title: Mechanisms by which Hange-shashin-to reduces prostaglandin E2 levels.
abstract: To determine the mechanisms by which Hange-shashin-to (TJ-14) reduces prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) levels, the effects on blood corticosterone levels were examined in vivo and the effects on cyclooxygenase (COX) activity in vitro assessed. TJ-14, orally administered to rats at dose levels between 125 and 1000 mg/kg, caused a dose-dependent increase in blood corticosterone levels. We also showed that Glycyrrhizae Radix and Ginseng Radix, constituents of TJ-14, are involved in the increase in blood corticosterone. The activity of COX-1 was not inhibited by TJ-14 even at a dose of 1000 microg/ml, while COX-2 was inhibited at dose levels between 10 and 1000 microg/ml. The constituents Scutellariae Radix, Glycyrrhizae Radix and Coptidis Rhizoma were believed to be involved in COX-2 inhibition. These results suggest that the effect of TJ-14 in decreasing PGE2 is partially mediated by corticosterone and inhibition of COX-2.
authors.affiliation: Kampo Pharmacology Department II, Tsumura & Co., Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kase
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Saitoh
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ishige
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Komatsu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood*; D051545:Cyclooxygenase 1; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000378:metabolism*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D007527:Isoenzymes; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C088236:hange-shashinto; D051545:Cyclooxygenase 1; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; C496513:Ptgs1 protein, rat; D015232:Dinoprostone; D003345:Corticosterone