Studies of Echinopsis multiplex on antineoplastic effects

Fresh Echinopsis multiplex decoction(p.o. 30 g/kg and 60 g/kg) could inhibit the growth of solid tumour S180 and Lewis pulmonary carcinoma, prolong the survival date of the mice with the tumours. In vitro, the serum of animal, which took the herb, significantly suppressed the proliferation of EAC tumour cells and inhibited the YAC-1 tumour cell DNA synthesis when compared with the serum of normal animal. The decoction did not reduce the WBC, but increased the number of PFC of spleen cells at the effective dose in mice with tumour, indicating that it did not impair the immune system, but enhance the immune function.