Effect of the combination of ginseng, oriental bezoar and glycyrrhiza on autonomic nervous activity and immune system under mental arithmetic stress.
BACKGROUND
Stress reduces physical and mental tolerances (immune potential) of humans and it induces progression of existing illness or causes latent disorders to become active. Thus, the control and suppression of stress plays an important role in the improvement of quality of life and prevention of diseases. Ginseng, oriental bezoar and glycyrrhiza have been used for Kampo (herbal treatment) for thousand years and a number of pharmacological and clinical studies have reported their effects. However, it has not been previously described how the combination of these most commonly used herbs affect mental stress.


OBJECTIVE
This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled experiment to examine the effectiveness of reducing stress response by taking Kampo. Ten healthy males (mean age 27+/-1) participated in the study. The effectiveness of stress reduction was assessed by measuring ECG, salivary chromogranin A (CgA), blood glucose, WBC, granulocytes, lymphocytes, NK cell activity, etc. Salivary and blood measurement values of pre- and post-mental arithmetic stress were compared. In addition, ECG measurement values of pre- and mid-mental arithmetic stress were compared.


RESULTS
we observed a higher HF power and a lower SNS index, HR, CgA, WBC and granulocytes in the Kampo trial than those in the placebo trial. The HR, HF power and SNS index were changed significantly (p<0.05) and CgA, WBC and granulocytes tended to show some differences between the two trials (p<0.1). However, blood glucose, lymphocytes, and NK cell activity showed no significant differences between the Kampo and placebo trials.


CONCLUSIONS
The result suggests that the Kampo should be useful in reducing mental stress.
Zheng
Aisong
A
Laboratory of Applied Physiology, Graduate School of Human and Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
Moritani
Toshio
T
D000328:Adult; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects*; D001630:Bezoars; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects; D053379:Chromogranin A / Q000187:drug effects; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000187:drug effects; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006035:Glycyrrhiza; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008433:Mathematics; D020835:Medicine, Kampo; D005894:Panax; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods; D012016:Reference Values; D012463:Saliva / Q000187:drug effects; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D013334:Students
D001786:Blood Glucose; D053379:Chromogranin A; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal