Effects Of Saiboku-to Research Articles

Effects of saiboku-to on dual-phase bronchoconstriction in asthmatic guinea pigs.

In recent years, bronchial asthma has come to be regarded pathologically as a chronic inflammatory disease of the respiratory tract. Inhalational steroids and antiinflammatory drugs are recognized as being effective against bronchial asthma. In this study, the effects of Saiboku-to, a Chinese herbal (Kampo) formulation, were investigated on asthmatic guinea pigs sensitized to ovalbumin (OA). Following 7-day administration of Saiboku-to (500 micrograms/kg), the late asthmatic response (LAR) to an antigen challenge was found to be inhibited. The number of eosinophils in fluid obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) 4 h after antigen challenge was decreased while the infiltration of eosinophils and T-lymphocytes into the lung parenchyma was inhibited. These findings suggest that Saiboku-to has the potential to become a useful drug in the treatment of bronchial asthma.

Effects of saiboku-to on the survival of human eosinophils.

In recent years, bronchial asthma has come to be regarded as a chronic inflammatory disease of the respiratory tract, with mast cells, lymphocytes and eosinophils playing important roles in its pathogenesis. Proteins contained in eosinophil granules, especially major basic protein (MBP), eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN) and eosinophil peroxidase (EPO), can cause tissue injury. When stimulated, eosinophils release mediators such as leukotriene C4 (LTC4) and platelet activating factors (PAF). Thus, they are recognized as effector cells that are actively involved in the development of allergic inflammation. In this study, eosinophils from healthy volunteers were used to investigate the effects of Saiboku-to on eosinophils whose survival had been prolonged through stimulation with eosinophil-activating cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-3, IL-5 and granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factors (GM-CSF). As a result, the cytokine-enhanced survival of eosinophils was significantly shortened by the addition of Saiboku-to. These findings suggest that Saiboku-to has the potential to inhibit allergic responses by directly affecting eosinophils which are related to allergic inflammation.

In Vitro Effects of Saiboku-to on Cytokine Production from Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells of Bronchial Asthma Patients

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Saiboku-to, a Japanese traditional herbal medicine (Kampo), on the production of interleukin-3 (IL-3), interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-5 (IL-5), interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) by peripheral blood mononuclear cells in bronchial asthma patients following antigenic stimulus by the house dust mite. Design: Twelve bronchial asthma patients with IgE RAST (radio-allergosorbent test) scores to mites of 3 and over were enrolled in the study. Separated mononuclear cells from the patients’ blood were suspended in a 24-hole plate with 10% fetal calf serum (FCS) and RPMI-1640 medium. Mite antigen was added to the above cell-suspension (final concentration 10 mg/ml) and cultured for 72 hours at 37°C in 5% CO2. Saiboku-to (TJ-96, Tsumura & Co.) was added to the above sample system at the same time as mite antigen and cultured for 72 hours under the same conditions. After 72 hours of incubation, the amount of various cytokines (IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, INF-γ) was measured using enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay kits. Results: Saiboku-to 500 mg/L significantly inhibited the production of IL-3 and IL-4 from peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Moreover, it significantly increased the production of INF-γ from peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Conclusion: These preliminary findings suggest that Saiboku-to could be considered as one of a new class of anti-asthmatic drugs because of its influence on cytokine production.