ANTICARCINOGENIC EFFECTS OF SHIKARON, A PREPARATION OF 8 CHINESE HERBS IN MICE TREATED WITH A CARCINOGEN, N-BUTYL-N'-BUTANOLNITROSOAMINE

We studied the effects of Shikaron, which is composed of 8 Chinese her b extracts, on carcinogenesis and the cytotoxic activity and cytokine production of lymphocytes in mice treated with a carcinogen, N-butyl-N '-butanolnitrosoamine (BBN). We found a significantly lower incidence of urinary bladder carcinoma in mice treated with BBN plus Shikaron 20 0 mg/kg/day (5 of 20 mice, 25%) than in mice treated with BBN alone (1 6 of 20 mice, 80%). Shikaron protected the cytotoxic activity of lymph ocytes against YAC-1 cells from suppression by BBN. Cytotoxic activity against P-815 cells significantly increased in mice treated with BBN plus Shikaron, as compared with normal mice and BBN-treated mice. Shik aron also protected production of interleukin-2 and interferon-gamma b y lymphocytes from suppression by BBN. These findings strongly suggest that Shikaron exerted an anticarcinogenic effect in carcinogen-treate d mice through activation of NK and LAK cells and cytokine production by T lymphocytes.