TITLE:
Long-term administration of traditional kampo medicine shimotsuto, juzentaihoto and unseiin inhibits experimental thrombosis in mice
AUTHORS:
Yoshinobu Ijiri, Hiroko Anzai, Weifua Gao, Kunio Takahashi, Naemi Kajiwara, Masahiro Murakami, Junichiro Yamamoto
KEYWORDS:
Kampo; Chinese Medicine; Thrombosis; Platelet; Endothelial Function; Stroke;Cardiovascular Disease
JOURNAL NAME:
Health,
Vol.2 No.5,
May
27,
2010
ABSTRACT: Traditional Chinese herbal medicines (Kampo) are used to improve flow characteristics of blood (Oketsu). We assumed that by preventing stagnation of blood, these medicines may be beneficial not only in venous but in arterial thrombotic conditions. The present study aimed to assess the antithrombotic effect of three Kampo, using well-established in vitro and animal models of thrombosis. Western-style highfat diet containing 1% Kampo (Shimotsuto, Juzentaihoto or Unseiin) was administered to C57BL/6 mice for 12 weeks. The effect on thrombus formation by laser irradiation of the carotid artery of mice was assessed. In addition the ex-vivo technique of shear-induced platelet reactivity measurement (haemostatometry) and the in vivo test of endothelial function (flowmediated vasodilation) were also used to assess the mechanism of antithrombotic effect. All three medicines have significantly inhibited arterial thrombus formation in mice. According to our studies, the mechanism of antithrombotic effect is based on the inhibition of shear-induced platelet reac- tivity and stimulation of endothelial function (Unseiin). It is assumed that the common ingredients Japanese Angelica Root, Cnidium Rhizome, Peony Root and Rehmannia Root could be responsible for the observed antithrombotic effect.