[Shichimotsu-koka-to prevents stroke and changes free-radical-related enzymes in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP)].
Shichimotsu-koka-to, a Chinese herb, is a medicine prescribed to treat patients with hypertension. We investigated the effects of Shichimotsu-koka-to on the lesions of stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP). The SHRSP were given 1% or 2% Shichimotsu-koka-to solution (1 g/kg/day or 2 g/kg/day) instead of drinking water from 8 to 42 weeks of age. When the 2 g/kg/day Shichimotsu-koka-to was chronically administered to the SHRSP, their life span was significantly prolonged by prevention of stroke, but there was no effect on blood pressure. The Shichimotsu-koka-to treatment decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities in the cytosol of the cerebral cortex and increased SOD activities in the cytosol of the brain stem. The treatment with 2 g/kg/day Shichimotsu-koka-to decreased xanthine oxidase (XOD) activities in the cytosol of the cerebral cortex, and Shichimotsu-koka-to quenched superoxide anion (O2-) as determined by electron spin resonance analysis in vitro. In addition, SOD activities in the cytosol of the cerebral cortex of SHRSP not administered Shichimotsu-koka-to were increased by the drug in vitro. XOD activities in the cytosol of the cerebral cortex of SHRSP not administered Shichimotsu-koka-to were inhibited by this herb in vitro. These results suggest that these preventive effects of Shichimotsu-koka-to on the stroke in SHRSP are due its ability to scavenge O2- and to inhibit O2- production by the hypoxanthine-XOD system in the cytosol of the cerebral cortex.
Higuchi
Y
Y
Department of Nutrition Science, University of East Asia, Yamaguchi, Japan.
Yamashita
K
K
Taniyama
K
K
Satake
M
M
Ozaki
M
M
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011918:Rats, Inbred SHR; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism*; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism; D014969:Xanthine Oxidase / Q000378:metabolism*
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D005609:Free Radicals; D013481:Superoxides; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D014969:Xanthine Oxidase