Hange-koboku-to, a Kampo medicine, modulates cerebral levels of 5-HT (5-hydroxytryptamine), NA (noradrenaline) and DA (dopamine) in mice

• Published in: Phytotherapy research Vol. 19; no. 6; pp. 491 - 495
• Main Authors: Kaneko, A, Cho, S, Hirai, K, Okabe, T, Iwasaki, K, Nanba, Y, Ouchi, Y, Cyong, J.C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester, UK John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 01-06-2005; Wiley
• Subjects: Administration, Oral; Animals; Anti-Anxiety Agents - administration & dosage; Anti-Anxiety Agents - pharmacology; Anti-Anxiety Agents - therapeutic use; antidepressant; anxiety; Biological and medical sciences; depression; Dopamine - metabolism; Drugs, Chinese Herbal - administration & dosage; Drugs, Chinese Herbal - pharmacology; Drugs, Chinese Herbal - therapeutic use; General pharmacology; herbal medicine; Male; Medical sciences; Medicine, Kampo; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Norepinephrine - metabolism; Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Phytotherapy; Serotonin - metabolism; swallowing disturbance; Telencephalon - drug effects; Telencephalon - metabolism; Mood disorder; Affect affectivity; Dopamine; swallowing disturbance; Serotonin; Pharmacognosy; Psychotropic; Rodentia; Central nervous system; antidepressant; Depression; Catecholamine; Encephalon; Kampo medecine; Medicinal plant; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Mouse; Animal; Plant origin; Neurotransmitter; Antidepressant agent; Anxiety; herbal medicine
• ISSN: 0951-418X; 1099-1573
• DOI: 10.1002/ptr.1669

Cerebral monoamine systems play important pathogenic roles in various psychiatric and neurologic diseases, such as depression, anxiety and swallowing disturbance. Hange‐koboku‐to, a Kampo (Japanese herbal) medicine, has been successfully used for the treatment of these disorders. To elucidate the mechanisms underlying its clinical efficacy for these disorders, the effects of Hange‐koboku‐to (500 mg/kg, p.o.) on the cerebral monoamine systems were examined. Regional levels of 5‐HT (5‐hydroxytryptamine), NA (noradrenaline), DA (dopamine) and their metabolites in mouse brain were measured using a high‐performance liquid chromatography system. Hange‐koboku‐to increased the 5‐HT and NA levels and decreased 5‐HIAA (5‐hydroxyindole‐3‐acetic acid), thus decreasing 5‐HT and NA turnover (metabolites/monoamine ratio) in the hypothalamus. The levels of DA, DOPAC (3,4‐dihydroxyphenylacetic acid) and HVA (4‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxy‐phenylacetic acid) were all increased, resulting in a decreased DA turnover in the striatum. Since decreased 5‐HT turnover has been observed after administration of various antidepressants, Hange‐koboku‐to‐mediated reduction of 5‐HT turnover may be related to the clinical efficacy of this Kampo medicine on certain psychiatric disorders. Furthermore, the beneficial therapeutic effects of Hange‐koboku‐to on swallowing disturbance may be related to the increased cerebral DA level brought about by this Kampo medicine. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.