Abstract
This study investigates the effects of eight Kampo medicines, Sho-saiko-to, Dai-saiko-to, Oren-gedoku-to, Sanmotsu-ogon-to, Juzen-taiho-to, Kihi-to, Toki-shakuyaku-san, Choto-san on fasting-induced tissue LPO (lipid peroxide) and NO (nitric oxide) formation in the liver, kidney, heart, and brain of mice. Six-week-old male CDF1 mice were used for the experiment. Measurements were made on amounts of LPO, SOD (superoxide dismutase), GSH-Px (glutathione peroxidase) and NO caused from fasting stress. Before experimenting with the Kampo medicines, we investigated the effect of fasting on LPO formation in the liver, kidney, and brain in mice. LPO formation in the liver, kidney, and brain by the fasting stress showed a maximum level after the second day of fasting. The increases of NO in the liver, kidney, and heart showed the same results. Therefore, in this experiment, the activities in LPO, SOD, GSH-Px, NO were measured from mice organs after 2 days of fasting. The mice had oral administration of the Kampo medicines once a day for four days, before the removal of the organs. Under fasting conditions, the elevation of LPO in liver tissues could be suppressed by the use of, Dai-saiko-to, Oren-gedoku-to, Sanmotsu-ogon-to, Juzen-taiho-to, Kihi-to, Choto-san. For kidney and brain tissues, elevations of LPO were suppressed by all eight Kampo medicines. In heart tissues, elevations of LPO were suppressed by all Kampo medicines except Choto-san. Because effects of Kampo could not be seen on the antioxidant enzymes SOD and GSH-Px, it can be concluded that suppression of the LPO comes from the antioxidants contained in the Kampo. We have shown that fasting-induced NO formation in organs of mice is suppressed to various degrees by treatment with eight Kampo medicines. These findings suggest that Kampo medicines reduce the effect of NO radicals. From these results it can be said that these Kampo medicines have antioxidative effects and can reduce radical-induced injury in various disease states.
