title: Evidence-based efficacy of Kampo formulas in a model of non alcoholic fatty liver.
abstract: Data on the efficacy of herbal compounds are often burdened by the lack of appropriate controls or a limited statistical power. Treatments to prevent the progression of non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) to steatohepatitis (NASH) remain unsatisfactory. A total of 56 rabbits were arrayed into 7 groups fed with standard rabbit chow (SRC), SRC with 1% cholesterol, or each of the five experimental treatments (Kampo formulas 1% keishibukuryogan [KBG], 1% orengedokuto [OGT], and 1% shosaikoto [SST]; vitamin E [VE]; or pioglitazone [PG]) in a 1% cholesterol SRC. We analyzed changes after 12 weeks in plasma and liver lipid profiles, glucose metabolism, adipocytokines, oxidative stress, and liver fibrosis. Data demonstrated that all five treatments were associated with significant amelioration of lipid profiles, oxidative stress, and liver fibrosis compared to no supplementation. KBG was superior to VE and PG in the reduction of liver total cholesterol (P < 0.01) and lipid peroxidase levels (P < 0.05), urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (P < 0.05), hepatic alpha-smooth muscle actin positive areas (P < 0.01) and activated stellate cells (P < 0.01). In conclusion, there was a statistically significant benefit of Kampo formulas (KBG in particular) on a dietary model of NAFLD/NASH. Future studies need to be directed at the mechanisms in the treatment of NASH.
authors.affiliation: Department of Japanese Oriental Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama 930-0194, Japan.
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujimoto
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsuneyama
authors.forename: Mosaburo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kainuma
authors.forename: Nobuyasu
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sekiya
authors.forename: Hirozo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Goto
authors.forename: Yasuo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takano
authors.forename: Katsutoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Terasawa
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Selmi
authors.forename: M Eric
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Gershwin
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shimada
mesh_terms: D054392:Adipokines / Q000097:blood; D000438:Alcohols; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000097:blood; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D020835:Medicine, Kampo; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D011817:Rabbits; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D054392:Adipokines; D000438:Alcohols; D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D008055:Lipids; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid