Volume 6, Number 4 | Winter 2011

Front Line of Kampo Pharmacology
Review of Research Presentations on Kampo Medicines 5

Toshiaki Makino, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Dept. of Pharmacognosy
Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Nagoya City University

This series will introduce the recent research andstudies relating to Kampo medicines presented atacademic conferences. This installment of the series
provides presentations made at The 28th Annual
Meeting of Medical and Pharmaceutical Society for
WAKAN-YAKU held in Toyama on August 27-28,
2011.
QualityHorii, et al. of Kracie Pharmaceutical, Ltd. reported
that they have investigated differences between theextract form and the liquid form of kakkonto(Pueraria

Decoction)

in

the

digestive

absorption

of

tract

ephedrineandpseudoephedrine

contained in kakkonto with the findings that there
were no differences in the absorption but plasma
concentration-time curves were equivalent.
Basic pharmacological study on crude drugs andKampo formulas
Fujikawa, et al. of Fukuoka University reported thatthey have observed that in a cerebral ischemia-

controlofcrude

drugsand

theirreperfusion-induced rat model, spatial memory

discrimination

disturbanceimprovedbycontinuous

oral

Doui, et al. of Kanazawa University have clarifiedPowder), which further enhanced the releasing

administration of yokukansan (Liver-Inhibitingthat when Ginger is heat-processed, the content
amounts of shogaol and gingerol, which are theingredients that change by processing, correlatewith the values measured by a colorimeter based on
the property that the color of heat-processed gingerchanges depending on the heating method used
and/or the heating time applied. They reported thatamounts of acetylcholine from the hippocampus,
inhibiting neural cell death.
Nakada et al. of University of Toyama reported thatthey have used kamikihito (Modified Back to theSpleen Decoction) in a Alzheimer’s disease model intransgenic mice that had excessive expression ofcolors can be used for quality evaluation.

mutantPharmacokinetics of crude drug components

recognition memory significantly improved with a

Ochiai, et al. of Hoshi University reported that theyhippocampus.

significant decrease insanshool ( -HS) and hydroxy- -sanshool ( -HS)
contained in Zanthoxylum fruit (Japanese pepper) in-HS

becomes the ground substance or matrix of theexcrete type transporter and the digestive tract
absorption is in the state of being controlled, andwhen daikenchuto (Major Middle-StrengtheningDecoction) which includes Zanthoxylum fruit is used,
the transporter becomes inhibited and the digestive
tract absorption is promoted.

22

human

genes

neuron-specificallyinduced, with the results that the ability of object-

have investigated the absorption of hydroxy- -the digestive tract with the finding that

type-amyloid deposition in theOuchi, et al. of University of Toyama reported
improvements in carelessness-like behaviors in mice
exposed to isolation-rearing stress by the continuous
administration of sansoninto (Wild Jujube seedDecoction). And they suggest that sansoninto
possibly has effects on attention deficit hyperactivity
disorder (ADHD).
Kitamura, et al. of University of Toyama reported
that they have evaluated the actions of Kampo
medicines for neuropathic pain, a side-effect of theThe Journal of Kampo, Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine (KAIM)

Volume 6, Number 4 | Winter 2011

anticancer drug paclitaxel or vincristine, with theThey found the crude drugs of Ginger and Platycodi

findings that shakuyakukanzoto (Peony and Licorice

RadixDecoction)

bofutsushosan inhibits the absorption of cholesterolandgoshajinkigan(Life-Preservinghavetheactivity,

suggestingthat

Kidney-Qi Pill) are very useful.

while eating

Yoshihisa, et al. of University of Toyama observed

Bai, et al. of Nagoya City University administeredthat keishibukuryogan (Cassia Twig and Tuckahoe

shichimotsukokato (Seven Herbs Decoction ForPill) inhibited the production of inflammatory

Hypertension) to 5/6 nephrectomized rats andcytokines

wasobserved it had no effects on renal functions but

induced to activate in human dermal endothelial

produced a significant improvement in renalcells, suggesting that this formula is effective for

hypertension,

explaining

microvascular inflammation in patients with dermal

mechanism

whereinflammatory diseases.

dimethylaminohydrolase

whenlipopolysaccharide(LPS)

lowering
Tamiya, et al. of Osaka City University observed

thethisimprovement

dimethylarginine(DDAH)

concentration

ofisinduced,asymmetric

dimethylarginine in blood.

that the administration of tokiinshi (Angerica
Decoction, Antipruritus) yielded an increase in theChiba, et al. of Meijyo University administeredwater containing of the stratum corneum and a

juzentaihoto (Ten Strong Tonic Herbs Decoction) tosignificant decrease in trans epidermal water loss,

hapten applied mice and then removed andsuggesting the possibility of this formula totransferred their lymphnodes into naïve mice, which

revitalize the turnover time of the stratum corneum

causedslowed down with age and to improve the moist-

reporting that juzentaihoto has the action ofretention ability and the skin barrier function.

inducing regulatory T cells.

Aburada, et al. of Hoshi Pharmaceutical University

Hoshina, et al. of University of Toyama reported thatobserved that in the mice fed the diet containing theinextracted matters from gypsum, the expression ofStrengthening Decoctoin) has the ability to enhanceaquaporin 3 mRNA in the skin increased. They alsopresentation of antigen when dendritic cells areobserved similar effects in the mice fed CaSO4, asensitized by ovalbumin, suggesting that themain ingredient of gypsum.

formula may be useful as an adjuvant for oral

thevitro,

inflammatory

ogikenchuto

activityto(Astragalusappear,Middle-vaccines. Likewise, Yamada, et al. of University ofNamaki, et al. of Gifu Pharmaceutical University

Toyama reported on the same activity of juzentaihoto

reported that maoto (Ephedra Decoction) inhibits(Ten Strong Tonic Herbs Decoction) and theirairway inflammation provoked by the activation of

successful isolation of its effective ingredient of

toll-like receptor ligands in the mouse trachea.

