Effect of Gomisin A (TJN-101) on liver regeneration.

We studied the effect of TJN-101, a lignan component of Schisandra fruits (Schisandrae fructus), on liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy. TJN-101 was given orally to male Wistar rats 30 min before partial hepatectomy. The mitotic index and the level of DNA synthesis increased after partial hepatectomy and their increase was significantly enhanced by TJN-101. Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity increased in the early stages of liver regeneration and it was also significantly enhanced by TJN-101. Besides, TJN-101 enhanced the increase in hepatic putrescine. These results suggest that TJN-101 stimulates liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy by enhancing ODC activity, which is an important biochemical event in the early stages of liver regeneration.

Mitogenic and complement activating activities of the herbal components of juzen-taiho-to.

The Kampo (Japanese herbal) medicine "Juzen-Taiho-To" (TJ-48), which was prepared by decocting a concoction (formula), contains ten kinds of herbs and has several immunostimulating activities. In order to determine the contribution of each herbal component, the complement-activating and mitogenic activities of the hot water extract as well as the polysaccharide fraction from each herb were tested. Hot water extracts of Glycyrrhizae radix, Astragali radix, and Atractylodes lanceae rhizoma showed significant mitogenic activity whereas that of Cinnamomi cortex showed potent complement-activating activity. However, the exclusion of any single component herb whether active or not on its own did not result in a loss or an increase of the overall activity of TJ-48. The polysaccharide fraction from Glycyrrhizae radix showed the most potent of both activities among the same fractions from the other nine herbs, and reduced both activities after periodate oxidation, thus indicating that the carbohydrate moiety may contribute to both activities.

Characterization of mitogenic pectic polysaccharides from kampo (Japanese herbal) medicine "juzen-taiho-to".

The acidic polysaccharide fraction (F-5-2) from "Juzen-Taiho-To" (TJ-48), a Kampo (Japanese herbal) medicine prepared by decocting a prescription of 10 kinds of herbs, has potent mitogenic activity. In order to clarify the mitogenic activity, F-5-2 was fractionated by amon-exchange chromatography, and 14 acidic polysaccharide fractions were obtained. Mitogenic activities of these polysaccharides were increasing with their molecular masses and affinities to the anion-exchange column. Methylation analysis and endo-alpha-(1----4)-polygalacturonase digestion showed these polysaccharide fractions to be pectic polysaccharides, many of which consisted mainly of polygalacturonan regions in addition to small amounts of "ramified" regions. Gel filtration showed that the molecular masses of the "ramified" regions of the polysaccharides were similar. High molecular mass polygalacturonic acid showed a weak mitogenic activity. The mitogenic (M-1 and M-2) and non-mitogenic (M-3) polysaccharides from the most active polysaccharide fraction (F-5-2IIh) were further purified by gel filtration. M-2 and M-3 were also shown to be pectic polysaccharides, and the neutral glycosidic linkages in M-2 and M-3 were different from each other. Endopolygalacturonase digestion markedly decreased the mitogenic activity of M-2, however, the "ramified" region of M-2 still showed a weak activity.

Fractionation and characterization of mitogenic and anti-complementary active fractions from kampo (Japanese Herbal) medicine "juzen-taiho-to".

"Juzen-Taiho-To" (TJ-48), which is a kampo (Japanese herbal) medicine prepared by decocting a prescription of ten kinds of herbs, has several immunostimulating activities. In order to characterize the active substances for anti-complementary and mitogenic activities, TJ-48 was fractionated. Anti-complementary activity was observed in the water- and methanol-insoluble fraction (F-2) and the crude polysaccharide fraction (F-5), whereas mitogenic activity was only found in F-5. However, other low molecular mass fractions did not show both activities. Methylation analysis indicated that F-2 mainly contained amylopectin-like polysaccharides. Both Pronase digestion and periodate oxidation decreased the anti-complementary activity of F-2, and the beta-amylase-resistant fraction of F-2 still retained the potent anti-complementary activity. When F-5, which has the most potent of both activities, was further fractionated, only the major acidic polysaccharide fraction, F-5-2, showed potent mitogenic activity. Endo-alpha-(1----4)-polygalacturonase digestion showed that F-5-2 mainly contained pectic polysaccharides, and the endo-polygalacturonase treatment of F-5-2 reduced the mitogenic activity but not the anti-complementary activity. F-2 and F-5 each activated the complement system by a different mode of action.

