| Summary: | 博士 === 慈濟大學 === 醫學研究所 === 95 === Chinese medicine focuses on disease prevention; intervention, meditation, and nursing care are considered to be equally important. Utilization of Chinese medicine to maintain and strengthen health has been utilized to nourish quality of life in daily activities among the Taiwanese population. However, most of its applications lack scientific approval and many health care staff remain ignorant toward its application in chronic disease and malignancies. Trifoliatus, a Chinese herb, has been used for anti-aging, anti-tumor, and regulation of neural transmission, hormone, and cardiovascular function. Yet, its benefit has not been test scientifically. The Taiwanese species, Acanthopanax trifoliatus (A. trifoliatus), appears to have efficacy and further understanding of the pharmacology of trifoliatus as a critical therapeutic agent is necessary to establish applicability for health care providers in east Taiwan. I hypothesize that the trifoliatus is an anti-tumor agent. This study may foster awareness for nurses and the general population toward A. trifoliatus’ applicability.
Tumor cell lines from glioma, squamous-cell carcinoma, T-cell lymphoma, and hepatocellular carcinoma were treated with A. trifoliatus. A kidney epithelial cell line was used as a control. Cell viability was determined. In vivo, toxicity of trifoliatus was assessed by treating alert rats (WKY) with trifoliatus. Additionally, a survey among nurses and general population in east Taiwan was designed to assess the depth of knowledge and attitude toward usage of A. trifoliatus. Treatment of cancer cell lines showed that there was no significant growth inhibition in glioma, skin carcinoma, and liver carcinoma cell lines. However, higher concentration of A. trifoliatus inhibited cell viability in T-cell lymphoma. Toxicity analysis of mice indicated that A. trifoliatus did not significantly affect physiological, vascular regulation, nor organ responses. However, higher
concentration of A. trifoliatus caused increased GOT , GPT , and Creatinine after 36 hrs of drug treatment, which implied dose dependent of liver toxicity. Moreover, the survey results from 126 nurses and 118 general population indicated that both have no significant difference in knowledge and attitude toward using Chinese medicine including A. trifoliatus (p>0.05). However, the nurses from different nursing units, personal religion background, and Chinese medicine users caused significant different effects (p<0.05) in dept of knowledge toward understanding A. trifoliatus. Also, the nurses from different age groups, service years, Chinese medicine permanent users, and individual who preferred Chinese medicine doctor caused significant different effects (p<0.05) in attitude toward understanding A. trifoliatus. In general population, ones who visited Chinese medicine doctors and utilized Chinese medicine in past two years indicated significant different effects (p<0.05) in dept of knowledge toward understanding A. trifoliatus. However, there are no significant effects toward attitude in general population.
This study provides not only valuable knowledge for the anti-tumor efficacy of A. trifoliatus but also a lack of awareness in health care providers in the utility of the drug in the practice of the modern medicine. This study may support ideas of integration of Chinese and modern medicine to fulfill society’s health care needs.
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