Basic Research
Copyright ©2008 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Apr 21, 2008; 14(15): 2323-2328
Published online Apr 21, 2008. doi: 10.3748/wjg.14.2323
Myelophil, a mixture of Astragali Radix and Salviae Radix extract, moderates toxic side effects of fluorouracil in mice
Jang Woo Shin, Myong Min Lee, Jin Young Son, Nam Heon Lee, Chong Kwan Cho, Won Kyu Chung, Jung Hyo Cho, Chang Gue Son
Jang Woo Shin, Myong Min Lee, Jin Young Son, Nam Heon Lee, Chong Kwan Cho, Jung Hyo Cho, Chang Gue Son, East-West Cancer Center, Dunsan Oriental Hospital of Daejeon University, 1136 Dunsan-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon 302122, Korea
Won Kyu Chung, Department of Radiotherapy, Hospital of Konyang University, 865 Gasuwon-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon 302718, Korea
Author contributions: Shin JW, Cho CK, Cho JH, Chung WK and Son CG designed the research; Shin JW, Lee MM, Son JY and Lee NH performed the research; Shin JW, Son CG and Lee MM contributed analytic tools; and Shin JW, Lee MM and Son CG wrote the paper.
Correspondence to: Professor Chang Gue Son, East-West Cancer Center, Dunsan Oriental Hospital of Daejeon University, 1136 Dunsan-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon 302122, Korea. ckson@dju.ac.kr
Telephone: +82-42-4709422
Fax: +82-42-4709581
Received: November 16, 2007
Revised: February 21, 2008
Published online: April 21, 2008
Abstract

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of Myelophil, an extract containing Astragali Radix and Salviae Radix, for reducing complications induced by 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in a gastrointestinal cancer model.

METHODS: We injected 5-FU into mice and then administered Myelophil to examine the ability of the drug to treat the side effects of 5-FU in mice. Peripheral blood counts, histological examinations, and colony-forming assays of bone marrow were conducted, followed by swimming tests and assessment of survival times.

RESULTS: Myelophil restored red and white blood cells and platelets in blood, and recovered cell density in bone marrow to levels comparable to those observed within the control group. In addition, Myelophil significantly increased colony-forming unit granulocyte-macrophage (CFU-GM) and CFU-erythroid (CFU-E) compared to the control group. We confirmed that interleukin-3 gene expression was upregulated by Myelophil in spleen cells. Myelophil administration also doubled the survival rate of mice that were severely myelosuppressed as a result of 5-FU injection at a lethal dose of 70%. Finally, the swimming performance of mice significantly improved as a result of Myelophil treatment.

CONCLUSION: These results provide experimental evidence in support of clinical applications of Myelophil to minimize 5-FU-induced myelosuppression and improve general post-chemotherapy health.

Keywords: Astragalus membranaceus; Salvia miltiorrhizae; Myelosuppression; Immunosuppression; Chemotherapy