Application of Kampo medicines for the palliation of cancer cachexia.

Cancer cachexia results in the discontinuation of aggressive cancer therapy, and halting its progression has a significant effect on the survival rate and quality of life of patients with cancer. Currently, there are few therapies to control or slow down the progression of cancer cachexia. Although traditional Japanese Kampo medicine is widely used to support aggressive cancer therapy, the relevant scientific evidence is limited. Additionally, Kampo medicines are based on historical experience. In recent years, there have been widespread attempts to prove the efficacy of Kampo medicines through basic research, and an increasing number of studies have clarified the mechanism of action of Kampo medicines at the molecular level. It has been proposed that the improvement of cancer cachexia by Kampo medicines might involve enhancement of feeding via the central nervous system, improvement of protein maintenance in the skeletal muscle, and suppression of inflammatory cytokine production. In particular, among Kampo medicines, tonifying formulae, called "hozai" in Japanese, have been shown to be effective in alleviating cancer cachexia. In this review, we summarize the recent progress of basic and clinical research in Kampo medicines on cancer cachexia, and introduce Kampo medicines that are expected to be attractive supportive cancer medication.

Medicine and food with particular reference to chinpi, dried citrus peel, and a component of Ninjin'yoeito.

Kampo medicines contain many kinds of herbal drugs. Chinpi and Kippi, dried citrus peels, are components of a substantial number of Kampo medicine. They contain abundant flavonoids and studies on hesperidin, narirutin, and nobiletin as active ingredient have been conducted. Conversely, in Kagoshima prefecture, located in the southwestern part of the Japanese Islands, various citrus products are cultivated. Among them, Tankan and Daimasaki are specialies. In this study, we conducted high- performance liquid chromatography to determine the difference in flavonoid contents among Tankan, Daimasaki, Tankan related product, Chinpi, and Kippi. As a result, several active components, such as hesperidin, narirutin, nobiletin, and tangeretin, in common with crude drug, Chinpi, were detected in local citrus fruits. In addition, some active components little or not found in Chinpi, for example hesperetin and rutin, were detected in the local products. A detailed analysis of active components considering their genetic origin, the time of fruit collection, and different parts of the fruit used (peel, albedo, edible parts, and the whole) will need to be discussed to get the most out of the citrus fruits or make best use of them for health and longevity.

Effects of agouti-related protein, orexin and melanin-concentrating hormone on oxygen consumption in mice.

Neuropeptides in the hypothalamus play a pivotal role in the regulation of energy balance. Agouti-related protein (AGRP), orexin and melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) have been identified in the hypothalamus as orexigenic peptides. This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of AGRP, orexin and MCH on oxygen consumption. Oxygen consumption was determined by an O2/CO2 metabolism measuring system at 22 degrees C. Mice were kept unrestrained in the chamber without food or water during the light cycle, and the oxygen consumption was measured for 2 h after intra-cerebroventricular (ICV) administration. ICV administered AGRP (1 nmol/mouse) significantly decreased oxygen consumption compared to ACSF-treated controls. Orexin (1 nmol/mouse) significantly increased oxygen consumption, while MCH (1 nmol/mouse) had no significant effect compared to ACSF-treated controls. These results suggest that AGRP, orexin and MCH might have different effects on energy expenditure, thereby regulating appetite and body weight.