Effects of juzen-taiho-toh (TJ-48), a traditional Oriental medicine, on hematopoietic recovery from radiation injury in mice.

Effects of Juzen-taiho-toh (TJ-48) on the recovery of hemopoietic systems from radiation injury are analyzed. Female C57BL/6N mice (6-8 weeks old) were irradiated at doses of 1, 2, 3, 5, or 7 Gy from a 60Co source. After irradiation, the mice were given TJ-48 (1.25 g in 100 ml drinking water). Seven days after irradiation, the mice were sacrificed, and bone marrow (both femurs), thymus, spleen, and peripheral blood counts were made. The bone marrow cells were used for fibroblast colony-forming unit (CFU-f), spleen colony-forming unit (CFU-S), granulocyte-macrophage colony-forming unit (CFU-GM), erythroid colony-forming unit (CFU-E), and erythroid burst-forming unit (BFU-E) assays. No difference was observed between the experimental and control groups except for CFU-S counts. In the assay for day-14 CFU-S, the mice injected with TJ-48-treated bone marrow cells showed better general condition (including increased body weight) and heavier spleens with larger and more numerous colonies. The effect of TJ-48 does not seem to be elicited via the hemopoietic microenvironment, because mice that had been given TJ-48 before irradiation at 8 Gy and then injected with syngeneic bone marrow cells did not show enhanced day-14 CFU-S counts. These results suggest that TJ-48 manifests a radioprotective effect by increasing the number and size of day-14 CFU-S.

[Basal studies on combination of Chinese medicine in cancer chemotherapy: protective effects on the toxic side effects of CDDP and antitumor effects with CDDP on murine bladder tumor (MBT-2)].

Effects of oral administration of Juzentaihoto, a herb drug, on the toxic side effects of cis-diammine dichloroplatinum (CDDP) and combination effects with CDDP on murine bladder tumor (MBT 2) were studied using C3H/He male mice. The following results were obtained; 1. When the mice were treated with the mixture diet of 1% or 0.5% Juzentaihoto before 2 weeks, adverse effects of high dose CDDP (15 or 17.5 mg/kg) which were included with lethal toxicity, renal and hepatic toxicity, and myelosuppression were protected significantly. The administration of 0.5% Juzentaihoto mixture diet markedly shifted the LD50 to the right. Furthermore, the effects of Juzentaihoto were clearly revealed on the histological findings of testis and kidney. 2. On murine bladder tumor, when the mice were treated with the mixture diet of 1% or 0.5% Juzentaihoto and injected CDDP (2.5 mg/kg/week) for 8 weeks, significantly greater inhibition of the tumor growth and prolongation of the survival rate were observed than those in the group of CDDP alone. These results indicates that Juzentaihoto lessens the toxic side effects of CDDP and that it enhances the effects of CDDP experimentally. Juzentaihoto, a kind of Chinese herb medicine, might come under the category of biological response modifiers.

[Protective effects of the Chinese medicine Juzentaiho-to from the adverse effects of mitomycin C and cisplatin].

Some Chinese medicines in Japan have been reported to have not only antitumour effects, but also to offer protection from the adverse effects of anti-tumour agents. However, there is controversy regarding the protective effects of such Chinese medicines against the adverse effects of anti-tumour agents, in this study, we examined the effects of Tsumura Juzentaiho-to (TJ-48) on the toxicity of mitomycin C (MMC) and cisplatin (CDDP). Both the pre-administration of TJ-48 a single time and for seven days shifted the dose response curve and LD50S of MMC and CDDP to the right. Seven days of treatment using TJ-48 delayed deaths due to lethal dose of MMC or CDDP and markedly changed their survival curves. Also, TJ-48 reduced the atrophy of the testis, thymus and spleen caused by MMC. TJ-48 also had beneficial effects on leukopenia, anemia and body weight loss caused by MMC, and increase of BUN and creatinine caused by CDDP. These results indicate that the combined use of TJ-48 may be a new way to in prevent or minimize the toxicity of MMC or CDDP.

