[Experimental study on the pharmacologic effects of zeng sheng pin pian]

Zeng Sheng Pin Pian (ZSPP) is a mixture of medicinal herbs which has been shown to be effective in the secondary prevention of esophageal cancer in a high-risk area among a population with severe esophageal dysplasia. This study in mice aimed at elucidating the possible mechanism of the cancer-preventing activity of ZSPP. The results indicate that ZSPP is a good biologic response modifier (BRM) as shown by its enhancing effects on lymphocyte blastogenesis, IL-2 secretion, NK cell activity, delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction to DNCB, hemolysin response to SRBC and the phagocytic function of the reticulo-endothelial system. While ZSPP did not inhibit the growth of S-180 in mice, it exhibited significant inhibitory effect on ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity induced by the application of croton oil to the skin. Taken together, the immune enhancing activity and the anti-tumor-promoting activity of ZSPP could explain, at least in part, its efficacy in the prevention of esophageal cancer among high-risk people with precursor dysplastic lesions.