Therapeutic effect of medicinal herbs and western drugs on hepatitis B virus

Abstract

AIM: To investigate the therapeutic effect of chinese herbs and western drugs on inhibition of hepatitis B virus replication.

METHODS: There were 123 cases (patients with hepatitis B and carriers of HBsAg). THey were either HBeAg positive or HBV-DNA (PCR) positive, or both. They were divided into four groups randomly. The first group was the interferon (IFN) group (the control group). The other three groups were the treatment groups. The first group (the α-IFN group) included 30 cases. 14 cases with normal liver function and 16 cases with abnormal liver function. The second group (treated with polyporus umbellatus polysaccharide and HBV vaccines) included 31 cases. 16 cases with normal liver function and 15 cases with abnormal liver function. The third group (treated with WuLinWan), included 30 cases. 15 cases with normal liver function and 15 cases with abnormal liver function. The fourth group (treated with polyporus umbellatus polysaccharide, HBV vaccines and WuLinWan), included 32 cases. 13 cases with normal liver function and 19 cases with abnormal liver function. All patients were treated for three mo. Afterwards, HBeAg, HBV-DNA (PCR ) and liver function were reexamined. The indictors for therapeutic effectiveness were that HBeAg and HBV-DNA (PCR) became negative. χ² test was used to analyse the results.

RESULTS: There were significant differences among the four groups. χ² = 13.877，P < 0.01. In the first group, it was effective for one patient with normal liver function and 13 cases with abnormal liver function. The effective rate was 46.7%. In the second group, effective for one case with normal liver function and 8 cases with abnormal liver function, the effective rate was 29.0%. In the third group, effective for none with normal liver function and six with abnormal liver function. The effective rate was 20%. In the fourth group, effective for 2 with normal liver functional and 18 with abnormal liver function. The effective rate was 62.5%. There were significant differences between the first and the second group (P < 0.05); the first and the third group (P < 0.05); but P > 0.05 between the first and the fourth group. For subjects with normal liver function the effective rate was 7.0% (4/58). For subjects with abnormal liver function, the effective rate was 69.2% (45/65). There was significant difference between them. χ² = 49.69, P < 0.01.

CONCLUSION: Combination of polyporus umbellatus polysaccharide, HBV vaccines and WuLinWan was proved to be effective for hepatitis B virus especially for patients with abnormal liver function.

Key Words: Hepatitis B/therapy; Interferon/therapeutic use; Polyporus umbellatus polysaccharide; Wu Lin Wan/therapeutic use