Table 3.
Anti-cancer effects of herbal formulas against hepatocarcinoma
| Herbal formula | Therapeutic principles | Herbs | Models | Effects | Targets/events | Ref. |
| Fuzheng Yiliu Granule | Tonifying Qi and blood, and dissolving stasis | Hong-Qi (Hedysarum polybotrys), Dang-Gui (Angelica sinensis), Mu-Tou-Hui (Patrinia scabra Bunge), etc. | Mouse H22 hepatocarcinoma bearing mice | Inhibit tumor growth, induce apoptosis | p53, caspase-3, mitochondrial membrane potential | [126,127] |
| Fuganchun 6 | Tonifying Qi and Yin, detoxifying and dissipating mass | Huang-Qi (Astragalus membranaceus), Nü-Zhen-Zi (Ligustrum lucidum Ait), Bai-Hua-She-She-Cao (Hedyotis diffusa Willd), Bie-Jia (Carapax trionycis), E-Zhu (Curcuma kwangsiensis or Curcuma phaeocaulis or Curcuma wenyujin), etc. | Mouse H22 hepatocarcinoma cells in vitro and in vivo | Inhibite tumor growth and cell proliferation, and induce apoptosis | Enhance proliferation activity of lymphocyte, NK cells activities and IL-2 production | [128,178] |
| Bushen Jianpi Decoction | Tonifying spleen and kidney | Dang-Shen ( ), Bai-Zhu (Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz.), Fu-Ling (Poria cocos), Shu-Di-Huang (Rehmannia glutinosa), shan-Zhu-Yu (Cornus officinalis), Du-Zhong (Eucommia ulmoides Oliver), etc. | Mouse H22 hepatocarcinoma bearing mice | Inhibit tumor growth, induce apoptosis | VEGF | [129] |
| Warming Yang and Dispersing Stasis Formula | Warming Yang and dispersing stasis | Fu-Zi (Aconitum carmichaeli Debx.), Huang-Qi (Astragalus membranaceus), Bai-Zhu (Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz.), E-Zhu (Curcuma kwangsiensis or Curcuma phaeocaulis or Curcuma wenyujin), Bai-Shao (Paeonia lactiflora), etc. | Human BEL-7402 hepatocarcinoma cells | Induce apoptosis | Unknown | [130] |
| Fufangkushen injection | Clearing heat and removing toxicity | Ku-Shen (Sophora flavescens Ait.), etc. | Human SMMC-7721 hepatocarcinoma cells | Inhibit proliferation, induce apoptosis | Survivin, Bcl-2, caspase-3 | [131] |
| Songyou Yin | Tonifying Qi and blood, dissolving stasis and dissipating mass | Dan-shen (Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge.), Huang-Qi (Astragalus membranaceus Bge.), Gou-Qi (Lycium barbarum L.), Shan-Zha (Crataegus pinnatifida Bge.), and Bie-Jia (Trionyx sinensis Wiegmann) | Human MHCC97H hepatocarcinoma bearing nude mice; activated rat hepatic stellate cells and rat McA-RH7777 hepatoma cells | Induce apoptosis, inhibit tumor growth, prolong survival; inhibit invasion and metastasis | MMP-2, IL-6, TGF-β1, VEGF, epithelial-mesenchymal transition | [132,167] |
| Huang-lian-jie-du-tang | Clearing heat and removing toxicity | Huang-Lian (C. chinensis Franch), Huang-Qin (Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi), Huang-Bai (P. amurense Rupr) and Zhi-Zi (Gardenia jasminoides Ellis) | Human Hep G2 and PLC/PRF/5 hepatomain cells in vitro and in vivo | Inhibit cell proliferation, induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis | Cdc2, Cdc25C, cyclin A, cyclin B1, Cdc2, Cdc25C, Bax, Bak, Bcl-2, Bcl-XL, IkappaBalpha | [141] |
