Volume 5, Number 3 | Fall 2010

Front Line of Kampo Medicine

Visasuletal.

ofNiigata

UniversityofReview 1 of Academic Meeting Concerning PharamaceuticalSciences (2)Toshiaki Makino, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Dept. of Pharmacognosy
Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Nagoya City University

Pharmacy and Applied Life Sciences reported theThis series introduce latest studies on Kampo

Endo, et al. of Kitasato University reported

medicines presented at the Society’s meetings.

that saireito (Minor Bupleurum Decoction plus

The second installment of the series will provide
the studies presented at The 27th Annual

Poria Powder with five Herbs) and orengedokuto(Coptis Detoxificating Decoction) had the effects

Meeting of Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Society

on ulcerative colitis in mice induced by the oralof WAKAN-YAKU.

administration of dextran sulphate.

Quality preservation of crude drugs, Researcheffectiveness of shomyakusan (Generate thePulse Powder) for memory disturbance induced inmice when scopolamine was intraperitoneallyadministered.

Oka et al. of University of Toyama reported
that they had administered hachimijiogan to thefor identification
Wu et al. of University of Toyama mademodels of chronic renal impairment in 5/6

analysis of diversity of ingredients contained innephrectomized

the products on the peony market and reported

protective effects by the activation of hypoxia

that most of the red peonies produced in China

inducing factor 1α. Kanako, et al. of University ofwere originated from Paeonia lactiflora but someToyama examined renal protective effects ofwere originated from P. veitchii. And they further
clarified that the red peony originated from P.

keishibukuryogan (Cassia Twig and TuckahoePill) using the same models as above and reported

veitchii contains slightly more amounts ofthat this Kampo formula had inhibitory effects on

paeoniflorin

than

the kidney becoming fibrotic - stronger effects

P.lactiflora, but ingredients of both spices are notthat cannot be seen from losartan. And Shibahara,different.

et al. of the same University reported that theyandpentagalloyl

glucoserats

andobserved

renal

had performed gene expression analysis using theStudies on problems arising from preparing

remaining portion of the kidney and found there
were changes in the expression of the genes

Kampo medicines
Himeno et al. of University of Toyama showed

involved in kidney becoming fibrotic, such asthat when a Kampo formula was decocted and thematrix metallopeptidase or kallikrein. Moreover,decoction was heated again after being stored for

Nakatsuka et al of the same University reported

ten hours at room temperature, no changes

that they had administered the single medicinal

occurred in the amounts of the ingredients. And

herb Rhubarb to the same models, observing its

they reported there would be no problem if theinhibitory effects on kidney fibrosis, and it had

amount/formula for a daily use was decocted at athetime and then divided portions were taken.

keishibukuryogan.

Basic pharmacological research for Kampo
medicines

mechanisms

different

fromthoseofJyou et al. of University of Toyam reported thatgoreisan (Poria Powder with Five Herbs) had
been administered to models of high blood

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

23

Volume 5, Number 3 | Fall 2010

hemi-nephrectomized

rats,resultingin

bofutsushosan(Divaricate
Saposhnikovia
Miraculous Powder) had been continuously

significantinexpressionsofadministered orally to mice fed a high-fat diet,

Na+/K+-ATPase, beta-1 protein, aquaporin 1 and 2,

showing the inhibitory effects of weight gain andpressure induced by giving saline water toincreases

throughwhichgoreisantheimproved

kidneySakurai, eta al. of University of Toyama
compared inhibitory effects for 50 types of protein
kinase of 10 kinds of crude drug extracts
composing juzentaihoto (Ten Strong Tonic Herbs

Decoction) and suggested the comparison could beused as an omics research tool.
Kojima et al. of Musashino University reported
that they had administered geniposide, which is aelementof

gardenia

fruit,

tospontaneously obese mice (TSOD mice) andobserved the inhibitory effects on body weight
gain, visceral fat accumulation and subcutaneous
fat accumulation.

the effects of lowering the levels of blood sugar
and blood LDL in spontaneously diabetic mouse(db/dbmice)byadministering

Kangen-karyu(granules),andreported
Kangen-karyu has the effects of improving
diabetes. And, Park et al of the same University
reported that they observed the effects oflowering levels of blood sugar, the effects ofcontrolling

triglyceride

levels,andrenal-protective effects by the administration ofloganin contained in Asiatic Cornelian Cherry
Fruit to the same models.
Kamei et al. of University of Toyama reported
thatofwhite

adiposetissues,significanteffects.
Cho et al. of University of Toyama reported
that chotosan improved memory disturbance inaging

promoted

SAM

miceandasthemechanisms, the improvement was due to its
actionofpromoting

NMDA-typeglutamate

receptor signals.
Aoki et al of Kitasato University reported thatan increase in anti-virus antibody values wasobserved in influenza virus-infected mice by theadministration of maoto (Ephedra Decoction).
Nagai, et al of the same University reported

Yamabe et al. of University of Toyama observed

modelsincreasesuggesting that bofutsushosan has anti-obesity

impairment.

