and Evodia rutaecarpa

Xiao-na Wang1 , Li-na Xu1 , Jin-yong Peng1 , 2 , Ke-xin Liu1 , Li-hua Zhang2 , Yu-kui Zhang2
  • 1College of Pharmacy, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, P. R. China
  • 2National Chromatographic Research and Analysis Center, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, P. R. China
Further Information

Publication History

received October 31, 2008 revised February 16, 2009

accepted February 26, 2009

Publication Date:
06 April 2009 (online)

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Abstract

The aim of the present paper was to investigate the synergistic effect and mechanism of anticancer activity of Zuojinwan (ZJW) comprising Coptis chinensis Franch (HL) and Evodia rutaecarpa (Juss.) Benth (WZY) at a ratio of 6 : 1 (w/w). In vivo anticancer activity testing was carried out by inhibiting the growth of S180 tumor. Tumor growth inhibition, spleen index, lymphocyte proliferation, apoptosis, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) level, activities of serum tumor markers (TMs), increase in life span (ILS), histopathology and gene expression were tested. The results indicated that ZJW could significantly induce apoptosis of cancer cells. The inhibition ratio, ILS and TNF-α levels of mice treated with ZJW were 50.54 %, 64.91 % and 1.04 ng/mL, respectively, much higher than HL and WZY when singly used. Furthermore, the activities of acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase were significantly increased and the activities of creatine kinase, aldolase and lactate dehydrogenase were reduced in serum, and the expressions of Bax and wild-type p53 proteins were much higher for the mice treated by ZJW compared with HL and WZY single-treatment groups. A clear synergistic effect on the anticancer activity was observed with ZJW, and the mechanism of antitumor growth may be due to an effect on gene expression and activities of tumor markers in serum.

Key words

Coptis chinensis Franch - Evodia rutaecarpa (Juss.) Benth - Zuojinwan - synergy - Ranunculaceae - Rutaceae

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Dr. Jinyong Peng

College of Pharmacy
Dalian Medical University

No. 9 West Part of Lvshun South Road

Dalian 116044

People's Republic of China

Phone: + 86 4 11 86 11 04 11

Fax: + 86 4 11 86 11 04 11

Email: jinyongpeng2005@163.com

Dr. Lihua Zhang

National Chromatographic Research and Analysis Center
Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics
The Chinese Academy of Sciences

No. 457 Zhongshan Road

Dalian 116 023

People's Republic of China

Phone: + 86 4 11 84 37 97 79

Fax: + 86 4 11 84 37 97 79

Email: lihuazhang@dicp.ac.cn