[Pharmacological study of TJ-8007 (tsumura-zokumeito) (II): Protective effect of TJ-8007 against cerebral ischemia].

It has been demonstrated that TJ-8007 (Tsumura-Zokumeito, A traditional Chinese medicine) has a protective effect against cerebral anoxia. This study was done to elucidate the protective mechanism of TJ-8007 against cerebral ischemia and anoxia. TJ-8007 (0.3 approximately 3.0 g/kg, p.o.) inhibited the rise in the cumulative mortality rate after ligation of the bilateral carotid artery (BCA) in mice. TJ-8007 also significantly prolonged the survival time at the dose of 3.0 g/kg, p.o. However, TJ-8007 (1.0 or 3.0 g/kg, p.o.) did not affect the mean survival time after ligation of BCA in Mongolian gerbils and the gasping movement in a decapitated mouse head that served as a complete ischemic model. Ifenprodil (30 mg/kg, p.o.) also showed the protective effect only against ischemic death after ligation of BCA in mice. TJ-8007 (1.0 or 3.0 g/kg, p.o.) increased the vertebral blood flow, but showed no effect on the internal carotid blood flow in anesthetized dogs. These results suggest that the mechanism for the cerebral protective effect of TJ-8007 may be due to its ameliorating action on the cerebral circulation.

[Effects of TJ-41 (Tsumura Hochu-ekki-to) on spermatogenic disorders in mice under current treatment with adriamycin].

Experiments were performed to investigate the effects of TJ-41 on spermatogenic disorders under current treatment with adriamycin (ADR). Male ICR mice were intraperitoneally injected with ADR at the dose of 0.15 mg/kg, twice a week for 5 weeks. Simultaneously, these mice were orally administered TJ-41 at the dose of 1, 2 or 4 g/kg for 12 weeks. The effects of TJ-41 were evaluated by histological analysis of germ cells in the testis at 7 weeks after the last injection of ADR. TJ-41 at a dose of 4 g/kg significantly inhibited the decrease of testis weight in mice treated with ADR. TJ-41 at doses of 1 and 4 g/kg significantly decreased the proportion of seminiferous tubules without germ cells as compared with the ADR-treated group. On the other hand, TJ-41 at doses of 1 and 4 g/kg significantly increased the proportion of normal seminiferous tubules and the Sertoli cell ratio of spermatocytes as compared with the ADR-treated group. These results indicate that TJ-41 may qualitatively and quantitatively protect against the decrease of germ cells in the testis of mice treated with ADR.

Inhibitory effect of a mixture of herbal drugs (TJ-960, SK) on pentylenetetrazol-induced convulsions in E1 mice.

TJ-960 is a spray-dried mixture of 9 herbal drugs. The convulsions of E1 mice induced by pentylenetetrazol (18 mg/kg) were completely inhibited by p.o. administration of TJ-960 at a daily dose of 1.0 g/kg both in 8-week-old and 4-week-old E1 mice. These findings suggest that TJ-960 has an inhibitory effect on the convulsions of this hereditary animal model of epilepsy.

[Effect of gomisin A (TJN-101), a lignan compound isolated from Schisandra fruits, on liver function in rats].

TJN-101 [+)-(6S, 7S, R-biar)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-1,2,3,12-tetramethoxy- 6,7-dimethyl-10,11-methylenedioxy-6-dibenzo [a, c] cyclooctenol) is one of the lignan compounds isolated from Schisandra fruits. When TJN-101 was administered orally at the doses of 3-100 mg/kg/day for 4 days, bile secretion, hepatic excretion of dye or hepatic hemodynamics 24 hr after the last dose was investigated in comparison with the phenobarbital (100 mg/kg/day)-treated group. Bile flow was dose-dependently increased; in contrast, biliary concentration of bile acids was decreased in TJN-101 (30 and 100 mg/kg/day)-treated groups. Similar changes were also observed in the phenobarbital-treated group. These results suggested that the enhancement of bile secretion caused by TJN-101 or phenobarbital was due to an increase of a bile acid-independent fraction. In the bromosulfophthalein (BSP) clearance test for liver function, both TJN-101 (30 and 100 mg/kg/day) and phenobarbital accelerated the disappearance from the blood and biliary excretion of BSP. Hepatic hemodynamics was examined by the hydrogen clearance method and measurement of liver wet and dry weight. Liver blood flow tended to increase in the TJN-101 (10-100 mg/kg/day) or phenobarbital-treated group. On the other hand, TJN-101 (3-100 mg/kg/day) or phenobarbital hardly altered the water content of the liver. These results suggested that the liver enlargement caused by both compounds was not accompanied with hepatic edema and that the enhancement of bile secretion or hepatic excretion of BSP might be related to an increase of liver blood flow.

