Research Publications on "Sho-saiko-to" (1990-2001)

 

2001  2000  1999  1998  1997  1996  1995  1994  1993  1992  1991  1990

Is your "Sho-saiko-to" manufactured under the same quality standard as the ones approved by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Welfare, and Labor? Find out more...

Authors

Yamashiki M. Nishimura A. Huang XX. Nobori T. Sakaguchi S. Suzuki H.

Institution

Department of Laboratory Medicine, Mie University School of Medicine, Tsu , Japan .

Title

Effects of the Japanese herbal medicine "Sho-saiko-to" (TJ-9) on interleukin-12 production in patients with HCV-positive liver cirrhosis.

Source

Developmental Immunology. 7(1):17-22, 1999.

Abstract

Interleukin-12 (IL-12) is an important cytokine for maintenance of normal systemic defense and bioregulation. The Japanese herbal medicine Sho-saiko-to (TJ-9) has been administered to 1.5 million Japanese patients with chronic liver diseases. TJ-9 is known to significantly suppress cancer development in the liver and has macrobiotic effects. In the present study, we examined the in vitro production of IL-12 by circulating mononuclear cells from liver cirrhosis patients and the effects of TJ-9 on IL-12 production. The monocyte/macrophage fraction and the lymphocyte fraction of peripheral blood were obtained from 11 HCV-positive liver cirrhosis patients and 12 healthy subjects. Interleukin-12 levels in the supernatants were measured using ELISA kits. The levels of IL-12 produced by the patients' fractions were significantly lower than those produced by healthy subjects (p < 0.01, p < 0.05). However, when TJ-9 was added to the cultures, the IL-12 production levels in both cell fractions increased approximately three fold, and the levels from the monocyte/macrophage fraction were almost the same as those from healthy subjects. This effect of TJ-9 was attributable to two of its seven herb components, that is, scutellaria root and glycyrrhiza root. One possible mechanism for the macrobiotic effects of TJ-9 on liver cirrhosis patients may be the improvement in IL-12 production.

Authors

Nishimura N. Naora K. Hirano H. Iwamoto K.

Institution

Department of Pharmacy, Shimane Medical University Hospital , Japan .

Title

A Chinese traditional medicine, sho-saiko-to (xiao-chaihu-tang), reduces the bioavailability of tolbutamide after oral administration in rats.

Source

American Journal of Chinese Medicine. 27(3-4):355-63, 1999.

Abstract

The effects of Sho-saiko-to on the pharmacokinetics of tolbutamide were investigated in rats. After intravenous administration of tolbutamide (5 mg/kg), no significant change in the pharmacokinetics of tolbutamide was observed in both groups of single and multiple (7 days) pre-administration of Sho-saiko-to (500 mg/kg). In the study of single oral administration of tolbutamide (50 mg/kg), co-administration of Sho-saiko-to tended to accelerate the initial absorption rate of tolbutamide. The area under the plasma concentration-time curve of tolbutamide after oral administration was significantly reduced by Sho-saiko-to. Subsequently, a significant decrease was observed in the oral bioavailability of this drug when Sho-saiko-to was given concomitantly. These findings suggest that Sho-saiko-to reduces the bioavailability of tolbutamide after oral administration in rats, and that this change is not related to hepatic metabolism.

Authors

Ono M. Miyamura M. Kyotani S. Saibara T. Ohnishi S. Nishioka Y.

Institution

Department of Pharmacy, Kochi Medical School Hospital , Japan .

Title

Effects of Sho-saiko-to extract on liver fibrosis in relation to the changes in hydroxyproline and retinoid levels of the liver in rats.

Source

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmacology. 51(9):1079-84, 1999 Sep.

