目的探讨半枝莲β-谷甾醇的抗肿瘤作用机制。方法建立小鼠体内移植性肝癌模型,分别比较半枝莲β-谷甾醇(Sβ)组和环磷酰胺(cytoxan,CTX)组抗肝癌的作用。结果与模型组比较,CTX组、Sβ组、CTX+Sβ组均能显著抑制实体瘤生长(P<0.01),与CTX组比较,Sβ组能显著提高胸腺、脾脏指数(P<0.01),Sβ对荷瘤小鼠脾细胞分泌IL-2具有显著促进作用(P<0.01),而对荷瘤小鼠脾细胞分泌IL-10具有显著抑制作用(P<0.01)。结论 Sβ有一定的抗肿瘤作用,能提高机体免疫功能;其抗肿瘤机理可能与升高IL-2和降低IL-10有关。 Objective To investigate the antitumor mechanism of Scutellaria barbata. Methods The model of transplanted hepatocarcinoma in mice was established and the effects of Scutellaria barbata Ssp and Cytoxan (CTX) against liver cancer were compared. Results Compared with model group, CTX group, Sβ group and CTX + Sβ group could significantly inhibit the growth of solid tumors (P <0.01). Compared with CTX group, Sβ group could significantly increase thymus and spleen index (P <0.01) (P <0.01), while IL-10 secreted from spleen cells of tumor-bearing mice significantly inhibited (P <0.01). Conclusion Sβ has certain anti-tumor effect, which can improve immune function. Its anti-tumor mechanism may be related to increasing IL-2 and decreasing IL-10.