Experimental study on effects of Shengmai Injection: enhancing 5-FU anti-tumor efficacy and reducing its toxicity

To observe the effects of Shengmai Injection on enhancing efficacy and reducing toxicity of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU).Fifty hepatoma 22 bearing mice were randomly divided into five groups: control group, 5-Fu group, Shengmai Injection (low, medium and high dose) combined with 5-FU groups. There were 10 mice in each group. Mice in the five groups were injected introperitoneally the same amount of normal saline, 5-FU (20 mg.kg(-1).d(-1)) and Shengmai Injection (3.5 ml.kg(-1).d(-1), 7 ml.kg(-1).d(-1) and 14 ml.kg(-1).d(-1)) combined with 5-FU respectively, once a day for 14 days. After that, all mice were killed and the tumor inhibiting rates, index of immunological function, liver and kidney function and the blood cells in the peripheral blood were observed.The tumor inhibiting rates were higher in each Shengmai Injection combined with 5-FU group than that in the 5-FU group (P<0.05). The levels of CD3, CD4, CD4/CD8, IgG, IgM in 5-FU group were lower (P<0.05), while those in the three Shengmai Injection combined with 5-FU groups were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). The level of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was higher and the WBC and PLT counts in the peripheral blood were lower in 5-FU group than those in the control group (P<0.05). But the levels of serum ALT in the three Shengmai Injection combined with 5-FU groups were consistent with that in the control group and the amounts of WBC decreased slightly.Shengmai Injection can enhance the anti-tumor effect of 5-FU. It can also improve the immunological function and reduce the adverse reactions of chemotherapy.