Kobayashi, Takao

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection frequently causes chronic hepatitis, which is linked to the development of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Most physicians who practice Kampo medicine in Japan have observed that Kampo medicine can be as effective as interferon therapy in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C. In the present study, to evaluate the effect of Kampo medicine on chronic hepatitis C, clinical treatment was assessed in short-term and long-term study, and it was shown that Ninjin-yoei-to (Formula ginseng compositae: TJ-108 was very effective. Therefore, to find the most active herbal component of TJ-108, in the treatment of HCV, Citrus Unshiu Peel, Schisandra Fruit, and Polygala Root, which are specific to TJ-108, were screened using an in vitro HCV infection model. Among the three herbs, Schisandra Fruit was found to be most active. In the next step, Gomisin A, an active component of Schisandra Fruit, was studied using an in vitro model with MOLT-4 cells and an animnal model of immunologically induced acute hepatic failures. It is concluded that the therapeutic effect of TJ-108 on chronic hepatitis C is from the inhibitory effect on HCV infection, and also from the protective effect on immunological hepatopathy of Schisandra Fruit and its lignan component, Gomisin A.

To determine the possibility of new applications of Oriental medicines, we examined the changes in water metabolism of mice that underwent microgravity and were treated with Kampo medicines. Male ICR mice were used in this experiment. Eight extracts of Kampo herbal medicines were dissolved in water and added to the drinking water administered to mice at 1 g/kg body weight for two days. The microgravity experiment was performed at the Japan Microgravity Center. We used a drop-shaft type microgravity experimental system with a free fall of 490 m. Before the drop, 7 ml of physiological saline was injected intraperitoneally. Under fasting and dehydration, body weights were measured and loss of body weight was calculated as urine. Blood samples were collected 24 hours after the microgravity experiment, and the antidiuretic hormone (ADH) in plasma related to water metabolism was measured by the radioimmunoassay (RIA) method. Heat shock protein in the spleen was measured by the enzyme-linked immunosolvent assay (ELISA) method. In the Hachimi-jio-gan and Hochu-ekki-to groups in microgravity, a decrease of urine was observed, which significantly suppressed the increase of ADH due to microgravity. Hachimi-jio-gan reduced the content of heat shock protein (HSP) 70 in the spleen. It is suggested that Hachimi-jio-gan and Hochu-ekki-to could be used as water metabolism adjustment reagents in a space environment. Furthermore, it is suggested that Hachimi-jio-gan could ease the stresses caused by microgravity. The physiological changes resulting from a microgravity environment are serious problems for space flight. Pre-treatment with Kampo medicines is expected to prevent, ease and treat these problems.