THE EFFECTS OF CHINESE HERBS ON IMPROVING SURVIVAL AND INHIBITING ANTI-DS DNA ANTIBODY-PRODUCTION IN LUPUS MICE

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an important autoimmune disease with multiple organ system involvement. From preliminary studies, we h ave found that six Chinese herbs: Atractylodes ovata, Anqelica sinensi s, Cordyceps sinensis, Liqustrum lucidum, Codonopsis pilosula and Homo sapiens can improve defective in vitro interleukin-2 (IL-2) productio n in patients with SLE. In order to investigate the in vivo effects of these herbs, we used NZB/NZW Fl mice, a typical lupus animal model us ed to test these herbs. It was found that C. pilosula, H. sapiens and C. sinensis could prolong the life span of female NZB/NZW Fl mice and inhibited anti-ds DNA production. Although A. sinensis could prolong t he life span of experimental mice, it did not inhibit the production o f anti-ds DNA antibody. These herbs may have great potential for the m anagement of human SLE in the future.