Inhibitory effect of TJ-960 (SK) on pentylenetetrazol-induced EEG power spectrum changes.

Effects of the Japanese kampo medicine 'Shosaiko-to-go-keishika-shyakuyaku-to' (TJ-960), which is a mixture of 9 herbal drugs and is practically equivalent to 'Saiko-keishi-to' (SK), on the pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced EEG power spectrum changes were examined. The EEG power spectrum change with 2 PTZ administrations at an 80 min interval was clearly inhibited by oral administration of 1.0 mg/kg of TJ-960. By separate single administrations of the main component herbal drugs, Bupleuri radix, Cinnamomi cortex, Paeoniae radix and Zingiberis rhizoma, only Paeoniae radix showed statistically significant inhibition of PTZ-induced EEG power spectrum changes at a proportional dose of 1.0 mg/kg of TJ-960. The other main component herbal drugs showed no statistically significant inhibitory effect although they had a tendency to inhibit. These findings suggest that the Japanese Kampo medicine, TJ-960 (SK), has an inhibitory effect on PTZ-induced power spectrum changes and one of the component herbal drugs, Paeoniae radix, is the important component drug.

[Effects of TJN-101, a lignan compound isolated from Schisandra fruits, on liver fibrosis and on liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy in rats with chronic liver injury induced by CCl4].

TJN-101 ((+)-(6S,7S,R-biar)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-1,2,3,12-tetramethoxy -6,7-dimethyl-10,11-methylenedioxy-6-dibenzo[a,c]cyclooctenol) is one of the lignan compounds isolated from Schisandra fruits. 1) Effect of TJN-101 on liver fibrosis was investigated in rats which were injected with CCl4 (1 ml/kg) subcutaneously twice a week for 12 weeks. TJN-101 was given orally at the dose of 10 or 30 mg/kg/day for 6 or 3 weeks beginning on the 6th or 9th week after the start of CCl4-intoxication, respectively. The elevations of serum transaminase activities and the increase of liver 4-hydroxyproline content were observed depending on the period of CCl4-intoxication. These changes were marked on the 9th and 12th weeks after. In the histopathological study, the degenerative fatty change on the 6th week after and the formation of pseudolobule caused by fibrosis proliferation on the 9th or 12th week after were mainly observed. When rats were treated with TJN-101, the abnormalities in biochemical parameters and the fibrosis proliferation caused by CCl4-intoxication were improved. 2) Chronic liver injury was induced by the treatment with CCl4 (1 ml/kg) subcutaneously twice a week for 10 weeks to investigate the effect of TJN-101 on liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy. TJN-101, which was given orally at the dose of 10, 30 or 100 mg/kg/day for 6 days from the 1st day after partial hepatectomy, dose-dependently increased the liver regeneration rate and improved the serum BSP retention rate. These results suggest that TJN-101 suppresses the fibrosis proliferation and accelerates both the liver regeneration and the recovery of liver function after partial hepatectomy in chronic liver injury.

[Pharmacological study of TJ-8007 (Tsumura-Zokumeito) (I): Protective effects of TJ-8007 against anoxic brain damage].

