RESUMEN

[Objective] To compare the effects of heat-clearing and detoxifying herbs with that of tonifying herbs on mice hepatoma cells line H22, and to explore their immunologic mechanisms. [Methods] Herba Rabdosiae Rubescentis (HRR) and Herba Scutellariae Barbatae (HSB) were selected as the heat-clearing and detoxifying herbs, and Radix Astragali (RA) as the representative of tonifying herbs. Fifty KM mice were inoculated with hepatoma cells line H22 and then were randomized into five groups: HRR group (30 g?kg-1?d-1 by gavage for 12 days), HSB group (15 g?kg-1?d-1 by gavage for 12 days), RA group (15 g?kg-1?d-1 by gavage for 12 days) , heat-shock group (treated 20 min at 43℃, once every 4 days and three times in all) and model group. Twelve days later, the mice were executed and the ascites smears were prepared. The cell feature in ascites was observed under light microscope and the expression of CD4+ and CD8+ on the cellular membrane of the T lymphocyte in ascites was detected with immunohistochemical method. [Results] A large amount of damaged and apoptotic H22 cells were found in HRR, HSB and heat-shock groups, and the changes of cell feature in RA group were not obvious. The expressions of CD4+ and CD8+ on the membrane of T cells in ascites was increased in HRR and HRB groups, but the expression of CD4+ was increased in RA group, and CD8+ expression was increased in heat-shock group.[Conclusion] Heat-clearing and detoxifying herbs can induce the necrosis and apoptosis of mice hepatoma cells line H22 and the mechanism may be related to the increase of cellular immunity, thus enhancing the body immunity to kill the tumor cells. RA can not kill the tumor cells directly and its antitumor action may be related to the increase of CD4+ expression.