Synergism and attenuation effects of Astragalus injection on immune function of H22 tumor cells bearing mice after CTX chemotherapy

【Objective】 To investigate the synergism and attenuation effects of Astragalus injection on immune function of H22 tumor cells bearing mice after CTX chemotherapy.【Methods】 Hepatic cancer H22 model in mice was performed.50 mice were randomly divided into model group,CTX group,CTX+ high-,middle-and low-dosage astragalus injection group.Mice of all treatment groups were administrated CTX(20 mg/kg,i.p.),qod;6 h later,saline or 12、8、4 g/kg astragalus injection was administrated 0.2 ml/mouse i.p.,respectively.24 h after the last administration,the synergism and attenuation effects of Astragalus injection on CTX were observed.The tumor inhibitory rate,the count of peripheral white blood cells,index of thymus and spleen were calculated.IL-2 and TNF-αwere measured by RIA.【Results】 Astragalus injection in different dose(12,8,4 g/kg) inhibited the growth of H22 tumor.The tumor inhibitory rates of 12,8,4 g/kg Astragalus injection combined with CTX(20 mg/kg) were 61.3%,67.5%,77.5%,respectively,which were higher than that of CTX administration alone(61.8%).Compared with those in CTX group,the count of WBC(P 0.05),the indexes of thymus and spleen(P 0.05) and the level of IL-2 and TNF-αwere significantly elevated in all Astragalus injection and CTX combination groups.【Conclusion】 Astragalus injection can improve immune function in immunosuppressed mice after chemotherapy and be used clinically for the treatment of immunocompromised patients after chemotherapy.