Volume 6, Number 2 | Summer 2011

Front Line of Kampo Pharmacology
Review of Research Presentations on Kampo Medicines 4

Hokkaido reported that they have investigated thecontent amount of liquiritin as a measure forToshiaki Makino, Ph.D.

growing the high quality phyletic line of Glycyrrhiza

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

found large variations in content volume, which,This series will introduce the recent research andvolume of glucyrrhitic acid used as an indicatorstudies relating to Kampo medicines presented atingredient by Japanese Pharmacopoeia.

uralensis that is the plant material of Licorice andthey explained, positively correlate with the content

academic conferences. This installment of the series
provides the presentations planned to be made at

Development of crude drug products

The 131st Annual Meeting of PharmaceuticalSociety of Japan in Shizuoka scheduled on March 28-Sakai, et al. of Hokkaido College of Pharmacy have31, 2011. Because of the Great East Japandeveloped a w/o cream containing Cnidii Monnieri

Earthquake, the conference was cancelled. However,Fructus and Kochia Fructus, reporting that it is

the contents of the abstracts planned for the Marchsufficiently marketable as a commodity in view of28 presentation are regarded as having beenstability, impression from use, and moisturizingpublished.

effect.

Research of quality evaluation of crude drugs andBasic pharmacological study on crude drugs andtheir discrimination

Kampo foumulas

Yamauchi, et al. of Doshisha Women’s College ofOhta, et al. of Toho University reported that they

Liberal Arts reported that an HPLC-UV method

have investigated the in vitro action of aldosewithareductase inhibition of varieties of Kampo extract

polyvinylpolypyrrolidone column is effective forand found that sokeikakketsuto (Channels-Dredging

analyzing arecoline contained in Aracea Seed.

and Blood-Activating Decoction) gives the strongest

thepre-treatmentusinginhibition.
Wakana, et al. of National Institute of Health
Sciences reported that they have evaluated theYamabe, et al. of University of Toyama reported that

quality of Paeoniae Radix by

1H-NMR–basedhachimijiogan (Kidney-Qi Pill) and bakumijiogan

metabnolom analysis and discriminated individual(Eight-Immortal Pill for Longevity) have the action

cultivars although production sites could not beof complete recovery of renal function in the model ofdifferentiated.

chronic renal failure in 5/6 nephrectomized rats.

Doi, et al. of Kanazawa University have evaluatedYamamoto, et al. of Suzuka University of Medical

the usefulness of a colorimeter for the quality

Science reported that they have investigated theevaluation of Ginger and Processed Ginger andeffect of various Kampo extracts on the in vitro

clarified that the device can determine the intensity

inhibition of parainfluenza type 2 viral proliferationof heating although it cannot differentiate steamed

and found that kakkonto (Pueraria Decoction) andginger rhizomes.

ryokankyomishingeninto (Tuckahoe, Licorice, Dried
Ginger,Schisandra,

Manchurian

wildginger,Cultivation research of crude drug materials

Pinellia and Apicot Decoction) have a strong

Kojoma, et al. of Health Sciences University ofinhibitory activity.

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

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Volume 6, Number 2 | Summer 2011

Aoki, et al. of Kitasato University reported on theHyuga, et al. and Shiraishi, et al. of Kitasato

activity of maoto (Ephedra Decoction) on influenza

University reported that maoto (Ephedra Decoction)

infection in mice and explained as the mechanism

extract can suppress the ability-to-move of mousethat it is caused by the elevating activity of antibody

osteosarcoma cells stimulated by hepatocellulartiter binding to the virus.

growth factors through the downregulation of theexpression levels of c-Met signal and protein.

