BPB : Vol. 30 (2007) , No. 3 495

An Herbal Medicine Orengedokuto Prevents Indomethacin-Induced Enteropathy

Naoko Miura¹⁾, Masato Fukutake¹⁾, Masahiro Yamamoto¹⁾, Nobuhiro Ohtake¹⁾, Seiichi Iizuka¹⁾, Sachiko Imamura¹⁾, Naoko Tsuchiya¹⁾, Makoto Ishimatsu¹⁾, Yuichi Nakamura¹⁾, Atsushi Ishige²⁾, Kenji Watanabe²⁾, Yoshio Kase¹⁾ and Shuichi Takeda¹⁾

1) Central Research Laboratories, Tsumura & Co.
2) Department of Kampo Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine

(Received October 2, 2006)
(Accepted November 28, 2006)

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is a key regulator of gastrointestinal, immunological, and mucosal homeostasis. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) inhibit the prostaglandin-producing enzyme cyclooxygenases (COXs), and can induce serious complications, such as gastrointestinal damage, with long-term treatment. Orengedokuto (OGT), a Japanese traditional herbal medicine (Kampo medicine), is effective in various animal models of enteropathy. In the present study we examined whether OGT prevents enteropathy induced by NSAIDs in mice. Ulceration in the small intestine was induced with 2 subcutaneous injections of indomethacin (20 mg/kg body weight). Orally administered OGT prevented or reduced lethality, intestinal lesions, bleeding, increased serum nitrate/nitrite levels, and reduction of mucosal PGE2 induced by indomethacin. These beneficial effects of OGT were accompanied by increased production of PGE2 and interleukin 10 by isolated lamina propria mononuclear cells; COX-2 in these cells may be a major source of PGE2 in normal intestines. These findings suggest that OGT could be an effective therapeutic agent for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease and adverse reactions to NSAIDs.

Key words

nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug; interleukin 10; herbal medicine; inflammatory bowel disease; prostaglandin E2

	To cite this article:
	Naoko Miura, Masato Fukutake, Masahiro Yamamoto, Nobuhiro Ohtake, Seiichi Iizuka, Sachiko Imamura, Naoko Tsuchiya, Makoto Ishimatsu, Yuichi Nakamura, Atsushi Ishige, Kenji Watanabe, Yoshio Kase and Shuichi Takeda, “An Herbal Medicine Orengedokuto Prevents Indomethacin-Induced Enteropathy”, Biol. Pharm. Bull., Vol. 30, 495-501 (2007) .

	doi:10.1248/bpb.30.495
	JOI JST.JSTAGE/bpb/30.495