Effect of TJ-68 (shakuyaku-kanzo-to) on polycystic ovarian disease.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of an herbal medicine, Shakuyaku-Kanzo-To (TJ-68), on endocrine variables in patients with polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD).


METHODS
Medical university hospital.


METHODS
Thirty-four Japanese women with PCOD were treated daily with 7.5 g of TJ-68 for 24 weeks. Testosterone (T), free-testosterone (free-T), sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), LH, FSH, estrone, 17 beta-estradiol, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol (DOPEG), and 3, 4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) were examined.


RESULTS
No side effects were observed in any cases. At 4 weeks after initiation of treatment, serum T and free-T levels significantly decreased, while SHBG was not significantly elevated. Meanwhile, after 12 weeks of treatment, the mean serum T level of the patients who became pregnant decreased to 35% of that before the treatment, but levels did not change in the patients who failed to conceive. There was no significant difference in estrone/estradiol ratio before and after treatment, but the estradiol/testosterone ratio increased significantly after 4 weeks of treatment. The LH/FSH ratio after 24 weeks of treatment was significantly lower than that before treatment. DOPEG and the DOPEG/DOPAC ratio significantly decreased after 4 weeks of treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
It is suggested that TJ-68 acts directly on the ovary first, increasing the activity of aromatase, which promotes the synthesis of estradiol from testosterone, thus lowering serum T levels. Furthermore, the effect on catecholamines results in gradually improving the dissociate phenomenon of LH/FSH ratio. Therefore, TJ-68 is an effective herbal medicine for decreasing serum free-T levels and achieving pregnancy in patients with PCOD.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shimane Medical University, Izumo, Japan.
K
K
Takahashi
M
M
Kitao
D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid / Q000097:blood; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006035:Glycyrrhiza; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D029596:Paeonia; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000378:metabolism; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D004338:Drug Combinations; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D004967:Estrogens; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; C038462:shakuyaku-kanzoh-toh; D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid; D013739:Testosterone; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; C010117:3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol