Comprehensive evaluation of antioxidant effects of Japanese Kampo medicines led to identification of Tsudosan formulation as a potent antioxidant agent

Chronic Atopic Dermatitis with Eosinophilia Improved by Daesiho-Tang: A Case Report

Purpose

This study is to report a case of chronic atopic dermatitis (AD) with eosinophilia, which did not respond to conventional therapy and was improved by Daesiho-tang (DSHT).

Patients and Methods

The patient visited our clinic with symptoms of atopic dermatitis including skin lesions and pruritus. Based on her symptoms, DSHT was prescribed. At each visit, the Scoring Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD), Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), and accompanying systemic symptoms (ASS) were measured. Multiple Allergen Simultaneous Test (MAST) was initially performed for 108 allergens and analyzed by Western blotting using an Alternate Scoring Method (ASM) according to the specific IgE concentration. Also, peripheral blood laboratory (Lab) tests were performed three times during the patient's visit.

Results

After taking DSHT, the total SCORAD score improved from 62.9 to 23.5, while the patient's ASS also improved. The DLQI score improved from 19 to 5. The total number of eosinophils in the peripheral blood, which showed a mild increase, recovered from 17.2% (0.98 x103/μL) to 4.5% (0.24 x103/μL). The total IgE slightly decreased, while AST and ALT were also restored to normal ranges.

Conclusion

Based on this case, DSHT is considered a potential alternative treatment for AD.

LC-MS Profiling of Kakkonto and Identification of Ephedrine as a Key Component for Its Anti-Glycation Activity

A total of 147 oral Kampo prescriptions, which are used clinically in Japan, were evaluated for their anti-glycation activity. Kakkonto demonstrated significant anti-glycation activity, prompting further analysis of its chemical constituents using LC-MS, which revealed the presence of two alkaloids, fourteen flavonoids, two but-2-enolides, five monoterpenoids, and four triterpenoid glycosides. To identify the components responsible for its anti-glycation activity, the Kakkonto extract was reacted with glyceraldehyde (GA) or methylglyoxal (MGO) and analyzed using LC-MS. In LC-MS analysis of Kakkonto reacted with GA, the peak intensity of ephedrine was attenuated, and three products from ephedrine-scavenging GA were detected. Similarly, LC-MS analysis of Kakkonto reacted with MGO revealed two products from ephedrine reacting with MGO. These results indicated that ephedrine was responsible for the observed anti-glycation activity of Kakkonto. Ephedrae herba extract, which contains ephedrine, also showed strong anti-glycation activity, further supporting ephedrine's contribution to Kakkonto's reactive carbonyl species' scavenging ability and anti-glycation activity.

Protective effects of hachimijiogan (HJG), a Japanese Kampo medicine, on cancer cachectic muscle wasting in mice

Myogenesis is required to generate skeletal muscle tissue and to maintain skeletal muscle mass. Decreased myogenesis under various pathogenic conditions results in muscular atrophy. Through a small screening of Japanese traditional (Kampo) medicines, hachimijiogan (HJG) was shown to promote the myogenic differentiation of C2C12 myoblasts through the upregulation of myogenin. In tumor-bearing cancer-cachectic mice, HJG was also found to have a protective effect against cancer-cachectic muscle wasting. This effect was significant when HJG was administered in combination with aerobic exercise by treadmill running. Moreover, HJG ameliorated the cellular atrophy of C2C12 myotubes induced by treatment with conditioned medium derived from a colon-26 cancer cell culture. In addition, HJG suppressed H2O2-dependent myotube atrophy, suggesting that HJG could reverse the atrophic phenotypes by eliminating reactive oxygen species.

Synthesis, Radical-Scavenging Activities, and Protective Effects against AAPH-Induced Oxidative Damage in DNA and Erythrocytes of Piperine Derivatives

Piperine amino acid derivatives containing phenolic hydroxyl groups were synthesized using piperine as the raw material by amide hydrolysis, amidation, ester hydrolysis, and deacetalization. The obtained products were characterized by mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance. The antioxidant activity of the piperine derivatives was evaluated by the DPPH and ABTS scavenging rates and the total antioxidant capacity. The results showed that the piperine amino acid (4a–4d) had relatively weak radical-scavenging ability, while the piperine amino acid derivatives (5a–5d) containing phenolic hydroxyl groups had significant radical-scavenging effects. In addition, the total reducing ability of 5a–5d was better than that of piperine. The study also found that piperine derivatives containing phenolic hydroxyl groups played an important role in inhibiting oxidative damage in DNA and erythrocytes.

Screening of Crude Drugs Used in Japanese Kampo Formulas for Autophagy-Mediated Cell Survival of the Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Line

Background: Autophagy is a catabolic process through which dysfunctional proteins and organelles are degraded, and that is associated with the proliferation of cancer cells. The aim of this study was to screen approximately 130 kinds of crude drugs used in Japanese Kampo formulas to identify crude drugs that would regulate the proliferation through autophagy of human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells. Methods: Extracts of each crude drug were prepared using methanol. Protein levels were determined using Western blotting. Cell viability was measured by MTT assay. Results: Among the 130 crude extracts, 24 of them increased LC3-II expression. Among these, Goboshi (burdock fruit), Soboku (sappan wood), Mokko (saussurea root), Rengyo (forsythia fruit), and Hikai (dioscorea) notably suppressed the proliferation of HepG2 cells and increased p62 expression levels, which suggested that these five extracts downregulate the autophagic activity resulting in the accumulation of p62. On the other hand, Hishinomi (water chestnut), Biwayo (loquat leaf), and Binroji (areca) induced cell growth and decreased or were uninvolved with p62 expression levels, which implied that these three extracts might induce autophagy modulators for cell growth. Conclusions: The results suggest that the compounds contained in the crude drugs selected for this study could control cell viability by regulating autophagic activity in HepG2 cells. The isolation and identification of the active compounds in these drugs might lead to the development of agents for autophagy research and cancer chemoprevention.