Abstract
It is important in the evolution of Oriental medicine that the basic research results of Kampo medicines are returned to clinical cure. Recently, we established some novel assay methods using both cell biology and molecular biology to screen Kampo medicines for the prevention of cancer relapses or to assess the safety of these medicines to treat menopausal symptoms. Our basic studies using these methods brought about some new findings, as follows: (1) maoto suppresses cancer metastasis through inhibition of cancer cell motility, and (2) the medicines used to treat menopausal symptoms have estrogen-like activities and bind directly to estrogen receptors. These studies are the first steps toward applying basic research findings about Kampo medicines to clinical cure. Further basic studies are needed to examine the use of maoto for patients with cancer or to propose the safety of the medicines used to treat menopausal symptoms. We are now preparing some new ex vivo or in vivo assays in view of the clinical application of Kampo medicines.
