Figure 1

Inhibition of orthotopic HCC growth by baicalin requires presence of macrophages. (a) Schematic presentation of experimental design. (b) Removal of macrophage from mice completely blocked the anti-tumour effect of baicalin. Orthotopic HCC tumour growth in mice (n=4) with baicalin treatment was not obvious, whereas removal of macrophage by intraperitoneally injecting clodronate liposome resulted in relapse of hepatic tumour. (c) The size calculation of hepatic tumour. **P<0.01, compared with liposome control group without baicalin treatment; ΔΔP<0.01, compared with liposome control group with baicalin treatment. (d) The amount of intrahepatic tumour was slightly increased upon baicalin treatment without significance, while presence of clodronate liposome remarkably reduced hepatic macrophage. (e) Baicalin treatment did not potently induce production of inflammatory monocytes in bone marrow. (f) Baicalin treatment did not elevate inflammatory monocytes populations in circulating system