Abstract

To examine the effects of Sho-saiko-to extract on liver fibrosis, the drug was administered to rats with dimethylnitrosamine-induced liver-injury at various doses. Hydroxyproline and retinoid levels in the liver were measured as indicators of liver function. In liver-injured rats, the hydroxyproline level in the liver (957+/- 154nmol g(-1)) was about 4.16-times that found in normal liver (230+/-11 nmol g(-1)), but administration of Sho-saiko-to extract (0.75%, 1.5% or 3%) reduced the hydroxyproline level significantly (554+/-58, 356+/-51, 374+/-66nmol g(-1), P<0.01). Single administration of the active constituents of Sho-saiko-to extract, glycyrrhizin, baicalin or baicalein, decreased the hydroxyproline level significantly compared with the ordinary food group (P < 0.05), but the decrease was smaller compared with the Sho-saiko-to extract group. The liver retinoid level was higher in the Sho-saiko-to extract group than the ordinary food group and the value increased dose-dependently. A significant negative correlation, r=-0.814 (P<0.001) was detected between the hydroxyproline level and retinoid level in the liver of liver-injured rats. Significant negative correlations, r =-0.728 (P < 0.001) and r= -0.873 (P < 0.001), were also detected between the liver hydroxyproline level and the liver concentrations of the active constituents (glycyrretic acid, baicalin and baicalein) in the liver-injured rats. From these findings, it was considered that the liver concentrations of hydroxyproline and retinoid as well as the active constituents were involved in the improvement of liver fibrosis in the liver-injured rats administered Sho-saiko-to extract. Administration of Sho-saiko-to extract inhibited collagen production while an increase in retinoid level inhibited activation of Ito cells leading to inhibition and prevention of liver fibrosis.

Authors

Egashira T. Takayama F. Yamanaka Y. Komatsu Y.

Institution

Department of Pharmacology, Oita Medical University , Hasama-machi , Japan .

Title

Monitoring of radical scavenging activity of peroral administration of the Kampo medicine Sho-saiko-to in rats.

Source

Japanese Journal of Pharmacology. 80(4):379-82, 1999 Aug.

Abstract

The Kampo medicine Sho-saiko-to scavenged superoxide anion radicals (O2-), hydroxyl radicals (*OH) and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals in a dose-dependent fashion. We attempted to investigate the transition of free radical scavenging activity in plasma after oral administration of Sho-saiko-to in rats. From the response-time profile, kinetic parameters including values for Ka (absorption rate constant), Tmax (peak concentration time), T1/2 (half life) and MRT (mean residence time) of radical scavenging activity in plasma could be calculated for the O2-, *OH and DPPH radicals. These parameters calculated from the dynamics of antioxidation are considered a very meaningful procedure to examine the effects of Sho-saiko-to.

Authors

Inoue T. Jackson EK.

Institution

Department of Internal Medicine, Daisan Hospital, Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.

Title

Strong antiproliferative effects of baicalein in cultured rat hepatic stellate cells.

Source

European Journal of Pharmacology. 378(1):129-35, 1999 Jul 28.

Abstract

Recently, antifibrogenetic effects of Sho-saiko-to, a traditional herbal medicine in Japan , have been shown in experimental hepatic fibrosis, and flavonoids in Sho-saiko-to are suspected as active ingredients. Thus, we evaluated the effects of baicalein, a major flavonoid in Sho-saiko-to, on proliferation and protein synthesis in cultured rat hepatic stellate cells. Baicalein decreased [3H]thymidine incorporation in cells stimulated with platelet-derived growth factor-B subunit homodimer (PDGF-BB) in a concentration-dependent manner (approximate ED50<10 microM, P<0.0001), and the decrease observed with 10 microM baicalein was greater than those observed with 5 microM retinol or 500 microM 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX). Baicalein consistently decreased [3H]thymidine incorporation and cell number in cells stimulated with fetal calf serum (ED50<10 microM, P<0.0001), and moderately suppressed [3H]leucine and [3H]proline incorporation (P<0.0001). These results demonstrate the strong antiproliferative effect of baicalein in hepatic stellate cells, showing the possibility of baicalein as an antifibrogenetic drug for hepatic fibrosis.

Authors

Akbar SM. Yamamoto K. Abe M. Ninomiya T. Tanimoto K. Masumoto T. Michitaka K. Horiike N. Onji M.

Institution

Third Department of Internal Medicine, Ehime University School of Medicine, Ehime , Japan . akbar@m.ehime-u.ac.jp

Title

Potent synergistic effect of sho-saiko-to, a herbal medicine, during vaccine therapy in a murine model of hepatitis B virus carrier.

