Comparison of Effects of Ninjin-to and Dai-kenchu-to on Brain-Gut Peptide Levels in Human Plasma

• Published in: Japanese Journal of Pharmacology Vol. 82; no. suppl.2; p. 256
• Main Authors: Takevama, M., Aratake, T., Naito, T., Nagano, T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Japanese
• Published: The Japanese Pharmacological Society 2000
• ISSN: 0021-5198
• DOI: 10.1016/S0021-5198(19)48487-4

Ninjin-to, a Chinese medicine, is known as a drug that improves gastric atony and gastroentritis. Ninjin-to is prepared from 4 herbs： ninjin (Ginseng Radix). kanzou (Clycyrrhiza Radix), soujutsu (Atractylodis Lanceae Rhizoma) and kankyou (Zingiberis Siccatum Rhizoma). Dai-kenchu-to is also known as a drug that improves bowel obstructions and feelings of coldness. Dai-kenchu-to is prepared from 3 herbs： ninjin, sanshou (Zanthoxyli Fructus) and kankyou. The precious study demonstrated the Dai-kenchu-to raises plasma levels of motilin and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP). In the present study, to elucidate the mechanisms of Ninjin-to on the changes of motilin and VIP levels in plasma. For five healthy subjects, a dose of 6 g Ninjin-to (dried granule extracts. EK-32. Kanebo, LTD., Tokyo Japan) was orally administered. To measure the peptide levels by enzyme immunoassay, venous blood samples were taken after administration of Ninjin-to. Ninjin-to caused significant increase in plasma motilin levels. but did not alter the levels of VIP. These in studies suggested sanshou (Zanthoxyli Fractus) might participate in the VIP increasing effect by Dai-kenchu-to.