The protective effects of TJ-8007 (Tsumura-Zokumeito, Traditional chinese medicine) against cerebral anoxia were investigated with various experimental models in mice and rats. 1) In histotoxic anoxia, TJ-8007 (0.3-3.0 g/kg, p.o.) dose-dependently demonstrated a protective effect on coma induced by a sublethal dose of KCN (1.8 mg/kg, i.v.) in mice. Ifenprodil (30 mg/kg, p.o.) tended to reduce the coma time, but papaverine (100 mg/kg, p.o.) showed a negative effect. 2) TJ-8007 (0.3-3.0 g/kg, p.o.) dose-dependently tended to prolong the survival time of mice subjected to a lethal dose of KCN (3.0 mg/kg, i.v.), TJ-8007 also improved the survival rate at the dose of 3.0 g/kg. Ifenprodil (30 mg/kg, p.o.) or papaverine (100 mg/kg, p.o.) exerted a similar effect on the survival time, but did not affect the mortality. 3) In the normobaric hypoxia with a gas mixture of 96% N2 and 4% O2, TJ-8007 (0.3-3.0 g/kg, p.o.) did not affect the survival time of mice. On the other hand, papaverine (100 mg/kg, p.o.) prolonged the survival time, and phenytoin (100 mg/kg, p.o.) showed a marked protective effect, but ifenprodil (30 mg/kg, p.o.) produced an adverse effect. 4) In the asphyxic anoxia induced by stopping artificial respiration of immovable rats, TJ-8007 (1.0, 3.0 g/kg, p.o.) showed a protective effect on the fall of systemic blood pressure and on the decline of heart rate; furthermore, it dose-dependently prolonged the disappearance time of cortical activity. Also, phenytoin (100 mg/kg, p.o.) tended to protect against the fall of blood pressure and prolonged the cortical resistance time.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effects of Chrysanthemum indicum Linn. on coronary, vertebral, renal and aortic blood flows of the anesthetized dog.

The hemodynamic effects of the water extract of flower of Chrysanthemum indicum Linn. (CIL) and adenosine were examined in anesthetized open-chest dogs by measuring simultaneously and continuously coronary (CBF), vertebral (VBF), renal (RBF) and aortic blood flows (AoF). Intravenous administration of CIL (5-20 mg/kg) as well as adenosine (10-50 micrograms/kg) produced decreases in aortic blood pressure (AoP) and RBF, and increases in AoF, VBF, CBF and left ventricular dP/dt (LVdP/dt). Calculated coronary, vertebral and total peripheral resistances were decreased by CIL or adenosine in a dose-dependent manner. The ratio (1.69 +/- 0.27) of decrease in coronary vascular resistance to that in total peripheral resistance by CIL (10 mg/kg) was apparently smaller than that (4.03 +/- 0.48) by adenosine (10 micrograms/kg). After beta-adrenergic blockade, increases in AoF and LVdP/dt were inhibited, but decreases in AoP and coronary, vertebral and total peripheral resistances and increase in renal vascular resistance were not changed. These results indicate that CIL directly and uniformly produces coronary and systemic vasodilation with renal vasoconstriction, and that adenosine directly produces vasoconstriction in renal vasculature and vasodilation which is more potent in coronary vasculature than in systemic ones.

Pharmacological studies on ginger. II. Pressor action of (6)-shogaol in anesthetized rats, or hindquarters, tail and mesenteric vascular beds of rats.

When (6)-shogaol (0.5 mg/kg, i.v.) was administered to rats, blood pressure showed a tri-phasic response which was comprised of a rapid fall, followed by a rise and a delayed fall. The rapid fall, which followed immediately after injection of (6)-shogaol, disappeared with the use of atropine and vagotomy. The marked rise, which occurred after the rapid fall, was not affected by alpha-adrenoceptor blockades, Ca antagonists and ganglion blockade. However, a combination of alpha-adrenoceptor blockade and Ca antagonist inhibited this pressor response. In hindquarters perfused with a nutrient solution, (6)-shogaol (10(-5) g)-induced peripheral pressor response was also not affected by alpha-adrenoceptor blockades and Ca antagonists, but was inhibited by the combination of an alpha-adrenoceptor blockade and a Ca antagonist. Furthermore, this peripheral pressor response was eliminated by the removal of Ca ion from the perfusate. (6)-Shogaol did not exhibit a pressor response in an artery and a vein of the tail or an artery of the femur perfused with a nutrient solution. (6)-Shogaol-induced peripheral pressor response in hindquarters was markedly potentiated during the perfusion of norepinephrine (5 X 10(-6) g/ml), but this potentiation was prevented by pretreatment with reserpine (5 mg/kg, i.p.). Moreover, repeated injections of (6)-shogaol caused a tachyphylaxis in mesenteric and tail vascular beds and a slight tachyphylaxis in hindquarters.