The protective effect of Hochu-ekki-to (TJ-41), a Japanese herbal medicine, against HSV-1 infection in mitomycin C-treated mice

Background: Immmunosuppression and infectious disease in cancer patients re ceiving chemotherapy is a serious problem. Immunopotentiating drugs may sho w a therapeutic efficacy. Materials and Methods: The protective effect of H ochu-ekki-to (TJ-41), a Japanese traditional herbal medicine, on mitomycin C (MMC)-induced immunosuppression has been investigated. Spleen weight, the number of forming colonies of granulocytes and macrophages (CFU-GM) in the bone-marrow cells, natural killer (NK) activity in splenocytes and suscept ibility to lethal herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) infection were evalua ted Results: Oral administration of TJ-41 (2000 mg/kg/day) restored MMC-ind uced decline of spleen weight, CFU-GM and NK activity (20.6% to 68.4%, 48.8 % to 77.7%, 21.2% to 95.1%, respectively). Moreover, MMC treatment resulted in a lethal HSV-1 infection and TJ-41 showed a preventive effect. Conclusi on: TJ-41 may be beneficial for the treatment of infectious diseases in imm unocompromized patients receiving chemotherapeutic drugs.