Antitumor and Immunomodulatory Effects of Glycyrrhizae Radix Aqua-acupuncture Solution

감초 약침액의 항암 및 면역활성에 미치는 영향

Glycyrrhizae Radix aqua-acupuncture solution (GRAS) and Glycyrrhizae Radix water-extracted solution (GRWS) were prepared and tested for organ toxicities, antitumor activities, and immunomodulatory effects. The organ-toxicity of GRAS to male ICR mice was studied by the measurements of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamic pyruvate transaminase (GPT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP-s) activities after injection of GRAS for 7 days. The activities of GOT, GPT, LDH, ALP-s were decreased with GRAS. It was shown to possess considerable toxicity toward various tumor cell lines. Concentration of GRAS at 1.5g/ml and 3g/ml resulted in more than 80% inhibition of growth in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells (EATC), Hepa1c1c7, and HeLa cells. Toxicity of GRAS to A549 revealed that 68% inhibition of growth. GRWS at the concentration of 3g/ml showed more than 80% inhibition of growth with EATC, Hepalclc7, A549 and HeLa. In morphological study, the number of cells were decreased, and the shape of cells was round-form in EATC, Hepalclc7, A549 and HeLa cells with GRAS. Administration of GRAS inhibited the growth of EATC in vivo. Mice given EATC at 1.5g/ml or 0.3g/ml GRAS had 16.7% to 50% survival after 21 days. GRAS increased the proliferation of T and B cells and the cytolytic activity of purified T cell. The biosyntheses of nucleic acid and protein of EATC, Hepalclc7, A549 and HeLa cells were inhibited by GRAS.