The Protective Effects of Ciji-Hua’ai-Baosheng II Formula on Chemotherapy-Treated H22 Hepatocellular Carcinoma Mouse Model by Promoting Tumor Apoptosis

Abstract

Ciji-Hua’ai-Baosheng II Formula (CHB-II-F) is a traditional Chinese medical formula that has been shown in clinical practice to relieve side effects of chemotherapy and improve quality of life for cancer patients. In order to understand the mechanism of its protective effects on chemotherapy, mice with transplanted H22 hepatocellular carcinoma were employed in this study. Ninety-two mice were injected subcutaneously with H22 HCC cell suspension into the right anterior armpit. After mice were treated with 5-fluorine pyrimidine (5-FU), they were divided into six groups as untreated group, 5-FU group, 5-FU plus Yangzheng Xiaoji Capsule group and three groups of 5-FU plus different concentrations of CHB-II-F. Twenty mice were euthanized after 7 days of treatment in untreated and medium concentration of CHB-II-F groups and all other mice were euthanized after 14 days of treatment. Herbal components/metabolites were analyzed by UPLC-MS. Tumors were evaluated by weight and volume, morphology of light and electron microscope, and cell cycle. Apoptosis were examined by apoptotic proteins expression by western blot. Four major components/metabolites were identified from serum of mice treated with CHB-II-F and they are β-Sitosterol, Salvianolic acid, isobavachalcone, and bakuchiol. Treatment of CHB-II-F significantly increased body weights of mice and decreased tumor volume compared to untreated group. Moreover, CHB-II-F treatment increased tumor cells in G0-G1 transition instead of in S phase. Furthermore, CHB-II-F treatment increased the expression of pro-apoptotic proteins and decreased the expression anti-apoptotic protein. Therefore, CHB-II-F could improve mice general condition and reduce tumor cell malignancy. Moreover, CHB-II-F regulates apoptosis of tumor cells, which could contribute its protective effect on chemotherapy.

Using Traditional Chinese Medicine to Treat Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Targeting Tumor Immunity

“…e Ciji-Hua'ai-Baosheng decoction is a TCM formula introduced in recent years to treat cancer patients and contains five main compounds: Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae, Codonopsis Radix, Poria, Bulbus Fritillariae Ussuriensis, and Concha Ostreae [56,57]. Ciji-Hua'ai-Baosheng granules can prolong the survival of HCCbearing mice receiving chemotherapy [105].…”

The Ciji-Hua’ai-Baosheng II Formula Attenuates Chemotherapy-Induced Anorexia in Mice With H22 Hepatocellular Carcinoma

“…Previous animal experiments showed that CHB-II-F had little side effect and could increase the weight of mice after tumor chemotherapy. In combination with 5-FU, the inhibition of tumor cells may be enhanced by promoting apoptosis of tumor cells and regulating the expression of tumor apoptosis factors ( Fu et al, 2018 ; Fu et al, 2019 ). The purpose of this study was to explore the therapeutic effect and mechanism of CHB-II-F on loss of appetite after chemotherapy in H 22 transplanted tumor mice and to provide more experimental evidence for its clinical application.…”