Effect of Xuanfu Daizhe decoction on stemness of esophageal cancer cells / 中国应用生理学杂志

Objective: To investigate the effect of Xuanfu Daizhe decoction on the stemness of esophageal cancer cells. Methods: The BALB/c nude mice were randomly divided into the control group and experimental group, 5 mice in each group, which were continuously administered with normal saline and Xuanfu Daizhe decoction (9.89 g/kg) by gastrogavage, respectively. Human esophageal carcinoma cells ECA-109 (5×106) were subcutaneously injected into the mice on the 8th day. Tumor volume was measured twice a week. The mice were sacrificed 4 weeks after injection, and the tumor tissue and mouse serum were collected. The expressions of the major stemness-regulating transcription factors, i.e., NANOG, OCT4 and SOX2, were detected by RT-qPCR, Western Blot and immunohistochemistry. ECA-109 cells were treated with 10% fetal bovine serum and serum from the above two groups of mice for 48 hours respectively, and three replicate wells were set in each group, and the expressions of NANOG, OCT4, SOX2 and the levels of AKT and p-AKT were detected by RT-qPCR and Western Blot, respectively. ALDH activity in tumor cells was detected by flow cytometry; the number of spheroids of tumor cells was detected by the spheroidization experiment. Results: Compared with the control group, the growth and size of esophageal cancer tumors were significantly inhibited by Xuanfu Daizhe Decoction; the expressions of NANOG, OCT4, SOX2, the ALDH activity, the number of spheroids, and the levels of AKT and phosphorylated AKT (p-AKT) in esophageal cancer cells were significantly reduced by Xuanfu Daizhe Decoction both in vivo and in vitro. Conclusion: Xuanfu Daizhe Decoction inhibits the stemness of esophageal cancer cells, it may be a potentially effective drug for the treatment of esophageal cancer and provides a theoretical basis for the exploration of new effective drugs for the treatment of esophageal cancer.

Characteristic chromatogram and index components content of substance benchmark of Xuanfu Daizhe Decoction / 中国中药杂志

The methods for determining the characteristic chromatogram and index components content of Xuanfu Daizhe Decoction were established to provide a scientific basis for the quality evaluation of substance benchmarks and preparations. Eighteen batches of Xuanfu Daizhe Decoction were prepared with the decoction pieces of different batches and of the same batch were prepared respectively, and the HPLC characteristic chromatograms of these samples were established. The similarities of the chromatographic fingerprints were analyzed. With liquiritin, glycyrrhizic acid, 6-gingerol, ginsenoside Rg_1, and ginsenoside Re as index components, the high performance liquid chromatography was established for content determination with no more than 70%-130% of the mass average as the limit. The results showed that there were 19 characteristic peaks corresponding to the characteristic chromatograms of 18 batches of Xuanfu Daizhe Decoction, including 8 peaks representing liquiritin, 1,5-O-dicaffeoylqunic acid, ginsenoside Rg_1, ginsenoside Re, 1-O-acetyl britannilactone, ginsenoside Rb_1, glycyrrhizic acid, and 6-gingerol, and the fingerprint similarity was greater than 0.97. The contents of liquiritin, glycyrrhizic acid, 6-gingerol, and ginsenosides Rg_1 + Re in the prepared Xuanfu Daizhe Decoction samples were 0.53%-0.86%, 0.61%-1.2%, 0.023%-0.068%, and 0.33%-0.66%, respectively. Except for several batches, most batches of Xuanfu Daizhe Decoction showed stable contents of index components, with no discrete values. The characteristic chromatograms and index components content characterized the information of Inulae Flos, Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, and Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens in Xuanfu Daizhe Decoction. This study provides a scientific basis for the further research on the key chemical properties of substance benchmark and preparations of Xuanfu Daizhe Decoction.

Preventive effect of Unaccompanied Ginseng decoction joint Xuanfu Daizhe decoction on complications in gastric cancer patients with post-operative adjuvant chemotherapy / 中国生化药物杂志

Objective To investigate the effect of Unaccompanied Ginseng decoction joint Xuanfu Daizhe decoction on complications in patients with gastric cancer adjuvant chemotherapy, and select the best method to reduce the incidence of complications.Methods 80 patients of gastric cancer with postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy from May 2010 to May 2015 were divided into two groups, 40 cases in each group.The control group received Western medicine treatment and observation group received Unaccompanied Ginseng decoction joint Xuanfu Daizhe decoction , with a consecutive of one week.The clinical efficacy, adverse reactions and quality of life were compared between two groups.Results There was no significant difference in total efficacy between observation group and control group(77.5% vs.75.0%; χ2 =0.069,P>0.05).The KPS score, symptom and physical sign score, alanine aminotransferase, serum creatinine and systolic pressure in observation group post-treatment improved more than those in control group ( P<0.05).The adverse reaction rates of thrombocytopenia and myelosuppression in observation group was significantly lower than that in control group , respectively(P<0.05).Conclusion Unaccompanied Ginseng decoction joint Xuanfu Daizhe decoction could decrease the complications in gastric cancer patients with postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy.