The cytotoxic effect of a herbal medicine Shosaiko-to (TJ-9) was examined by the MTT assay on 7 human lung cancer cell lines (4 non-small cell carcinomas, 3 small cell carcinomas) and on 5 hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines. TJ-9 showed a dose-dependent cytotoxicity in all cell lines except one (SBC-5). Of the seven herbs in TJ-9, Scutellaria root showed the strongest cytotoxicity followed by the Glycyrrhiza root. Among baicalin, baicalein and wogonin from the Scutellaria root, cytotoxicity was observed only with baicalin. The SBC-5 cell line which was resistant to TJ-9 showed a lesser sensitivity to both Scutellaria root and baicalin. TJ-9 showed almost equal cytotoxicity in cisplatin (CDDP)-sensitive PC-10 and CDDP-resistant SBC-4 cell lines, and in H69 and H69/CDDP cell lines. TJ-9, Scutellaria root and baicalin were all less cytotoxic for human lymphocytes and bone marrow cells than for a lung cancer cell line of SBC-4. These results suggest that TJ-9 and its components may be useful anticancer agents for the treatment of lung cancer.

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