Antitumor effects of nine components of a herbal medicine, 'Sho-saiko-to', were investigated on human hepatoma cell lines (PLC/PRF/5, Hep-G2), human liver cells (Chang) and a human pancreatic cancer cell line (BxPC-3). The concentration of each component required for 50% inhibition of cell growth of PLC/PRF/5 cells was as follows: saikosaponin-d, baicalin, 20 micrograms/ml; saikosaponin-a, baicalein, 50 micrograms/ml; saikosaponin-b2, -c, ginsenoside-Rb1, -Rg1, glycyrrhizin, > 1000 micrograms/ml. Saikosaponin-a in 50-micrograms/ml quantities inhibited the cell growth and DNA synthesis of all the cell lines tested. These results indicate that 'Sho-saiko-to' includes potent antitumor components such as saikosaponin-a, -d, baicalin against human hepatoma cells as well as other human cell lines.
PMID: 7954360 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez
Thank you for your thoughts and information. I finally had the time to locate this From memorial Sloan Kettering:
http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/69378.cfm
To: aungkyawsan PREGNANT WOMAN SHOULD NOT TAKE SST.
wishing you all the best.
HCV Advocate states that sho-saiko-to is a supplement to avoid.
"Sho-saiko-to, also known as “Xiao Chai Hu Tang.”* – See
“bupleurum”
Bupleurum (Bupleurum chinense, B. falcatum, B.
scorzoneraefolium)* 8
8 Bupleurum has been linked to at least one case of
hepatotoxicity. When used with interferon, it has been associated
with at least 74 cases of interstitial pneumonitis, with at least
16 of these resulting in death. However, these reports are being
called into question since bupleurum was combined with other
ingredients when administered. Bupleurum is the main ingredient in Sho-saiko-to, also known as Xiao chai hu tang. Until these
associations can be verified or refuted, it is recommended that
HCV patients avoid concurrent use of interferon with this herb.
Also recommended is to use this herb under strict supervision
with a licensed practitioner.
from Aug 2007
hcvadvocate.org/hepatitis/factsheets_pdf/CAM_avoid.pdf
smaug
Bigb-
"I don't care how long I have to take it"...
Have you at least had a biopsy to find it if you DO have the time to take it? I hope you are not just ignoring the disease and taking a supplement thinking it will do something, the watch and wait approach is only for those people who do have minimal liver damage - but liver damage does progress and need to be monitored before it becomes cirrhosis.
Understood. Just making the point that Sho-saiko-to isn't necessarily the problem but contaminants. "Portann" expresses it much better.
-- Jim
Bigbkrill said emphatically in his opening post that Sho-saiko-to is not a cure. He never grandstanded about it.
It's a long-standing therapeutic used in Eastern medicine that the FDA has undertaken to study on several fronts. The HCV eight year study is still a work in progress.
Whether Sho-saiko-to turns out to have measurable benefits for certain patients, (particularly those who cannot or choose not to treat conventionally), remains to be seen.
The present danger is that the products are unregulated in North America and can be toxic and contaminated. As Dr. D said, this can lead to life-threatening risks. Also, some people have adverse reactions to individual ingredients.
For those treating on SOC, Wiki ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sho-saiko-to) says the following:
"Sho-Saiko-To reacts adversely with interferon treatment, and can lead to health complications if taken concurrent with interferon treatment."
If I were in beautiful Matsumoto and wanted to give it a try, I'd have no problem buying the product from a pharmacy. Here in North America, it's a mug's game whether it seriously harms or possibly helps. And it's never a cure.
I think granite was referring to the poster of this thread and not to Dr. D.
Both for goods and advice :)
When it comes to buying off the internet it boils down to
Caveat emptor
If I'm reading the doctors post correctly, his objection isn't necessarily to Sho-saiko-to (which he did not appear to address) but to possible contaminants in some recent batches sold on the internet. This problem of contamination isn't limited just to Sho-saiko-to, but to herbs in general when the sources cannot be verified as quality control procedures may be lax or absent.
-- Jim
Oh surprise, surprise! Another alternative therapy post from someone who disagrees with proven methods.
Thank you so very much for chiming in on this with this important warning!
Marcia
There have just been two liver transplants done on patients taking this supplement in California recently because of liver toxicity. Anyone who has obtained it over the internet from Californina is cautioned not to take it due to the risk of liver toxicity and liver failure.
This particular product may have some contaminant in it. Please be careful.
DTD
I would love to have more information about this Sho-Saiko-To.
Can a Pregnant woman take this?
Anyone taking these and result?
Thank you all
Aung(Burma)
This may be the one mentioned:
http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00590564?term=hepatitis+c+phase+2&recr=Open&rank=2
Looks like an eight year study, to be completed in October 2010.
Can you provide a link for the Sloan Kettering study?
Thanks-- Bill
well as far as contraindications i think people should do their own research. i'm glad i did.
sloan kettering is doing a FDA approved trial with hep c patients, specifically.
There are cancer trials for this product:
http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/related/NCT00040898
Note:
1) It is being studied for specific populations, beyond conventional cancer operations and treatments
2) Japan tightly controls and regulates its 'pharmaceutical' products as to quality and quantity; this is not the case in North America
3) There are seven ingredients in this product and one or the other could be harmful to an individual, due to other health issues - for example, licorice is contraindicated for hypertension