Anti-tumor effect of the Shefouweikang herbs on human gastric carcinoma grafted onto nude mice

Purpose: To explore the anti-tumor effect of the Shenfouweikang in treatment of gastric cancer. Methods: Nude mice grafted with a human gastric adenocarcinoma cell line BGC-823 was used as the experimental model. The mice were divided into three groups, one control and the two drug administration experimental groups. Animals in the two experimental groups received either Shefouweikang or Dele granule over a 60-day period starting at the first day after grafting. Animals received saline as controls. All the mice were sacrificed at 61 days after being grafted. The anti-tumor effect was assessed by two ways: (1) tumor size was periodically measured during the life of the animals and tumor weight was determined by an electron balance immediately after the animals killed. (2) Apoptotic indices (AI) were examined by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate fluorescence nick end labeling (TUNEL) method and flow cytometric analysis. Results: Compared with controls and Dele granular powder, tumor growth (size and weight) was significantly inhibited with the Shefouweikang decoction treatment (P<;0.05). AI in human gastric cancer xenografts nude mice was significantly increased in the Shefouweikang decoction group compared with the controls and Dele granule group. Conclusion: The anti-tumor effect of gastric cancer cell growth in vivo by Shefouweikang herbs is related with induction of the cell apoptosis.