Mechanism of therapeutic effect of Liuwei Dihuang decoction on primary liver cancer in mice

Objective: To investigate the mechanism by which Liuwei Dihuang decoction exerts therapeutic effect on primary liver cancer.Methods: Thirty mice with transplanted primary liver cancer were randomly divided into model group(n = 10),Liuwei Dihuang decoction group(n = 10),and 5-fluorouracil(5-FU) treatment group(n = 10).The model group and Liuwei Dihuang decoction group were given distilled water(once daily) and Liuwei Dihuang decoction(once daily),respectively,for 10 days;the 5-FU treatment group was intraperitoneally injected with 5-FU.These groups were compared in terms of body weight,tumor weight,serum vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) level,tumor cell apoptosis,and cell cycle.Results: The body weight and tumor-free body weight were significantly higher in the Liuwei Dihuang decoction group than in the 5-FU treatment group and model group(P0.01).The Liuwei Dihuang decoction group had a significantly lower serum VEGF level than the model group(P0.01) and a significantly lower tumor index than the model group and 5-FU treatment group(P0.01 or P0.05).Compared with the Liuwei Dihuang decoction group,the model group had a significantly higher percentage of cells in S phase(P0.01);the 5-FU treatment group had a significantly lower percentage of cells in S phase(P0.01);the model group had a significantly lower percentage of cells in both G0 and G1 phases(P0.01).There was no significant difference in the percentage of cells in both G0 and G1 phases between the Liuwei Dihuang decoction group and 5-FU treatment group(P0.05).Also,there were no significant differences in the percentage of cells in both G2 and M phases among the three groups(P0.05).Conclusion: Liuwei Dihuang decoction exerts therapeutic effect on primary liver cancer probably by downregulating serum VEGF level,affecting tumor cell cycle,and inducing liver cancer cell apoptosis.