Kagioka, et al. of Nagoya City University reported
that they have investigated, using mice, the activity

Matsui, et al. of Fukuyama University reported thatof Processed Aconite Root on improving neuropathic

they have investigated the significance of Ricorice

pain, a side-effect of an anticancer drug oxaliplatin

inclusion in daiokanzoto (Rhubarb and Licoricewith the finding that alkaloids contained are theDecoction) using mice with the finding that liquiritin

active ingredients.

in licorice promotes the purgative activity of

Iizuka, et al. of Yokohama College of Pharmacy
reported

that

theyhaveinvestigatedthevasorelaxant activity of Cyperi Rhizoma in the invitro rat great arterial vessel preparations with thefinding that the methanol extract has the relaxing
effect on vasoconstriction induced by norepinephrineby releasing NO.

reported that they have isolated and identified
maackiain as an anti-allergic active ingredient from
Sophorae Radix with the findings that the ingredienthas the improving effect on a model rat allergic
rhinitis induced by toluene 2,4-diisocyanate.

that they have investigated the action of enhancing
theexpressionofadministration

ofmaoto(Ephedra Decoction) and oseltamivir (OT) elevates
plasma concentrations of OT, these formulas
suppresses the onset of brain inflammation; and it
has the suppressive action of OT and OT beingtransported into the brain.

factorsof

hochuekkito (Middle-Reinforcing and Qi-BenefitingDecoction) in rat digestive tract epitherial cells withwater-solubleconstituents

havetheimmunostimulatory action.
Sekiya, et al. of Kitasato University reported thathochuekkito (Middle-Reinforcing and Qi-BenefitingDecoction) produces the ameliorating activity in aepithelium

createdbytheintraperitoneal

administration of methotrexate with an increased
level of expressions of Reg III-γ, a member of C-type
lectin.
Nishimura, et al. of RIKEN reported that in orderto evaluate the enhancing action of ghrelinsecretion of rikkunshito (Six Gentlemen Decoction)

Harada, et al. of Saitama Medical University
reported that in rats, food intake decreases andgastrointestinal tract motility weakens following thecerebral ventricular administration of urcortin andthese conditions can be improved by rikkunshito (SixGentlemen Decoction) through the activity of thisby in vivo testing, (although the action has been
evaluated only by in vitro testing) they havedeveloped a method for verifying the action ofrokkunshito by the synthesis of ghrelin having
complexation with radioactive metal 68Ga, which isthen administered to the rat.

formula to improve the secretion of ghrelin.
22

immune-relatedmouse model of impaired gastric and intestinal

Fukuda, et al. of Josai University reported thatsimultaneous

Nishimoto, et al. of Kitasato University reported

the finding that both lipophilic constituents andNariai, et al. of The University of Tokushima

while

sennoside A present in Rhei Rhizoma.

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

Volume 6, Number 2 | Summer 2011

Nakagawa, et al. of Kyoto University reported that

Pak, et al. of University of Toyama reported thatinmouse,loganin contained in Corni Fructus has theyokukansan (Liver-Inhibiting Powder) significantly

improving action of oxidant stress, inflammatory

suppresses withdrawal symptoms produced byresponse, and apoptosis in the spontaneously

naloxone (jumping behavior, weight loss, diarrhea)

diabetic mouse models in db/db mice.

amorphine-dependence

inducedand Uncariae Uncis cum Ramulus and licorice inyokukansan have the action of alpha 2 receptor
antagonist.
Iijima, et al. of Nihon University reported that they
have observed the increased number of endothelial
progenitor cells in the blood and the reduced numberof positive cells of reactive oxygen species inmononuclear cells in spontaneous hypertensive rats
following

theadministrationof

saikokaryukotsuboreito (Bupleurum plus Dragon's
Bone and Oyster Shell Decoction).
Gan, et al. of Hokuriku University reported thatbofutsushosan(DivaricateSaposhnikovia

Miraculous Powder) exhibits the antihyperglycemic
action in streptozocin-induced diabetic rats andseveral ingredients are responsible for the activity.
Kato, et al. of Taisho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
reported that Lycii Cortex improves, through theserotonin nervous system, attacking behavior inmice induced by isolation rearing and it gives theanti-stress action.
Nakazawa,etal.

ofTohoku

Pharmaceutical

University reported that hirusutine contained inUncariae Uncis cum Ramulus gives the onset of
antipsychotic action mediated by the inhibiting
action of σ1, D2 and 5-HT2A receptors.
Oda, et al. of Keio University reported that they haveevaluated the in vitro anti-inflammatory action ofmagnolol contained in Magnoliae Cortex andmetabolites of magnolol, using macrophages withthe finding that only magnolol is active and thematabolites have no anti-inflammatory action.

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

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