Study Finds Shu Gan Liang Xue Herbal Formula Has Breast Cancer Anti Tumor Effect

There are a host of herbal formulas that show anti tumor properties for various cancers in clinical studies.  Chinese researchers publishing in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology recently conducted a study looking at the effect of Shu Gan Liang Xue Formula on breast cancer tumors - particularly estrogen receptor positive breast cancer line ZR-75-1.  Researchers investigated these anti-tumor functions in vitro and in vivo.

Shu Gan Liang Xue is a traditional Chinese herbal formula, it is comprised of the following herbs:

• Chai Hu
• Bai Shao
• Wu Wei Zi
• Dan Pi
• Bai Wei
• Zi Cao

Researchers understand that estrogen is a driver behind breast cancer.  Two other substances, aromatase and steroid sulfatase are enzymes which contribute to estrogen synthesis.  The researchers found that Shu Gan Liang Xue inhibits aromatase and steriod sulfatase which decreases their expression and their effect of estrogen synthesis.  They found this both in vitro and in vivo.

In addition to the base functions above, researchers found that the formula also suppressed testosterone and estrogen sulfates which when increased stimulate cell proliferation.  In a mice model they found that oral administration of the herbal formula resulted in a reduction in tumor volume over the course of 25 days.

They concluded that the herbal formula showed anti-tumor effect on breast cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo and the herbal formula "may be considered as a novel treatment for estrogen receptor positive breast cancer".