Introduction of Research of Effect of Chinese Herbs on Cancer Cells

Translated and edited by Joe Hing Kwok Chu

In the past, bacteria were used in cancer research, but the structure of bacteria is not very close to the human cell structure. In this study, mammal cells (V₇₉) were used to determine the effects of Chinese herbs on cancer cell colonies. These mammal cells, which are close to the cells of the human body,  respond to chemical carcinogens with a base substitution mutation, or frameshift, which can cause a truncated protein structure.  Such a reaction parallels the effect of carcinogens on human cell structure.

Methodology

Using Matthews’ method, 1 X 10⁵ of V₇₉ cells were cultured with 5% CO₂ at 37  ⁰C. After four hours, MNNG—a cancer-inducing agent—was added. After 24-40 hours, Chinese herbs were added. The cells were then washed twice, cultured 14 days, and dyed to make them more visible. After an additional 7 days, the cells were split into two groups; into (a) 1 X 10² and (b) 1 X 10⁵. After another washing, group (a) was cultured 14 more days and group (b) was cultured 17 more days. Then, for every 1 X 10⁵ cells, the number of colonies were calculated.   

Results

The following ten pages of charts show the effects of different Chinese herbs on the development of the cancer cell colonies.

The research shows that certain Chinese herbs are effective in controlling cancer cell colonies in mammal cell cultures.  The study attempted to determine the differential effects of different groups of Chinese herbs on cancer cell colonies.  The herbs which best control cancerous growth in the culture have hypertext links so that you can study the individual herb pages.

The herbs are grouped according to classifications used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).  Their effects as a group, individually, and in combination with other herbs were studied and the results are presented in the following pages.

The translations of the Chinese names for the following herb groups can prove difficult, since many of the medical concepts do not have precise analogies in Western medicine.  For example, when a Chinese name speaks of the "kidney" or "spleen," it does not refer to the actual physical organ but a group of related functions.  The herb classifications used in the following pages include: "spleen and qi tonic" group; "kidney tonic" group; "heat-removing and detoxification" group; "enhancing circulation and removing sludge (yu)" group; "qi management" group; "removing excess liquid" group; and the "lung-preserving" group.

Please consult the following pages for graphs of the results:

Click here for GRAPHIC SUMMARY

Source of information:

Conference of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) organized by Shanghai Chinese Medical School. This research paper was presented by Qiu Jin Xin  and was translated, edited and annotated by Joe Hing Kwok Chu.