Kampo medicines

Yamadas group [85,86] has also taken a Japanese Kampo medicine consisting of many different plants as a starting point for identifying bioactive plant polysaccharides. They foimd in the Kampo medicine Juzen-Taiho-To, composed of many plants, several bioactive polysaccharides with effects in different test systems that may influence the immune system. A study like this can lead to the identification of the best possible source of the plants in the mixture that contain bioactive polysaccharides. 

The roots of G. uralensis Fisch et DC. have been used as a component herb in many kinds of Kampo medicines, and clinically used for the treatments of inflammation. 

Rabdosia trichocarpa (Maxim.) Hara, (Lamiaceae) is an aromatic herbal remedy used in Japan, and is used in Kampo medicine for the treatment of gastritis and stomach complaints.Extracts of this plant inhibited the growth of HP in vitro, and the active constituent, a diterpene named trichorabdal A, inhibited the growth of HP in vitro... 

Kaoru A, Masato T, Hideo S, Toshimasa O, Hiroshi S, Hiroaki N, Masao C, Hiroshi M. (1989) The existence of aldose reductase inhibitors in some kampo medicines (oriental herb prescriptions). Planta Med 55 22-26. 

Kotani, A., Kojima, S., Hakamata, H., and Kusu, R, HPLC with electrochemical detection to examine the pharmacokinetics of baicalin and baicalein in rat plasma after oral administration of a Kampo medicine. Analytical Biochemistry 350(1), 99-104, 2006. 

ZO108 Kakumu, S., K. Yoshioka, T. Wakita, and T. Ishikawa. Effects of T 09 sho-saiko to (kampo medicine) on interferon gamma and antibody production specific for hepatitis B virus antigen in patients with type B chronic hepatitis. Int J Immunopharmacol 1990 13(2/3) 141-146. 

Effects of shosaikoto (kampo medicine) on lipid metabolism in macrophages. Chem Pharm Bull 1992 40(7) 1828-1830. 

Inada, Y., K. Watanabe, M. Kamiyama, T. Kanemitsu, W. S. Clark, and M. Lange. In vitro immunomodulatory effects of traditional kampo medicine (Sho-Saiko-To SST) on peripheral mononuclear cells in patients with AIDS. Biomed Pharmacother 1990 44(1) 17-19. 

Z0346 Furukawa, M., H. Sakashita, M. Kamide, and R. Umeda. Inhibitory effects of Kampo medicine on Epstein-Barr virus antigen induction by tumor promotor. Auris-Nasus Larynx (Tokyo) 1990 17(1) 49-54. 

Takahashi K, Uejima E, Morisaki T, Takahashi K, Kurokawa N, Azuma J. In vitro inhibitory effects of Kampo medicines on metabolic reactions catalyzed by human liver microsomes. J Clin Pharm Ther 2003 28 319-327. 

All admission records of patients suspected of having liver problems related to Kampo medicines between 1979 and 1999 in a Japanese Department of Oriental Medicine were reviewed (172). There were 30 cases that were suspected of being caused by Kampo medicines. On closer examination, nine seemed to be definitely unrelated, six were probably unrelated, nine were possibly related, and six were definitely or probably related to Kampo medicines. There were no deaths on record. 

Sho-saiko-to is a so-called kampo medicine, a mixture of herbs, including Chinese date, ginger root, and licorice root. It is reportedly contraindicated in patients taking interferons, patients with liver cirrhosis or hepatoma, and patients with chronic hepatitis and a platelet count of 100 X 10 /1 (http //www.kamponews.com). Sho-saiko-to has repeatedly been imphcated in interstitial or eosinophihc pneumonias. 

Corneal opacities causing photophobia have been attributed to a Kampo medicine (174). 

A 30-year-old Japanese woman developed bilateral photophobia. There were dust-like opacities in both corneae. She had a superficial keratectomy, and electron microscopy identified the opacities as lipid-like particles. She had intermittently taken a Kampo medicine composed of 18 different herbal ingredients. Her photophobia coincided with episodes of taking this medicine. The remedy was withdrawn and her symptoms subsequently subsided. She then abstained from the Kampo medicine without recurrence. 

Hanawa T. A case of bronchial asthma with liver dysfunction caused by Kampo medicine, Saiko-keisi-kankyo-to, and recovered smoothly in general through natural course. Phytomed 2000 SII 123. 

Rhubarb contains the anthranoids, sennosides and rhein. In a study of patients taking regular doses of rhubarb-containing Kampo medicines (extracts or decoctions) and patients taking excess doses, there was tolerance to initial stimulant pain in the abdomen during excess use (24). The authors proposed that the absence of tenderness on pressure over the umbilical region could predict increasing or excess use of rhubarb. 

In 14 616 patients who used various Kampo medicines, some of which contained rhubarb, there was no association between the use of rhubarb and the development of gastric carcinoma (25). 

Mantani N, Kogure T, Sakai S, Kainuma M, Kasahara Y, Niizawa A, Shimada Y, Terasawa K. A comparative study between excess-dose users and regular-dose users of rhubarb contained in Kampo medicines. Phytomedicine 2002 9(5) 373-6. 

Mantani N, Sekiya N, Sakai S, Kogure T, Shimada Y, Terasawa K. Rhubarb use in patients treated with Kampo medicines—a risk for gastric cancer Yakugaku Zasshi 2002 122(6) 403-5. 

The use of oral immunomodulators (for example interleukin-15 and Kampo medicines) has been suggested in order to reduce irinotecan-related diarrhea however, randomized clinical trials are required, to assess efficacy (42). 

Kampo medicines may also cause liver injuries, although the incidence of these events is considered low (<1%) (Mantani et al., 2002). Those implicated include Saiko-keishi-kankyo-to (Hanawa, 2000), Sai-rei-to (Nishioji et al., 1994), Bukuryo-in-go-hange-koboku-to (Yoshikubo et al.,... 

Licorice can also induce hypokalemia and hypertension. These symptoms have been associated with the use of liquorice-flavored chewing gum (DeKlerk et al., 1997), and following its use as a tea sweetener along with the long-term consumption of licorice candy, hypokalemic paralysis developed (Elinav and Chajek-Shaul, 2003). In the kampo medicine shakuyaku kanzou tou, it induced symptoms of pseudoaldosteronism (Kanda et al., 2004). 

Kampo. Clinical evidence has demonstrated the potential usefulness of traditional herbal formulations called Kampo medicines, such as chotosan (CTS) and yokukansan (YKS), in dementia. Ingredients of Uncariae Uncis cum Rumulus, a medicinal herb included in CTS and YKS, may play an important role in the actions of these formulae in dementia patients [217],... 

Iron Dextran Complex Insulin Interferon-a2b Interleukin-2 Interleukin-6 Iodoacetate Irinotecan Iron chelate Isosafrole Itraconazole Ivermectin Ixabepilone Jateorhizine Jatrorrhizine Josamycin K02 (morpholine-urea-Phe-Hphe-vinylsulfone) KP018 K-2-11 (amphiphilic dihydropyridine antioxidant derivative) Kaempferol Kampo medicines Kansui Kava kava (Piper methysticum) ... 

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