Enhanced antitumor efficacy and reduced toxicity of Abnormal Savda Munziq on tumor bearing mice treated with chemotherapy

Abstract

Previous research has demonstrated the anti-tumor properties of Abnormal Savda Munziq (ASMq), a traditional Uyghur compound herbal medicine. The effects of ASMq on cervical carcinomas in U27 tumor-bearing mice is investigated, the effect of adding Fluorouracil (5-FU) is also assessed in this paper. The results demonstrate that ASMq and 5-FU significantly inhibited the proliferation of U27 cells in a time-dependent and dose-dependent manner. Evaluating the interactions between ASMq and 5-FU on U27 cell growth yields a combination index (CI) < 1 in different time periods, suggesting a synergistic effect between the two drugs in vitro. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis demonstrates that ASMq can inhibit enhanced lipid metabolism in tumor mice, enhance the glutamine content, promote lymphocyte and macrophage proliferation, and increase tumor necrosis factor(TNF-α) and interleukin(IL) production, which can enhance the effect of 5-FU on the inhibition of tumors. Also ASMq can reduce the content of ALT and AST in serum. Increased SOD, GSH-Px, and decreased the content of MDA in liver tissue. ASMq has a synergistic effect on liver and tumor pathology, as well as tumor inhibition rate. In addition, ASMq can also enhance the body's antioxidant capacity and improve the body's metabolism, and reduce 5-FU's toxic side effects.

Synergistic and Additive Effects of Herbal Medicines in Combination with Chemotherapeutics: A Scoping Review

“… 35 When combined with 5-FU, it has been reported to synergistically inhibit the proliferation and growth of cervical cancer cells, as well as suppress increases in both tumor volume and tumor weight. 36 …”

Anticancer effects of the combined Thai noni juice ethanolic extracts and 5-fluorouracil against cholangiocarcinoma cells in vitro and in vivo

“…Therefore, hepatotoxicity in mice may be due to the 5-FU administration, and a low dose of TNJ ethanolic extracts appears to reduce the toxicity of 5-FU. Herbal medicine can reduce liver damage of 5-FU through eliminating free radicals and reduced oxidative damage from 5-FU toxicity 33 . Moreover, our findings demonstrate that TNJ ethanolic extracts alone and in combination treatment with 5-FU did not affect mouse kidney and spleen.…”