| Bu-Zhong-Yi-Qi-Tang | Invigorating spleen-stomach and replenishing qi | Huang-QI (Astragalus membranaceus), Ren-Shen (Panax ginseng), Gang-Gui (Angelicae sinensis), Sheng-Ma (Cimicifuga foetida L.), Gan-Cao (Glycyrrhiza uralensis), Chen-Pi (Citrus poonensis), Chai-Hu (Bupleurum chinensis), Sheng-Jiang (Zingiber officinale), Da-zhao (Ziziphs jujuba), Bai-Shu (Atractylodes macrocephala KOIDZUMI) | Human hepatoma Hep3B, HepG2 and HA22T cells | Inhibit cell proliferation, induce apoptosis and arrest cell cycle at G0/G1 phase | Unknown | [142] |
| Jiedu Xiaozheng Yin | Heat-clearing and detoxification | Bai-Hua-She-She-Cao (Hedyotis diffusa Willd), Xia-Ku-Cao (Prunella), Shan-Ci-Gu (Pseudobulbus Cremastrae), Ku-Shen (Sophora flavescens) | Human Hep G2 hepatoma cell in vitro and in vivo | Inhibits the growth of HepG2 cells, arrest cell cycle at the G0/G1 phase | Cyclin D and cyclin E | [143] |
| Liver Yin Tonifying formula | Tonifying liver-Yin, draining dampness and dissipating stasis | Nü-Zhen-Zi (Ligustrum lucidum Ait), Zhi-Bie-Jia (processed Carapax trionycis) and Hu-Zhang (Polygonum cuspidatum) | Human hepatocarcinoma Bel-7402 cells | Inhibit proliferation, induce apoptosis and cell senescence | Caspases-8, -9 and -3, p16, p21, pRB | [152] |
| Modified Yi Guan Jian | Tonifying liver and kidney-Yin, draining dampness and dissipating stasis | Bei-Sha-Shen (Glehnia littoralis), Mai-Dong (Ophiopogon japonicus), Dang-Gui (Angelica sinensis), Shu-Di (dried Rehmannia glutinosa), Gou-Qi (Lycium barbarum), Chuan-Lian-Zi (Melia toosendan Sieb fruit), and Hu-Zhang (Polygonum cuspidatum) | Human hepatocarcinoma Bel-7402 cells | Inhibit proliferation, induce anoikis | Caspases-3, -8 and -9, p38 MAPK | [156] |
| Blejiajian Pill | Tonifying Qi, detoxifying and dissipating mass | Bie-Jia-Jiao(Carapacis trionycis-shell glue), E-Jiao(Colla Corii Asini), Feng-Fang (beehives), Chai-Hu (Bupleurum chinense), Huang-Qin (Scutellaria baicalensis), Ban-Xia (Pinellia ternate), Dang-Shen(Codonopsis pilosula), etc. | Human Hep G2 hepatoma cells | Inhibit cell proliferation, adhesion and invasion | Unknown | [168] |
| Compound Astragalus and Salvia miltiorrhiza extract | Tonifying Qi and dissipating stasis | Astragalosides, astragalus polysaccharide and salvianolic acids | Human Hep G2 hepatoma cells | Inhibit TGF-β1 mediated invasion | TGF-β/Smad signaling | [169] |
| Shehuang Xiaoliu Fang | Tonifying spleen, dissolving stasis and detoxifying | She-Xiang (musk), Niu-Huang (Cow-Bezoar), Dan-shen (Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge.), Bai-Zhu (Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz.), Ban-Zi-Lian (Sculellaria barbata), E-Zhu (Curcuma kwangsiensis or Curcuma phaeocaulis or Curcuma wenyujin), etc. | Human SMMC-7721 hepatocarcinoma cells | Inhibit invasive and adhesive | nm23-h1 and ICAM-1 | [170] |
