Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry

  • Volume 66
  • /
  • Pages.379-387
  • /
  • 2023
  • /
  • 1976-0442(pISSN)
  • /
  • 2234-7941(eISSN)
The Korean Society for Applied Biological Chemistry (한국응용생명화학회)
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IMMUNIES, a unique polyherbal extract, exhibits antiproliferative activity and improves tumor-bearing canine patients: a pilot study

  • Won Seok Oh (Center for Veterinary Integrative Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University) ;
  • Ilju Kim (Center for Veterinary Integrative Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University) ;
  • Jiyoung Moon (Center for Veterinary Integrative Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University) ;
  • Seung Joon Baek (Center for Veterinary Integrative Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University)
  • Received : 2023.07.05
  • Accepted : 2023.09.14
  • Published : 2023.12.31
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Abstract

Dog owners seek treatment when their pets develop cancer. IMMUNIES is traditional herbal medicine-based figment made of 10 natural herbs, designed to maintain host immune function. The major component of IMMUNIES is Dendropanax morbiferus. This clinical pilot study monitored the toxicity and efficacy of IMMUNIES. Four senile dogs with spontaneously occurring mammary and liver cancers were enrolled in this study and treated orally daily for 3 months, and their blood/urine biochemical profiles were examined each month. IMMUNIES was well tolerated during the treatment period. Blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and C-reactive protein levels decreased in all four dogs, whereas red blood cells and hematocrit were within the normal range. IMMUNIES also changed the expression of several molecular targets in the anticancer pathway, such as pro-NAG-1, p53, and cyclin D1. Although the tumors did not completely respond to IMMUNIES, the biochemical profiles and clinical examination showed a stabilized cancer status for 3 months. Thus, IMMUNIES was found to be safe and well-tolerated in the dosage range tested and exhibited cancer antiproliferative activity in canine cancer. Future studies should address other potential benefits of IMMUNIES, including correlative assessments of immune function, quality of life, and owner satisfaction.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

We thank Dr. Minsu Kim from College of Veterinary Medicine Seoul National University for his technical advice.

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