1.Anti-liver Cancer Mechanisms of Biejiajian Wan and Clinical Research: A Review
Ranpei ZHU ; Hua ZHANG ; Xiaoqing LI ; Mengya LIU ; Chenchen LI ; Yuling ZHENG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2023;29(18):267-276
Biejiajian Wan, a classical formula for liver diseases, originated from Synopsis of the Golden Chamber. It has been applied in clinical settings for more than 2 000 years. According to modern pharmacological studies, it has anti-tumor, anti-fibrosis, and immunity-enhancing effects and thus is widely used for the treatment of liver fibrosis, hepatitis, liver injury, and other diseases. In recent years, accumulating evidence has proven the efficacy of this formula in the treatment of malignant tumors, especially liver cancer. This paper summarizes relevant papers in the last 20 years and summed up the anti-liver cancer mechanisms of Biejiajian Wan as regulating biological behaviors of liver cancer cells, anti-precancerosis, inhibiting tumor angiogenesis, modulating signaling pathways, suppressing activity of relevant enzymes, and regulating immunity. Moreover, this prescription can inhibit the proliferation, invasion, and metastasis of liver cancer cells, promote apoptosis of cells, suppress tumor angiogenesis, and boost immunity. In addition, it regulates Wnt/β-catenin, interleukin-6/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (IL-6/STAT3), NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), Janus kinase-signal transducers and activators of transcription (JAK-STAT), Delta-like ligand 4-Notch (DLL4-Notch), nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), Rho-associated kinase (Rho/ROCK), transforming growth factor-β/Smad (TGF-β/Smad), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B/glycogen synthase kinase-3β (PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β), and other signaling pathways. Thus, Biejiajian Wan is confirmed to have anti-liver cancer effect based on the molecular mechanisms. According to the summary of Biejiajian Wan in anti-liver cancer treatment, Biejiajian Wan alone or in combination with other drugs can significantly alleviate the symptoms, reduce adverse reactions, prolong the survival time with definite efficacy. Thus, it is safe with no adverse reactions in long-term use, which should be further promoted in clinical application. This paper analyzed Biejiajian Wan in the treatment of liver cancer based on the molecular mechanisms and clinical studies, summarized the limitations in current research, and put forward suggestions, which can lay a basis for the future in-depth research on and clinical application of Biejiajian Wan and development of anti-tumor drugs.
2.Da Chaihutang Treats Digestive System Tumors: A Review
Ranpei ZHU ; Tianqing SANG ; Hui XIE ; Tingting SUN ; Haoran QU ; Shanshan LI ; Yuling ZHENG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(12):251-260
Da Chaihutang from the Treatise on Febrile Disease (Shanghanlun) has the function of harmonizing lesser Yang and discharging internal heat. It is formulated by ZHANG Zhongjing for the concurrent diseases of lesser Yang and Yang brightness and has been widely used in the treatment of digestive system diseases, especially malignant tumors. By review of the articles published in the last 20 years, this paper summarizes the application of Da Chaihutang in treating digestive system tumors from syndrome analysis, clinical research, and mechanism research. Da Chaihutang can treat the syndrome involving lesser Yang and Yang brightness in the digestive system, release interior and exterior to expel pathogen, and remove obstruction by conforming to the descending nature of the six fu-organs. In clinical practice, Da Chaihutang can directly treat digestive system malignant tumors such as liver cancer, pancreatic cancer, intestinal cancer, gastric cancer, and gallbladder cancer. In addition, it can relieve common complications of digestive system malignant tumors, such as cancerous fever, malignant obstructive jaundice, and constipation. Moreover, it can alleviate the adverse reactions caused by Western medical treatment, such as post-embolization syndrome, side effects of chemotherapy, and incomplete postoperative obstruction. Da Chaihutang is effective when used alone as it can relieve clinical symptoms, improve prognosis, and prolong survival of advanced patients and is safe and non-toxic, suitable for long-term use by tumor patients. Regarding the mechanism, Da Chaihutang can promote the apoptosis and inhibit the proliferation of tumor cells, reduce inflammation and inflammatory injury, and improve the liver function. The clear effect and mechanism confirms the anti-tumor effect of Da Chaihutang. This paper comprehensively describes the current research status of Da Chaihutang in the treatment of digestive system tumors and puts forward the deficiencies and improvement measures for the current research, aiming to provide reference for the application of this formula in treating digestive system tumors, the establishment of Chinese and Western medicine treatment schemes of tumors, and the research and development of anti-tumor drugs.