| Xiaochaihu Decoction | Relief liver for smooth Qi | Chai-Hu (Bupleurum chinense), Huang-Qin (Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi), Sheng-Jiang (Zingiber officinale), Ban-Xia (Pinellia ternata), Da-Zao (Ziziphus jujuba), Ren-Shen (Panax ginseng), Gan-cao (Glycyrrhiza uralensis) | Mouse H22 hepatocarcinoma bearing mice | Inhibit tumor growth | Increase T lymphocytes proliferation, NK cells activities and IL-2 | [175] |
| Mylabris Mixture | Detoxifying and dissipating mass | Ban-Mao (Mylabris), Chen-Pi (Citrus reticulata Blanco), Gu-Ya (Setaria italica), etc. | Mouse H22 hepatocarcinoma bearing mice | Inhibit tumor growth | Increase CD4+, CD8+ lymphocytes and NK cells, and IFN-γ and IL-4 production | [176] |
| Fuzheng Yiliu Granule-2 | Tonifying Qi and tonifying Yin | Huang-Qi (Astragalus membranaceus), Nü-Zhen-Zi (Ligustrum lucidum Ait), Ling-Zhi (Ganoderma lucidum), and Shan-Yao (Dioscorea opposita) | Mouse H22 hepatocarcinoma cells in vitro and in vivo | Inhibite tumor growth and cell proliferation, and induce apoptosis | Increase CD4+ lymphocyte, IL-2 and TNF-α, and NK cells | [177] |
| Fu-Zheng-Kang-Ai-Tang | Strengthening body resistance and anti-cancer | Ren-Shen (Panax ginseng), Huang-Qin (Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi), Ling-Zhi (Ganoderma lucidum), Huang-Qi (Astragalus membranaceus), etc. | Human Bel-7402 hepatocarcinoma bearing nude mice | Inhibit angiogenesis and tumor growth | VEGF and bFGF | [188] |
| Delisheng | Tonifying Qi and resolving masses | Ren-Shen (Panax ginseng), Huang-Qi (Astragalus membranaceus), Cantharidium, etc. | Human Hep G2 hepatoma cells | Inhibit tumor growth | Endostatin | [189] |
| QHF | Detoxifying, dissolving stasis and strengthening body resistance | Cinobufagin, Ginsenoside Rg3, Panax Notoginseng Saponins, lentinan | Mouse H22 hepatocarcinoma bearing mice | Inhibit angiogenesis and tumor growth, enhance anti-cancer effects DDP | VEGF, EGFR and MMP-2 | [190,196] |
| Erbie San | Resolving masses | Bie-Jia (Carapax trionycis), etc. | Wistar rats bearing Walker-256 liver cancer | Inhibit tumor growth | VEGF and endostatin | [191] |
| Chaiqiyigan Granula | Tonifying spleen, soothing liver, dissolving stasis and detoxifying | Chai-Hu (Bupleurum chinense), Huang-Qi (Astragalus membranaceus), etc. | Human hepG2/EGFP hepatoma bearing nude mice | Enhance anti-cancer effects of Taxol | Bax, p53 and VEGF | [195] |
| Shengmai Injection | Tonifying Qi and Yin | Ren-Shen (Panax ginseng), Mai-Dong (Ophiopogon japonicus), etc. | Mouse H22 hepatocarcinoma bearing mice | Enhance anti-tumor efficacy and reduce toxicity of 5-Fu | Unknown | [197] |
TGF: Transforming growth factor; IL-2: Interleukin-2; ICAM-1: Intercellular adhesion molecule 1; TNF: Tumor necrosis factor; VEGF: Vascular endothelial growth factor; MMP2: Matrix metalloproteinase-2; bFGF: Basic fibroblast growth factor; NK: Natural killer; IFN-γ: Interferon-γ; MAPK: Mitogen-activated protein kinases; Bcl-2: Bcl2-associated X protein; Cdc25B: Cell division cycle 25B.