[Pharmacological studies on the clathrate compound of mobenzoxamine with beta-cyclodextrin. (I). Effects on the digestive system]

The role of inflammasomes in human diseases and their potential as therapeutic targets

Inflammasomes are large protein complexes that play a major role in sensing inflammatory signals and triggering the innate immune response. Each inflammasome complex has three major components: an upstream sensor molecule that is connected to a downstream effector protein such as caspase-1 through the adapter protein ASC. Inflammasome formation typically occurs in response to infectious agents or cellular damage. The active inflammasome then triggers caspase-1 activation, followed by the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines and pyroptotic cell death. Aberrant inflammasome activation and activity contribute to the development of diabetes, cancer, and several cardiovascular and neurodegenerative disorders. As a result, recent research has increasingly focused on investigating the mechanisms that regulate inflammasome assembly and activation, as well as the potential of targeting inflammasomes to treat various diseases. Multiple clinical trials are currently underway to evaluate the therapeutic potential of several distinct inflammasome-targeting therapies. Therefore, understanding how different inflammasomes contribute to disease pathology may have significant implications for developing novel therapeutic strategies. In this article, we provide a summary of the biological and pathological roles of inflammasomes in health and disease. We also highlight key evidence that suggests targeting inflammasomes could be a novel strategy for developing new disease-modifying therapies that may be effective in several conditions.

Effect of the rhizomes of Atractylodes lancea and its constituents on the delay of gastric emptying

The effect of rhizomes of Atractylodes lancea on gastric disorders, in particular, the delay in gastric emptying induced by N(G)-nitro-L-arginine in rats, was investigated. Intragastric treatment with an aqueous extract (250 mg/kg) and its lipophilic fractions (4 mg/kg) significantly improved delayed gastric emptying. The major constituents of the lipophilic fraction were two sesquiterpens, hinesol and beta-eudesmol, and four known polyacetylenic compounds, atractylodin, atractylodinol, acetylatractylodinol and 4,6,12-tetradecatriene-8,10-diyne-1,3,14-triol. The activity was found in the four polyacetylenic compounds at a similar potency, but not in the two sesquiterpens. To clarify the effect of the four polyacetylenic compounds in this extract, we attempted to evaluate the activity of atractylodin, as representative, at a dose of 0.2 mg/kg based on the total amounts (0.2 mg/250 mg aqueous extract) of the four polyacetylenic compounds. In addition, atractylodin improved the delay in gastric emptying at between 0.1 and 0.3 mg/kg in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that the aqueous extract improved the delayed gastric emptying, and polyacetylenic compounds contributed to its activity.

Pharmacological characteristics of Ryokan-kyomi-shinge-nin-to, an antiallergic Kampo medicine

The pharmacological characteristics of Ryokan-kyomi-shinge-nin-to (RKS), a traditional oriental herbal (Kampo) medicine which has been used for the treatment of allergic asthma and rhinitis, were investigated. The number of sneezes by actively sensitized mice after a topical antigen challenge was significantly reduced by pretreatment with RKS (300 and 1000 mg/kg, p.o.). Although RKS did not inhibit the antigen-induced histamine release from rat peritoneal exudate cells (PEC), it significantly inhibited an increase in vascular permeability induced by histamine and serotonin. These results suggest that RKS has antiallergic activity in animals, and the functional antagonism of a histamine response may be one of the mechanisms of its effect. In addition, RKS prevented histamine hypersensitivity in actively sensitized mice. Because RKS did not affect sleeping time induced by pentobarbital in mice and did not inhibit gastric emptying in rats, the drug appears to be useful for treating allergic patients suffering from classical antihistamines side effects such as stomach discomfort or relative drowsiness.

Studies on interactions between traditional herbal and western medicines. V. effects of Sho-saiko-to (Xiao-Cai-hu-Tang) on the pharmacokinetics of carbamazepine in rats

The possibility of pharmacokinetic interactions between Sho-saiko-to extract powder (TJ-9), the most widely used traditional Chinese herbal (Kampo) medicine in Japan, and carbamazepine (CBZ), an important anti-epileptic drug, was examined in rats. There was no significant difference in the protein binding of CBZ in serum obtained before and after the single oral administration of TJ-9. The addition of TJ-9 to normal hepatic microsomes inhibited CBZ-10,11-epoxylase activity in a concentration-dependent manner. Liver weight, amounts of P450 and cytochrome b(5) in hepatic microsomes and the formation of carbamazepine-10,11-epoxide (CBZ-E), an active metabolite of CBZ, by microsomes were not influenced by 2-week repeated oral pretreatment with TJ-9 (1 g/kg/d), although pretreatments with phenobarbital (80 mg/kg/d, i.p.) significantly increased these parameters. The simultaneous oral administration of TJ-9 (1 g/kg) significantly decreased the peak plasma concentration of CBZ and the area under the concentration-time curve of CBZ-E, and lengthened the time to reach the peak concentration of CBZ after oral administration of CBZ. Two-week repeated oral pretreatment with TJ-9, however, did not affect the plasma concentration-time profile or any pharmacokinetic parameter of CBZ or CBZ-E. Also, a single oral administration of TJ-9 (1 g/kg) significantly delayed gastric emptying. These results indicated that the simultaneous oral administration of TJ-9 with CBZ to rats decreased the gastrointestinal absorption of CBZ, at least in part, by delaying gastric emptying, without affecting the metabolism of CBZ.

Pharmacological evaluation of Shokyo and Kankyo (1)

Zingiberis Rhizoma (Shokyo, [Japanese characters: see text]) showed significant ameliorative effect on the BaCl2-induced delay of gastric emptying in rat. Bioassay-guided fractionation of the aqueous extract of Shokyo resulted in isolation of 6-gingesulfonic acid (1) and shogasulfonic acid A (3). These compounds significantly improved the delay of gastric emptying on both BaCl2-induced and N(G)-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA)-induced model in rat. Zingiberis Siccatum Rhizoma (Kankyo, [Japanese characters: see text]) had significant efficacy against castor oil-induced diarrhea. In addition, Kankyo showed the activity increasing intestinal blood flow in normal rat.