Effect of Andrographis paniculata as an adjuvant in combined chemo-radio and whole body hyperthermia treatment - a preliminary study.

Modulation of immune responses to alleviate disease has been of interest for a long time. Intraperitoneal administration of Andrographis paniculata extract along with whole body hyperthermia (WBH) was found to enhance the total WBC count in cyclophosphamide (CTX) and radiation treated animals when compared to untreated control animals. Maximum inhibition in the solid tumor development was observed when the CTX and radiation exposed animals were treated with extract in combination with whole-body hyperthermia. Similarly myeloperoxidase activity in tumor tissue from CTX and radiation-treated animals was also significantly inhibited when they were administered with Andrographis paniculata extract along with whole body hyperthermia. Moreover the production of cytokines such as IL-2 and GM-CSF, which was reduced after combined CTX and radiation treatment was significantly increased by the simultaneous treatment of extract and whole body hyperthermia. The elevated level of serum Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF-alpha) level, after CTX and radiation treatment was also lowered significantly after the administration of extract and simultaneous exposure of whole-body hyperthermia with respect to untreated tumor-bearing animals.