PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF JUZEN-TAIHO-TO AGAINST CARBOPLATIN-INDUCED TOXICSIDE-EFFECTS IN MICE

The effect of an oral treatment with the Kampo formulation Juzen-taiho -to on the toxicity caused by the intraperitoneal administration of 15 mg/kg carboplatin (CBDCA) 9 times (on days 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11 a nd 12) was examined in ddY mice, which were subcutaneously inoculated with sarcoma 180 (S-180) cells on day 1. White blood cell counts, plat elet counts, bone marrow cell counts, relative spleen and thymus weigh t, food intake and body weight decreased significantly, to about 29%, 13%, 14%, 59%, 36%, 42% and 72% of the control levels, respectively, a nd serum glutamic-oxaloacetatic transaminase, serum glutamic-pyruvic t ransaminase and relative stomach weight increased significantly, to ab out 4, 6 and 3 times the control levels, respectively, by the treatmen t with CBDCA. However, the blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine we re only slightly increased compared to the control value. Co-treatment with 1.7 g/kg of a lyophilized,vater extract of Juzen-taiho-to once a day 12 times (on days 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15) pr evented both the decreases and increases caused by CBDCA to near the c ontrol levels without reducing the antitumor activity of CBDCA against S-180. The inhibitory effect of Juzen-taiho-to against CBDCA-induced myelosuppression was similar to that against 3.0 mg/kg cisplatin (CDDP ) 9 times, while CBDCA-induced myelosuppression was more serious in co mparison with CDDP. Therefore, these findings indicate that Juzen-taih o-to could be an effective drug for protecting against the side effect s induced by CBDCA in the clinic as well as by CDDP.