composingweightdeclines

wasobservedinshoseiryuto (Minor Blue Dragon Decoction)
inhibited antibody value from increasing andshowedanti-inflammatory

effects

andtherecovery of the decreased expression of aquaporin
5 in mouse models of airway inflammationinduced by ovalbumin inhalation.
Nohara, et al of Meijo University produced
frequently sneezing mouse models by nasallyadministering

compound4/80

tomiceandreported the significant inhibitory effects of

shoseiryuto (Minor Blue Dragon Decoction) andmaobushisaishinto (Ephedra, Aconite andManchurian Wildginger Decoction) on frequentsneezing.

increased levels of blood sugar and increased

Sekiya et al of Kitasato University orally

epididymal adipose tissue mass in rat models ofadministered hochuekkito to mice that was givenobese fed a high-fat diet by the administration of

methotrexate intraperitoneally and comparedhachimijiogan.

changes in temperature-controlled expressions of
the immunorelated molecule mRNA and they

Kaminari et al. of Kracie reported that24clarified

theeffects

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

Volume 5, Number 3 | Fall 2010

immune-enhancement of the intestinal tract.

administered rabbits, blood flow increased in theorbital short posterior ciliary arteries with

Yamamoto et al of University of Toyama

lowered ocular pressure.

reported that they had examined the influence ofHanda et al. of Fukuoka University reported

kakkonto (Pueraria Decoction) in mouse model ofthat the administration of yokukansan to ratfood allergy induced by the oral administration ofmodels of Alzheimer’s induced by treated cerebral

ovalbumin to mice and observed a significant

ischemia-reperfusion

abnormalities+increaseintracerebroventricularadministrationofin

regulatoryTcells,

suggesting

kakkonto has the improving effects on foodamyloid-betaallergy.

effects on memory impairment.

showedthecomplete

recovery

Kimura et al of Ehime University reported thatthe oral administration of flavonoid contained in

Ito et al. of Kitasato University reported that

Scutellaria Root improved impairment of thethe antidepressant effects of kososan (Cyperus

dermal layer induced by ultraviolet radiation toand Perilla Leaf Powder) were observed in the

hairless mice.

models of depression induced by the application ofchronic mild stress to mice.

Kimura et al. of University of Toyama reported
that in the models of pressure ulcers produced by

Hori et al. of Showa University observed that

applying pressure to rats, kigikenchuto (Kigikamishoyosan (Modified Merry Life Powder)

Middle-Strengthening Decoction) showed theshowed the improving effects on the spontaneous

effect of improving pressure ulcers by suppressing

tunnel in menopausal models in ovariectomized

the expression of MCP-1.

mice, suggesting it is effective for unidentifiedcomplaints associated with menopause.

Munekata et al. of Keio University reported
that the administration of juzentaihoto (TenStrong Tonic Herbs Decoction) to mice increased
the expression of interferon-stimulated gene 15 in
the lamina propria mucosae of the large intestine,enhancing the production of interferon.

and Life Sciences reported that in cultured
hepatocytes of healthy rats treated with theofRhizoma

Notopterygium,andenzymes

Radix

involved

Forbesindrug

metabolism were induced and detoxication offoreign substances was promoted.

ofyokukansan

Medicine

reported(Liver-Inhibitingal.

ofTheUniversityof

Tokushima observed the suppressing effects of

Kujin

Extract(SophoraAngustifolia

RootExtract) on cytokine expression induced bystimulating rat basophil leukemia cells (RBL-2H3
it as an active ingredient.
Liu of Hokuriku University reported thatyokukansan (Liver-Inhibiting Powder) showed
the protective effects on apoptosis by treating rat
PC12 cells derived from pheochromocytoma with
Abeta 40.
Clinical research for Kampo drugs

Yamada et al. of St. Marianna UniversitySchooletcells) with IgE, and isolated maackian to identify

Onuma et al. of Tokyo University of Pharmacy

extract

KanayamathatinthePowder)

Sato et al. of Oita University reported that thelevelsofneuropeptides

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

weremeasured

to25Volume 5, Number 3 | Fall 2010

compare those before and after the single
administration(Life-Preserving

goshajinkigan
Extract
Kidney-Qi Pill Extract) inof

healthy males, showing

significant increases

that were caused by the administration in thelevels of vasoactive intestinal polypeptides andcalcitonin gene-related peptides with slightly
increased blood flow rates, blood pressures, andpulse rates.
Ozeki et al. of Osaka University reported that
there was a significant correlation between
stagnant water scores and parameters showing
cardiac muscle function.
Watanabe et al. of Suwa Chuo Byoin reported
on their experience in which they had made thesingle administration of Astragalus Root or

Hedysarum Polybotrys Root to patients withchronic kidney disease with the result of a decline
in serum creatinine levels in either of them.
OthersKashu et al. of Hyogo College of Medicine
conducted a drug lymphocyte stimulation test(DLST)

bytreating

peripheral

lymphocytes

prepared from the blood withdrawn from healthypeople with crude drug extracts, and clarified
that the reactions were found significantly
positive to “Prepared Aconiti Daughter Tuber”
and “Gardenia Fruit.” They reported that in drug
allergy diagnosis, false-positive reactions to thesetwo drugs are prone to be detected.

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