Toru Egashira (1), Fusako Takayama (1), Yasumitsu Yamanaka (1) and Yasuhiro
Komatsu (2)
(1) Department of Pharmacology, Oita Medical University, 1 - 1, Idaigaoka,
Hasama-machi, Oita 879 - 5593, Japan
(2) Kampo and Pharmacognosy Laboratories, Tsumura & Co., Ami-machi,
Inashiki-gun, Ibaragi 300 - 1192, Japan
Abstract: The Kampo medicine Sho-saiko-to scavenged
superoxide anion radicals (O2-), hydroxyl radicals
(EOH) and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals in a dose-dependent
fashion. We attempted to investigate the transition of free radical scavenging
activity in plasma after oral administration of Sho-saiko-to in rats.
From the response-time profile, kinetic parameters including values for
Ka (absorption rate constant), Tmax (peak concentration
time), T1/2 (half life) and MRT (mean residence time) of radical
scavenging activity in plasma could be calculated for the O2-,
EOH and DPPH radicals. These parameters calculated from the dynamics of
antioxidation are considered a very meaningful procedure to examine the
effects of Sho-saiko-to.
Keywords: Sho-saiko-to (Kampo medicine), Radical scavenger,
Pharmacodynamics