Immunomodulation of Chinese Herbal Medicines on NK cell populations for cancer therapy: A systematic review

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#animals #antineoplastic-agents-phytogenic #drugs-chinese-herbal #humans #immunomodulation

Immunomodulation of Chinese Herbal Medicines on NK cell populations for cancer therapy: A systematic review

Liu et al., 2021 | J Ethnopharmacol | Systematic Review

Citation

Liu Hao, Wang Zi-Ying, ... Sze Daniel M-Y. Immunomodulation of Chinese Herbal Medicines on NK cell populations for cancer therapy: A systematic review. J Ethnopharmacol. 2021-Mar-25;268:113561. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2020.113561

Abstract

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Immunomodulation has become a crucial modality for cancer treatment. Chinese Herbal Medicines (CHMs) are expected as adjuvant therapy for immunomodulation against cancer, but face the key challenge of poor scientific evidence. Changes of natural killer (NK) cells on numbers and/or cytotoxicity are a novel respect to evaluate the immunomodulation of CHMs. AIM OF THE STUDY: The purpose of this review is to investigate the immunomodulation of Chinese Herbal Medicines (CHMs) on NK cell populations for cancer therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic review was conducted and outside mainstream electronic databases were screened for potential reference articles. This review tried to report and critically analyzed all the correlative studies, especially these clinical trials (3 CHM extracts and 11 CHM formulas). RESULTS: Evidence-based functions of CHMs against cancer could be summarized as: (1) enhancement of NK cells activity or relative percentage; (2) prevention of tumor growth and metastasis; (3) relief on side-effects or complications of therapeutic strategies (i.e. chemotherapy, radiotherapy and resection). Briefly, most of cellular studies and two thirds animal studies were based on the extract or components of single herbs, whilst most of clinical trials were keen on formula or prescription of CHMs. The main components of CHMs were demonstrated active on promoting the cytotoxicity of NK cells, including Angelica sinensis, Ganoderma lucidum, Panax ginseng, Radix Astragali, Lentinus edodes, etc. CONCLUSIONS: This comprehensive review demonstrated NK cells activity was positively associated with quality of life but not survival benefit of cancer patients. Thus exploring the roles of NK cells in adjuvant therapy against cancer is confirmed to be beneficial to explore the underlying relationship between immunomodulation and quality of life.

Key Findings

Evidence-based functions of CHMs against cancer could be summarized as: (1) enhancement of NK cells activity or relative percentage; (2) prevention of tumor growth and metastasis; (3) relief on side-effects or complications of therapeutic strategies (i.e. chemotherapy, radiotherapy and resection). Briefly, most of cellular studies and two thirds animal studies were based on the extract or components of single herbs, whilst most of clinical trials were keen on formula or prescription of CHMs. The

Outcomes Measured

  • Requires manual extraction

Population

Field Value
Population See abstract
Sample Size See abstract
Age Range See abstract
Condition See abstract

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal
  • Humans
  • Immunomodulation
  • Killer Cells, Natural
  • Medicine, Chinese Traditional
  • Neoplasms

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Systematic Review
  • Publication Types: Journal Article, Systematic Review
  • Vertical: ginseng

Provenance

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09