title: Rikkunshi-to raises levels of somatostatin and gastrin in human plasma.
abstract: Rikkunshi-to, a traditional Chinese (Kampo) medicine, has been used to treat chronic hypofunctions of the gastrointestinal tract. The effects of Rikkunshi-to on the plasma levels of gut-regulated peptide (somatostatin, motilin, gastrin, and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)) levels were studied in healthy subjects. A single oral administration of Rikkunshi-to caused significant increases in plasma somatostatin and gastrin levels at 60 to 240 min compared with a placebo group. On the other hand, this medicine showed no effects on motilin and VIP levels. In conclusion, these results might indicate that the pharmacological action of Rikkunshi-to is closely related to changes in somatostatin- and gastrin-immunoreactive substance levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Oita Medical University, Hasamu-machi, Japan. naitou@oita-med.ac.jp
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Naito
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Itoh
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yasunaga
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takeyama
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005755:Gastrins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D009037:Motilin / Q000097:blood; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000097:blood*; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D005755:Gastrins; C084136:liu-jun-zi-tang; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D013004:Somatostatin; D009037:Motilin