許多癌症患者接受西醫治療外，常會配合使用中藥，其中當歸補血湯乃是一十分常見之中藥複方，臨床上觀察有些大腸癌病患使用過後，似乎有不錯的效果，但有些病患反而加速腫瘤的蔓延。本研究以大腸癌細胞林(CT-26)爲對象，來探討當歸補血湯對大腸癌細胞的影響。首先以不同濃度的當歸補血湯處理大腸癌細胞株(CT-26)，在經過12、24、48、72小時後，先以顯微鏡觀察細胞形態的變化，再以細胞增殖分析法－MTT assay來觀察CT-26生長是否受抑制？接著以PI染DNA配合流式細胞計數儀，進一步分析細胞週期的變化？最後以Annexin V-PI雙染和DNA末端轉移酶標誌(terminal deoxynucleotidyl, transferase dUTP nick end-labeling; UNEL)來觀察是否有細胞凋亡的現象產生。在當歸補血湯處理後CT-26細胞數目隨著作用時間與濃度的增加而減少。MTT assay則進一步發現隨著藥物濃度和時間的增加，可以觀察到CT-26細胞生長或活性被抑制或毒殺的現象。在細胞週期的分析方面，可發現當歸補血湯會造成CL-26細胞週期呈現停滯的狀態。最後在Annexin V-FITC/PI雙染與TUNEL染色則都可見到在當歸補血湯作用之後會有細胞凋亡的現象產生。本研究初步證實當歸補血湯確實可對大腸癌細胞產生抑制的作用，其中的機轉包括了細胞生長週期的停滯與誘導細胞的凋亡。我們將再進行動物實驗，進一步觀察這個藥物在活體上的效果。

A lot of patients took Chinese herb during or after western-medical therapy for improving their physical condition and Danggui Buxue Tang (DGBXT) is one of the commonly used formulas. In clinical observations, some of colorectal cancer patients seemed to benefit from it, but others had adversely progressing diseases. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of DGBXT on colorectal cancer cells (CT-26). The colorectal cancer cell (CT-26) was treated with different concentrations of DGBXT, and microscopic observation and MTT assay were used for evaluating its inhibiting effect on cell growth after 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours. PI staining of DNA with flow cytometry was used for analyzing the effects of DGBXT on cell cycles. In addition, Annexin-V/Ph double staining and DNA terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) analysis were performed for evaluate apoptosis. The cell numbers of CT-26 decreased with the increase of DGBXT concentrations. The MTT analysis demonstrated that DGBXT had both killing and suppressing effects on CT-26. In cell cycle analysis, DGBXT could result in cell cycle arrest. Finally, Annexin-V/PI double staining and TUNEL staining both found that DGBXT could induce apoptosis of CT-26 cells. The preliminary results suggested that DGBXT could inhibit the growth of colorectal cells, and the induction of cell apoptosis was involved in the mechanisms of its anti-cancer effects. Animal study will he further performed to evaluate its effects on colorectal cancer in vivo.