Ginsenoside YR-1 Attenuated Chemotherapy-induced Toxicity

OBJECTIVE: To study effects of YR-1 on the toxicity of immune and bone marrow induced by chemotherapy drugs DDP or TAX at the toxicity dosage in mice bearing H22 (Hepatoma 22). METHODS: The effects of YR-1 on tumor growth and thymus /spleen of mice bearing H22 were measured by weighing. The effects of YR-1 on the phagocytizing function of macrophage and bone marrow depression of mice bearing H22 induced by chemotherapy drugs DDP or TAX at the toxicity dosage were determined by phagocytizing neutral red test and bone marrow film preparation. RESULTS: The results show that YR-1 did not reduce and even enhance the inhibitory effect of DDP or TAX on H22 of mice. In mice bearing H22, YR-1 significantly enhanced the phagocytic function of macrophage inhibited by DDP or TAX and upgraded the level of bone marrow hyperplasia depressed by DDP or TAX. CONCLUSION: YR-1 can attenuate the toxicity of immune function and bone marrow induced by chemotherapy drugs DDP and TAX in condition of unaffecting the efficacy, suggest YR-1 possesses the protective effect on the damage of immune function and bone marrow indued by chemotherapy drugs.