title: Rikkunshito, a traditional Japanese medicine, suppresses cisplatin-induced anorexia in humans.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Rikkunshito on ghrelin secretion and on cisplatin-induced anorexia in humans.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was performed as a crossover design, and ten unresectable or relapsed gastric cancer patients were randomly divided into two groups. Group A (n = 5) was started on Rikkunshito (2.5 g three times daily, orally) from the first course of chemotherapy and followed by a second course without Rikkunshito. A treatment with reversed order was performed for Group B (n = 5). All patients received combined chemotherapy with S-1 plus cisplatin. The primary endpoint was the amount of oral intake, and the categories of scales of anorexia, nausea, and vomiting; secondary endpoints included the plasma concentration of acylated ghrelin.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the Rikkunshito-on period, no decrease of the plasma concentration of acylated ghrelin induced by cisplatin was observed. The average oral intake in the Rikkunshito-on period was significantly larger than that in the Rikkunshito-off period, and the grade of anorexia was significantly lower in the Rikkunshito-on period than in the Rikkunshito-off period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rikkunshito appeared to prevent anorexia induced by cisplatin, resulting in effective prophylactic administration of chemotherapy with cisplatin, and patients could continue their treatments on schedule.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgical Science, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan.
authors.forename: Tetsuro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ohno
authors.forename: Mitsuhiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yanai
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ando
authors.forename: Yoshitaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Toyomasu
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ogawa
authors.forename: Hiroki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Morita
authors.forename: Kyoichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ogata
authors.forename: Erito
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mochiki
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Asao
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kuwano