Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection afflicts Asia population and, in Hong Kong, about 10% was Hepatitis B surface antigen carrier. It is still one of the major issues under investigation. Herbal medicine KY88 composed of Fructus Schisandrae possessing immunomodulatory property was adopted by Chinese medicine practitioner for treatment of acute and chronic HBV infection. However, the underlying impact on host immune system is not fully understood.

Twenty-three healthy volunteers infected with HBV were taken peripheral venous blood from which the blood cells involved in simple host immunity was obtained.

It was found that the circulating monocyte count significantly drop after 2weeks of KY88 therapy whereas the fall did not return back to baseline. Circulating white blood cell, neutrophil and lymphocyte, however, did not show obvious change upon commencement of KY88 therapy.

It was postulated that reduction in circulating monocyte count may reduce the self-inflicted host immune injury to hepatocyte which may testify the hepatoprotective ability of the herb. But, the exact mechanism on how immunomodulatory properties of the herbal medicine protect chronic HBV carriers from liver injury remains a myth.