Inhibition of collagen production by traditional Chinese herbal medicine in scleroderma fibroblast cultures.
The in vitro effect of one traditional Chinese herbal medicine (Japanese name: "Keishi-bukuryo-gan"), which has been empirically used in scleroderma patients in China and Japan, on collagen production in fibroblast cultures was studied. Fibroblasts from 3 scleroderma patients and 2 normal controls were incubated with various concentrations of "Keishi-bukuryo-gan" and collagen production was then determined by a radiochemical method. "Keishi-bukuryo-gan" significantly and selectively inhibited collagen synthesis in a dose-dependent manner, with a tendency of a stronger effect on scleroderma fibroblasts than control cells. The results may explain the clinical usefulness of this medicine, and it may become a promising new agent for the treatment of scleroderma.
Sheng
F Y
FY
Department of Internal Medicine, Saga Medical School.
Ohta
A
A
Yamaguchi
M
M
D000328:Adult; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003094:Collagen / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D003094:Collagen