Category Archives: Chapter 8 Injectables and Cancer Research

Xi Sheng Teng (Hb. Cissampelotis)

• Cissampareine II ampoule: 0.25-0.4 mg/kg IV.

• Indications: muscle relaxant for restoration of fracture.

• Pharmacological Action: Its component cissampareine can: 1) block the autonomic ganglia, release histamine to cause hypotension. 2) Relax striated muscles. 3) Exert cardiotonic effect on rabbits and frogs in vitro. 4) Stimulate the ileum of guinea pigs in vitro. 5) Inhibiting the cells of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in vitro.

• Cautions: overdosage of cissampareine II may cause respiratory failure, or even apnea.

Chang Chun Hua (Hb. Catharanthi Rosei)

• Vinblastine ampoule: 5-10 ml added in normal saline 10 ml IV once every 7-10 days, 50-80 mg as one course. Vincristine ampoule: 1-2 ml added in normal saline 20 ml IV once a week, 10-20mg as one course.

• Pharmacological action: Vinblastine and vincristine are the active components, which inhibit leukemia and other cancers. They interfere with mitosis and inhibit leukemia and other cancers. They interfere with mitosis and inhibit synthesis of purine, DNA, and RNA.

Xi Shu (Fr. seu Rx Camptothecae Acuminatae)

• Camptothecinum injection: 5 mg IM, bid or 15-20 mg added in normal saline 20 ml IV, once every other week, 200-250 mg as one course; 20 mg bladder perfusion twice a week or 5-10 mg intracancerous injection qod for bladder cancer. Camptothecinum suspension: 2.5-5.0 mg in 50% glucose 40 ml IV once every week, 50-100mg as one course, maintenance dose 2.5 mg every week, for liver cancer, leukemia and lymphoma. Hydroxycamptothecimum injection: 4-10 mg added in normal saline 20 ml IV qd or qod, 60-120mg as one course.

• Indications: bladder cancer, liver cancer, leukemia and lymphoma as indicated above.

• Pharmaceutical actions: Hydroxycamptothecine is an anti-carcinogenic which inhibits polymerase of DNA or damages DNA directly.

Ya Dan Zi (Fr. Bruceae)

• 10% oleum ampoule: 2-4 ml IM or topical injection once daily.

• Indications: Local injection for cancer of cervix, and mammary cancer; intramuscular injection for tumor of the digestive tract, cancer of cervix and lung.

• Caution: Cases with peptic ulcer, gastritis, poor liver function and kidney function are contraindicated.

Yun Zhi (Polystictinum)

• Ampoule (containing 40 mg of its polysaccharide): 1 ampoule IM bid, 4 weeks as one course, another course may be continued after an interval of 2 weeks; or 3-4 ampoules added in 10% glucose solution 300 ml IV for drips daily for 10 days, and then continue for 10 days after an interval of 1-2 weeks.

• Indications: none noted in source text.

San Jiang Shan

(Ramulus et Folium Cephalotaxi Fortunei)

• Harringtonine injection: 1-6 mg added in 5-10% glucose 500 ml IV for drips daily, 5-7 days as one course, 1-3 courses may be applied at an 1-2 week intervals; homo-harringtonine, same dosage as harringtonine.

• Indications: this herb is mainly used as an anti-carcinogenic for acute non-lymphocytic leukemia such as acute myelocytic leukemia, acute monocytic leukemia, malignant lymphoma.

• Pharmacological action: 1) Harringtonine, homo-harringtonine, iso-harringtonine and deoxy-harringtonine are the anti-carcinogenic components, which interfere with the cell growth and mitotic activity, damage and inhibit the growth of S-stage cells and inhibit the synthesis of DNA. Harringtonine and homo-harringtonine are more effective for the interference of mitotic activity. 2) Inhibiting the hematopoeitic cells in bone marrow. 3) Causing irritant effect on digestive tract.

E Zhu (Rz. Zedoariae)

• 5% Oleum Zedoariae Ampoule: 5-10 ml topical injection qd for carcinoma of the cervix. 1% Curcumenol Ampoule: 2-4 ml topical injection qd for carcinoma of cervix. 30% Zedoariae Ampoule: 100-300 ml IV for drips qd for various kinds of tumors.

• Indications: carcinoma of cervix and various kinds of tumors as described above.

Shan Ci Gu (Bulbus Iphigeniae)

• Clochincine amide 10 mg: 10 mg IV for drips daily, total dosage 0.2-0.3g. This herb may cause nausea, vomiting, general pain, palpitation, alopecia, etc. or even leukocytopenia, so the dosage should be limited.

• Pharmacological action: Clochincine, one of its active components, and tis derivatives exerts an inhibiting effect on various kinds of sarcoma and parenchymatous liver cancer in experimental animals. It serves as inhibitor in the intermediate stage of cellular mitosis.