Protective effects of juzentaihoto, dried decoctum of 10 Chinese herbs mixture, upon the adverse effects of mitomycin C in mice.

In view of the reduction of side effects as well as the enhancement of anti-tumor activities of anticancer drugs, we have been interested in the combined use of Chinese medicines with them. In the present study, we attempted to examine the effects of Chinese prescription, juzentaihoto (JTX), combined with mitomycin C (MMC). JTX is consisted of Astragali radix, Chinnamomi cortex, Rehmanniae radix, Paeonia radix, Cnidii rhizoma, Atractylodis lanceae rhizoma, Angelicae radix, Ginseng radix, Hoelen and Glycyrrhizae radix. In BDF1-mice which were implanted with P-388 leukemic cells, JTX prolonged significantly the average survival days of MMC-treated group. In tumor-free BDF1-mice, JTX improved the leukopenia and the body weight loss which were caused by MMC. Additionally, JTX delayed the appearance of deaths by lethal dosis of MMC. These results indicate that JTX enhances the anti-tumor activity of MMC and lessens the adverse effects of it. JTX may be useful for patients undertaking MMC treatment.