Accelerated recovery from cyclophosphamide-induced leukopenia in mice administered a Japanese ethical herbal drug, Hochu-ekki-to

The effect of a Japanese ethical herbal drug, Hochu-ekki-to (HOT), on recov ery from leukopenia induced by cyclophosphamide (CY) was investigated. Dail y oral administration of 1000 mg/kg HOT into CY-treated mice significantly prevented decrease of leukocyte numbers in the peripheral blood and acceler ated recovery from leukopenia. Ginsenoside Rg1 extracted from Ginseng radix , a major herb of HOT, was one of the active ingredients. HOT increased num bers of neutrophils and monocytes in the peripheral blood compared with CY- treated control. Moreover, HOT augmented the resistance against Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. The number of colony-forming units in the spleen (CF U-S) also increased in HOT-treated mice. The frequencies of IL-3-, GM-CSF- and IFN-gamma-producing cells increased in the spleen, bone marrow, liver a nd IEL on HOT treatment, and HOT clearly augmented the expressions of IL-3, GM-CSF and IFN-gamma mRNA in the spleen, bone marrow, liver and IEL except IL-3 and IFN-gamma mRNA in the IEL. These results suggest that HOT enhance s the production of hematopoietic lymphokines, stimulates the proliferation of hematopoietic progenitor cells and consequently accelerates recovery fr om leukopenia in CY-treated mice. Additionally, IFN-gamma which HOT-augment ed the production may contribute the protective effect against the bacteria l infection by activating of phagocyte cells. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevie r Science B.V. All rights reserved.