OBJECTIVETo investigate the anti-tumor activity of dry Gekko swinhonis freeze-dried powder (DGFP) and fresh G. swinhonis freeze-dried powder (FGFP) on mice sarcoma S180 and acute toxicity testing of the two powders.

METHODMice xenotransplant model of sarcoma S180 was established. Eighty mice were randomly divided into 8 groups. Control group were orally administrated by saline, another intraperitoneally injected with 5-Fu, the other six groups were orally administrated by DGFP and FGFP, each at three different doses (low, moderate and high). Rate of restraining tumor, index of thymus and spleen were calculated after 10 days' treatment. Acute toxicity testing tried to figure out LDs and LD, of DGFP and FGFP.

RESULTThe restraining tumor rates of DGFP and FGFP each at three doses were 31.4%, 50.8%, 37.7% and 14.8%, 19.1%, 54.7%. DGFP and FGFP elevated the thymic weight and thymic index of the mice to different extent. There were no significant differences among the eight groups in their spleen weight and spleen index. Acute toxicity testing did not figure out LD50 of DGFP and FGFP. In LD0 test, the administrating dosages of DGFP and FGFP given to the mice were both more than 2000 times than those given to patients on clinic. The result showed nothing abnormal in DGFP group. Compared with the DGFP and control group there was only a significant body weight decrease (P < 0.01) in the FGFP group in the first three days. However, on the fifth day and the seventh day there was no significant difference.

CONCLUSIONDGFP and FGFP have conspicuous anti-tumor effects in vivo. The mechanism may be related to the elevated cellular immune function. Acute toxicity testing reveals that DGFP and FGFP are quite safe for conventional oral use on clinic.