Source

European Journal of Clinical Investigation. 29(9):786-92, 1999 Sep.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Traditional herbal medicine, sho-saiko-to (TJ-9), improves subjective symptoms, and a recently developed vaccine therapy reduces the viral replication in some chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV)-carriers. The study presented here considers the impact of a combination of vaccine therapy and TJ-9 and the mechanism underlying the therapeutic effect of TJ-9. MATERIALS AND METHODS: HBV-transgenic mice (HBV-Tg) expressing similar levels of HBV-related antigens and HBV DNA were used as an animal model of HBV-carrier state, and were assigned to receive either a TJ-9-enriched diet or a monthly injection of vaccine containing hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), or both, for 12 consecutive months. RESULTS: Twelve months after starting the therapy, 9% (1 of 11), 61% (11 of 18), and 100% (10 of 10) of HBV-Tg receiving only the TJ-9-treatment, only the monthly vaccine, and both the TJ-9 and vaccine, respectively, responded to therapy and became completely negative for HBsAg. Spleen lymphocytes and antigen presenting cells (APC) from TJ-9-treated HBV-Tg produced significantly higher levels of IgM, IgG and antibodies to keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) and showed significantly higher stimulatory capacity in allogenic mixed leukocyte reaction (MLR) compared with the spleen cells and APC from HBV-Tg receiving normal diet without TJ-9 (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: These data confirm the therapeutic role of TJ-9 during HBV infection and inspire optimism of a widespread use of TJ-9 during immune therapies.

Authors

Geerts A. Rogiers V.

Title

Sho-saiko-To: the right blend of traditional Oriental medicine and liver cell biology. [letter; comment].

Comments

Comment on: Hepatology. 1999 Jan;29(1):149-60

Source

Hepatology. 29(1):282-4, 1999 Jan.

Authors

Shimizu I. Ma YR. Mizobuchi Y. Liu F. Miura T. Nakai Y. Yasuda M. Shiba M. Horie T. Amagaya S. Kawada N. Hori H. Ito S.

Institution

Second Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine , University of Tokushima , Tokushima , Japan.shimizui@clin.med.tokushima-u.ac.jp

Title

Effects of Sho-saiko-to, a Japanese herbal medicine, on hepatic fibrosis in rats. [see comments].

Comments

Comment in: Hepatology. 1999 Jan;29(1):282-4

Source

Hepatology. 29(1):149-60, 1999 Jan.

Abstract

It has been shown that lipid peroxidation is associated with hepatic fibrosis and stellate cell activation. Sho-saiko-to (TJ-9) is an herbal medicine, which is commonly used to treat chronic hepatitis in Japan , although the mechanism by which TJ-9 protects against hepatic fibrosis is not known. As a result, we assayed the preventive and therapeutic effects of TJ-9 on experimental hepatic fibrosis, induced in rats by dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) or pig serum (PS), and on rat stellate cells and hepatocytes in primary culture, and assessed the antioxidative activities and the active components of TJ-9. Male Wistar rats were given a single intraperitoneal injection of 40 mg/kg DMN or 0.5 mL PS twice weekly for 10 weeks. In each model, rats were fed a basal diet throughout, or the same diet, which also contained 1.5% TJ-9, for 2 weeks before treatment or for the last 2 weeks of treatment. TJ-9 suppressed the induction of hepatic fibrosis, increased hepatic retinoids, and reduced the hepatic levels of collagen and malondialdehyde (MDA), a production of lipid peroxidation. Immunohistochemical examination showed that TJ-9 reduced the deposition of type I collagen and the number of alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) positive-stellate cells in the liver and inhibited, not only lipid peroxidation in cultured rat hepatocytes that were undergoing oxidative stress, but also the production of type I collagen, alpha-SMA expression, cell proliferation, and oxidative burst in cultured rat stellate cells. In addition, TJ-9 inhibited Fe2+/adenosine 5'-diphosphate-induced lipid peroxidation in rat liver mitochondria in a dose-dependent manner and showed radical scavenging activity. Among the active components of TJ-9, baicalin and baicalein were found to be mainly responsible for the antioxidative activity. These findings suggest that Sho-saiko-to (TJ-9) functions as a potent antifibrosuppressant by inhibition of lipid peroxidation in hepatocytes and stellate cells in vivo.