Effects of ethanol extracts of Panax notoginseng on liver metastasis of B16 melanoma grafted in mice

Abstract

To observe the effects of ethanol extracts of Panax notoginseng on the tumor and the liver metastasis in experimental mice grafted with B16 melanoma. B16 melanoma was transplanted in the spleen of C57BL/6 mice. The effects of different doses of ethanol extracts of Panax notoginseng on the inhibition rate of spleen tumors and the liver metastasis were observed respectively. The high-, medium-, and low-doses of the extracts and the interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) can improve the quality of life of the experimental mice. The weights of spleen tumor were lower in the low- and medium-dose extracts-treated groups and the IFN-alpha-treated group than that in the normal saline (NS)-treated group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The liver metastasis was less in the low- and medium-dose extracts-treated groups and the IFN-alpha-treated group than that in the NS-treated group (P<0.01). The ethanol extracts of Panax notoginseng can improve the quality of life of the experimental mice and inhibit the growth of tumor and the liver metastasis.