Interaction Between Irinotecan and Kangai Injection in Colorectal Tumor-bearing Mice

Abstract

The potential role of medicinal plants in the prevention and treatment of colorectal cancer has been a subject of considerable scientific interest. Various compounds found in medicinal plants, such as phytochemicals, have demonstrated anti-cancer properties in preclinical studies. Chen and colleagues investigated the pre-clinical herb-drug interactions between irinotecan (CPT-11) and Kangai (KA) a Chinese herb injection to provide a reference for their clinical co-administration. The results of the investigation indicate that KA injection is helpful in two ways, improving the efficacy of CPT-11 and reducing weight loss due to it (CPT-11).  Oxymatrine metabolism in rats was reduced as suggested by the C_max and AUC_0-t of its metabolite, matrine (p < 0.05), from 2.23 ± 0.24 to 1.38 ± 0.12 μg/mL and 8.29 ± 1.34 to 5.30 ± 0.79 μg h/mL, respectively. This effect is not likely to compromise the anti-cancer effect of this herb-drug pair due to the similar efficacy of oxymatrine and matrine. The investigation underscores the benefits and risks of this combination and provides a reference for their clinical co-administration. Front Pharmacol. 2023 Nov 29:14:1282062. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1282062.