In a recent study involving normal, juvenile mice, we showed that
CVT-E002, a proprietary extract (Afexa Life Sciences, Inc.) of North American ginseng, Panax quinquefolius, significantly enhanced the absolute levels of cells acting at the first line of defense in
tumor combat, i.e., natural killer (NK) cells. The present study evaluated the effect of
CVT-E002, on life span when administered intraperitoneally to leukemic, infant/juvenile mice. The extract was administered to groups of mice daily for 14 days in several dosing groups up to 50mg/day from age 7 to 21 days. The
tumor was administered intraperitoneally under sterile conditions, in a laminar flow hood at 7 days of age (0.5 x 10(6) leukemic cells), immediately preceding the first
CVT-E002 injection for each dose group. The data revealed that
CVT-E002 significantly extends the life of leukemic, young mice in a dose-specific manner, i.e., 20 mg/day was effective in extending life, while lower doses of 5, 10 mg as well as higher doses of 30, 40, 50 mg per day were completely ineffective. We have already shown that
CVT-E002 significantly elevates NK cells in normal and leukemic, adult mice, as well as in normal, infant/juvenile mice, and we have also shown that
CVT-E002 significantly extends the life span of leukemic, adult mice. The results of the present study did indeed show that (i)
CVT-E002 extends the life span of leukemic, infant/juvenile mice, and (ii) that the dose of
CVT-E002 is critical in achieving life span augmentation in these leukemic infant/juvenile mice.