Volume 5, Number 2 | Summer 2010

Front Line of Kampo Medicine
Review 1 of Academic Meeting Concerning
Pharmaceutical Sciences
Toshiaki Makino
Graduare School of Pharmaceutical Scienses,
Nagota City University

botanical origin of the crude drug “Japaneseangelica root” to be identified from the gene. Andthe Kodaira et al. of Kanazawa University
reported on the crude drug "Poria Sclerotium."
They made a comparison between the on-market
product produced in China and the one producedThis series introduce the latest studies onin Japan and found differences in not only

Kampo medicines presented at the Society’sproduction characteristics but also DNA basemeetings.

sequence.

The first installment of the series will provide
the studies presented at The 130th Annual
Meeting of Pharmaceutical Society of Japan heldin Okayama in March, 2010.

Asahina et al. of Ochanomizu University
reported that as a result of their chemotaxonomic
analysis of the original plant of Dendrobium using
LC/MS, it was possible to distinguish the botanical

Kamakura et al. of National Institute of Healthorigin Dendrobium moniliforme from D. tosaense.

Sciences reported that their analysis of heavy

They also reported that the use of chloroplastmetals contained in the products on the crude

genes allowed differentiation between six spices ofdrug market showed high levels of cadmium inthe genus Dendrobium.

coptis rhizome, gardenia fruit, zedoary, and somespecimens of atractylodes lancea rhizom, whereas
low levels of arsenic, mercury, and lead weredetected.

Yamazaki et al of Osaka Prefectural Instituteof Public Health reported that in conducting
HPLC analysis of ginsenoside Rb1 contained in
Kampo preparations, they developed a simple andNakamura et al. of Osaka University reported
that they had made gene analysis, metabolomicanalysis, and elemental analysis using ICP-MS for
50 horticultural varieties of peonies, 16 specimensof peonies as crude drugs distributed in Japan,
and red peonies produced in China, and conducted
multivariate analysis of individual factors; and as
a result of all types of analysis, it is now possible
to classify the various varieties of Chinese peonies
into the group of white peonies or the group of red
peonies and even their production areas.
Kitaoka et al. of Kanazawa University reported

quick analytical method through the use of thepolymer-based HILIC column.
Morinaga et al. of Nagasaki International
University reported that they developed a methodof qualitatively analyzing baicalin in the following
procedure:

Kampo

medicines

containing

scutellaria root baicalensis Georgi are put on thepoluethersulfone (PMS) membrane and thenmembrane chromatography is performed. Or, thespecimen of Scutellariae Radix was pushed onto
the membrane in order to transfer all theingredients into the membrane. After that, thethat their DNA analysis of the plants belonging tomembranes

werestained

Angelica genus and the on-market products of thecrude drug "Angelicae Radix" clarified that thebase sequences of three species of Angelica
acutiloba, A. gigas, and A. sinensis in the ITS

antibodies against baicalin.

withmonoclonalStudies on problems arising from preparing
Kampo medicinesregion were different each other, enabling theThe Journal of Kampo, Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine (KAIM)

21

Volume 5, Number 2 | Summer 2010

Hakamazuka et al. of National Institute of

purposes on Kampo extract preparations and

Health Sciences reported that they had made areached proper amounts of radiation and exposurecomparison of the total amount of extracts

time.

obtained from separate decoctions of individual
crude drugs composing a Kampo prescription tothe amount of the extract obtained from thedecoction of a mixture of crude drugs. They foundthat in 15 prescriptions and their composing 38
crude drugs, the total amounts of individual
decoctions and the one-time decoction of all crude
drugs were similar, except for the case of

Koyama et al. of Tochimototenkaido reported thatthey had carried out a testing on migration of residual
pesticides remaining on the crude drugs "perilla herb"and "citrus unshiu peel" to decoction liquids, with theresults that there were no migrations except forazoxystrobin at a very low level.
Basic pharmacological study for Kampo medicines

orengedokuto (Coptis Detoxificating Decoction), in

Asahina et al. of Toho University reported thatwhich the total amount of individual decoctions

they administered shigyakusan (Cold Limbs

was 70-80% of that of the one-time decoction.

Powder) or saikokeishito (Bupleurum and Cassia
Twig Decoction) to mice exposed to isolation stress

Hirasawa et al. of Kanazawa University
reported on quality changes of the decocted liquidof kakkonto (Pueraria Decoction). They prepared
the decocted liquid using the automatic Kampo
extract packing machine and stored it at 4, 25, and40 C degrees for 3 weeks to examine changes inquality. At 40 C, the yellow tint was reduced withinduced by individual rearing, with the resultsthat although dose dependent nature of antianxiety effects was observed in the group ofShigyakusan, no efficacy was observed in thegroup of saikokeishito.
Seshime et al. of National Institute of Healthan increase in redness. As a whole, the color was

Sciencesturning to darkening with an increase inadministered Kampo prescriptions to human

bitterness and a decrease in tart. On the otherintestinal flora and observed the growth situation.