1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl- -D-glucose contained inPaeoniae Radix.

Tachi, et al. of Nagoya City University observed thatFukui, et al. of University of Tokushima reported

bofutsushosan

Saposhnikovia

that the extracted matter from Sophorae Radix

Miraculous Powder) controlled Niemann-Pick C1-inhibits the production of interleukin-4 released

like protein responsible for the absorption offrom rat basophilic leukocytes and they havecholesterol in the small-intestinal epithelial cells.

isolated the effective ingredient of trifolirhizin.

(DivaricateThe Journal of Kampo, Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine (KAIM)

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Volume 6, Number 4 | Winter 2011

Hyuga, et al of Kitasato University reported that

Licorice promotes the action of sennoside A andmaoto (Ephedra Decoction) inhibits the ability-to-individual types of antibiotics significantly inhibit

move of human breast cancer cells stimulated by thethe purging action of sennoside A.

hepatic growth factor and Ephedra Herba containedin the formula causes the inhibition of tyrosine

Endo, et al. of Kitasato University administeredkinase.

rikkunshito (Six Gentlemen Decoction) to mice andobserved an increased activity of gastric motility and

Yamada, et al. of Yokohama City University observed

emptying in healthy mice and, on the contrary, anincreased flows of the intraorbital posterior ciliary

inhibiting effect in food-deprived mice, reportingarteries and extraocular arteries in rabbits after thethat rikkunshito has complex mechanisms withadministration of shosaikoto (Minor Bupleurum

multiple points of action.

Decoction), suggesting that this formula is useful for
obstructive angitis in patients with various types ofJo, et al. of University of Toyama reported thatcancer.

peripheral edema in rats induced when pioglitazone
is administered can be improved by the use ofYamaguchi, et al. of Fukuoka University reportedthatyokukansan(Liver-Inhibiting

goreisan (Poria Powder with Five Herbs).

Powder)improves anxiety-like behaviors in rat cerebral

Ito, et al. of Kitasato University have clarified theischemia-reperfusion injury models, explaining that

antidepressant action of kososan (Cyperus andthe improvement is caused by the 5-HT2A receptor

Perillamediated mechanism.

depression-like mouse model, reporting that theLeafPowder)usingastress-induced

regulation of orexin and neuropeptide Y nervous
Iwaoka, et al. of Hyogo University of Health Sciences

system network in the brain is involved in theremoved and cultured rat dorsal root ganglia with anmechanism. Nagai, et al. further made proteome

addition of Euodiae Fructus thereon and observed

analysis of mouse serum and observed a decreased

the increasing of Ca2+ concentration in neurons,

level of complement C3 due to kososan. Okuda, et al.

suggesting that the analgesic effect is permitted byconducted proteome analysis of hipocampi of thethe mechanism of mediating TRPV1 activation

mice and reported that tropomyosin -1 chain can beaction. They also reported they have isolated therecovered.

effective ingredient of evodiamine.
Yamamoto, et al. of University of Toyama isolated
Oda, et al. of University of Toyama liberated various

CD4+ Tcells, which recognize OVA, from mouse

crude drugs for the cells having TRP channels

lymphatic tissues and showed that kakkonto

expressed forcibly and observed the action of(Pueraria Decoction) inhibits the proliferation ofactivating TRPV1 in Rhubarb and isolated thecells when stimulated with OVA. They reported that

effective ingredient of senidine, which, they found,the action of improving food allergies can be expected

was unrelated to the purging effect of Rhubarb.

in kakkonto.

Takayama,University

Kigasawa, et al. of University of Toyama clarified

investigated mechanisms of the purging action ofthat in mice, byakkokaninjinto (White Tiger plus

daiokanzoto (Rhubarb and Licorice Decoction) in

Ginseng Decoction) inhibits the differentiation ofmice with the findings that liquiritin contained infemoral bone marrow cells into mature dendritic

24etal.

ofFukuyama

The Journal of Kampo, Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine (KAIM)

Volume 6, Number 4 | Winter 2011

cells and reported that this formula has the action ofimmune regulation.
Nishimoto, et al. of Kitasato University analyzed
active ingredients of immunoregulatory factors
induced by having hochuekkito (Middle-Reinforcingand Qi-Benefiting Decoction) act on rat duodenumderived epithelial cell lines and then isolated fourtypes of sugar chains with a molecular weight of37,000-40,000/each.
Kimura, et al. of University of Toyama evaluatedcurative effects of kigikenchuto (Angelica Root
Middle-Strengthening Decoctoin) in a rat model withpressure ulcers induced by applying repetitive
pressure, observing the enhanced growth of newbloodvessels

andincreased

actin-positive

myofibroblastic cells. They suggest that the formula
is potentially useful for pressure ulcer treatment.
Yanagihara, et al. of Osaka City University reported
thathochuekkito(Middle-ReinforcingandQi-Benefiting Decoction) improves skin hazards inhairless mice caused by ultraviolet radiation
through the antioxidant action of the formula.

The Journal of Kampo, Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine (KAIM)

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