An open-label study of administration of EH0202, a health-food additive, to patients with chronic hepatitis C.
BACKGROUND
In this study, we examined the effect of EH0202, a mixture of four herbal extracts that are known to induce interferons, on hepatitis C virus (HCV)-RNA levels in patients with chronic hepatitis C.


METHODS
This was an open-label uncontrolled study. The study subjects ingested food containing EH0202 daily for 3 months, which was equivalent to 1 g of desiccated herbs daily. Clinical symptoms, hematology and biochemical examinations, urine, and HCV-RNA levels were examined before, during (1 month), and after the EH0202 treatment (3 months).


RESULTS
Among the 35 patients who successfully completed the study, there were improvements in malaise (seen in 6 patients before and in 2 after EH0202 treatment), bloating sensation in the abdomen (seen in 2 before and in none after treatment), and nausea and vomiting (seen in 2 before and in 1 after treatment). There were no changes in hematology or biochemical examination parameters. There was a statistically significant decrease in HCV-RNA levels in patients with high viral titers after 3 months of EH0202 administration. No serious adverse events were observed with the EH0202 treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that EH0202 may be safe and useful in the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C. Further studies are, however, needed to obtain a definitive conclusion.
Kaji
Kyosuke
K
Department of Gastroenterology, Kanazawa University Hospital, Ishikawa, Japan.
Yoshida
Satoshi
S
Nagata
Nobuo
N
Yamashita
Tatsuya
T
Mizukoshi
Eishiro
E
Honda
Masao
M
Kojima
Yasuhiko
Y
Kaneko
Shuichi
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D031187:Carthamus tinctorius; D028464:Cucurbita; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D031239:Lonicera; D008297:Male; D020835:Medicine, Kampo; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010943:Plantago; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D019562:Viral Load
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D012367:RNA, Viral