hand, no changes were observed at 4 C and 25 C,

For clostridium welchii that could possibly cause

which suggests that the quality can be preserved

inflammatory

for three weeks if decoctions are stored in a coolorento (CoptisDecoction), san'oshashinto (Three Huang HeartClearing Decoction with Three yellow color Herbs),
shojokito(MinorPurgative
Decoction),daiokanzoto (Rhubarb and Licorice Decoction),
daiobotampito (Rhubarb and Moutain BarkDecoction), tokakujokito (Peach Kernel PurgativeDecoction), and mashiningan (Hemp Seed Pill). Of
these, orento, san'oshashinto, daiobotampito, andtokakujokito did not have effects on bifidus

place or at ambient temperature.
Fukuda et al. of Josai University reported thatthey had examined acridity of the steam whenmaoto (Ephedra Decoction) andshoseiryuto (Minor Blue Dragon Decoction) withdecoctingthe results that in Shoseiryuto, the degree ofunpleasantness was high while an improvement
in a sense of blockage in the nose and the eyes
feelingrefreshedweresignificantly

bettercompared to Maoto.
Nakamura et al. of Hokkaido University ofEducation reported that they had examined
influence of radiation exposure for sterilization
22

reportedsignificnatly

thatdiseases,

they

thehaddirectlygrowthinhibitedbyet

Kitasato

wasbacteria.
Nishimotoal.

ofUniversity

reported that they had studied the actions ofhochuekkito and its fractions on the mRNA

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

Volume 5, Number 2 | Summer 2010

expression of immunity-related factors in the cells

performed

derived from the rat duodenum , and that thecompounds migrating into cells, resulting in a

potentiating effects of expression of different

detection of berberin in the cell membrane. They

genes had been observed in various fractions

further reported that migrations to the cytoplasms

having different molecular weights, which meansand vacuoles had not occurred.

hochuekkito

contains

awidevariety

ofcomponents that are responsible for adjusting theimmune function of intestinal epithelial cells.

Shimadareportednano-MSetalthatanalysisofchemicalof Musashino

University

theyexamined

had

pharmacokinetics in the rats that had orally

Takada et al. of Kitasato University reported

received 6-shogaol contained in dried ginger andthat they had administered shoseiryuto to mousefound higher blood levels of 6-paradol, a metabolicmodels of upper airway inflammation induced bysubstance of 6-shogaol, indicating 6-shogaol has

the inhalation of ovalbumin and observed its

high anti-inflammatory actions.

inhibiting effects on branchial asthma through themechanisms different from those of prednisolone.

Arimuneetal.

ofOsakaUniversityofPharmaceutical Sciences reported that the oral

Furumoto et al. of Kitasato University reported

administration of senkyuchachosan (Tea-Blendedkamiuntanto(ModifiedGallbladderWarming Decoction) had been found to have

improving effects on sickness behavior induced bySzechwan Lovage Powder) or sokeikakketsuto(Channels-DredgingandBlood-ActivatingDecoction) to rats, together with midazolam at thethe administration of LPS to the abdominal cavity

same time, significantly increased the highestof mice and the effects were caused by theblood levels of midazolam and AUC in both groups,

mechanisms involving the central nervous system,indicating the inhibition of CYP3A in the digestive

not the immune system.

tract.

thatIshijima et al. of Hoshi University reported that

Clinical research for Kampo medicines

they had orally administered polysaccharide

Kakikura et al. of Chiba University reported

fractions of kakkonto (Pueraria Decoction) to micethat in the 22 patients with climacteric disorders,and observed the induction of cytokine production

who had received a preliminary examination of

from macrophages and the induction of antibody

polymorphisms of estrogen receptor beta genes

production against the antigens administered atand taken keishibukuryogan (Cassia Twig andthe same time, suggesting that polysaccharides of

Tuckahoe

Kakkonto have immnostimulatory effects.

significantly improved in the group of patients

Iwashita et al. of Showa University reported
that crude drugs showing the anti-inflammatory
action had been selected by screening in vitro
testing using the mouse macrophage-like cells andthe action had been observed in atractylodes
Lancea Rhizome and cinnamon bark.

theyhadincubatedculturedscoresofblood

congestionhaving LL allele compared to the group of patients
havingother

polymorphisms.

Theyfurther

reported that keishibukuryogan had no effect in
the patients having Sallele.
Kue Hisashige et al. of Nihon University
reported that they had conducted a questionnaire
survey with regard to improvements after taking

Oniishi et al. of Hiroshima University reported
thatPill),

humanhepatocytes together with orengedokuto andKampo medicines in female patients visiting
Kampo clinics due to the chief complaint ofinfertility

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

thenconductedcategory23

Volume 5, Number 2 | Summer 2010classification analysis of main ingredients withthe findings of the relationship between three
categories by-symptom and the corresponding
Kampo prescription groups
OthersNishiki et al. of Tokushima Bunri University
reported that they had analyzed the prescription
sheets received by dispensing pharmacies andfound that there were more patients who wereprescribed Kampo medicines in the orthopedics
and

many

prescriptions

wereforWestern

medicines with Kampo medicines.
Komatsu et al. of Yokohama College of
Pharmacy reported that they had conducted aconsciousness survey in the College students
concerning medical care with acupuncture andmoxibustion and found increases in their interestinacupunctureandmoxibustion

andunderstanding thereof by attending the lecture of“Introduction to Acupuncture and Moxibustion.”

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