Effects of Hochuekkitoon upper respiratory mucosal immune system
In the mucosal immune system, if the intestinal immune system were activated
by the oral administration of kampo medicines containing mucosal immune
system-activating substance, the common mucosal immune system in
nasopharyngeal-associated lymphoid tissue, bronchial-associated lymphoid
tissue and urogenital-associated lymphoid tissue would be activated through
activation of the intestinal immune system at the induction site. As the
result, production of antigen-specific secretory IgA antibody is enhanced in
local mucus if the antigen such as for influenza virus, is recognised. There-
fore a mucosal immune system-enhancing activity may help respiratory
infection and endogenous infection. When the influenza vaccine was immu-
nised intranasally, antigen-specific secretory IgA antibody is produced in the
nasal cavity.^22 Oral administration of Hochuekkitosignificantly enhances
the influenza virus-specific IgA antibody titre in the nasal wash of aged
mice, which were secondarily immunised by intranasal inoculation of the
vaccine.^22 The upper respiratory mucosal immune system is known to main-
tain the function through targeting of the lymphocytes from the intestinal
immune system in common mucosal immune system. Oral administration of
Hochuekkitomay partly contribute to enhancement of the IgA immune
response against intestinal antigen through an increased population of L-
selectin-positive B lymphocytes.^23 Therefore Hochuekkitomay strengthen
the defence system against various pathogens and food antigens in the local
mucosal sites in intestine, lung and nasal cavity.
Improving effect of Kamiuntantoon brain cognitive function
The population of older people has been increased by improving health
conditions. As a ‘compensation’ for longevity, chronic diseases, senile
dementia, osteoporosis, general malaise and complex diseases (diabetes,
hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, etc.) have increased in older people. For the
diagnosis and treatment of these diseases imbalance of the whole body must
be seen. Therefore kampo medicines would be suitable drugs for the treat-
ment of older patients. There are now at least one million patients with
senile dementia in Japan. Alzheimer’s disease and cerebrovascular disorders
are popular forms of dementia among older people, with the former char-
acterised by memory loss and a progressive global impairment of intellect.
Despite the great scientific advances in recent years, effective treatments for
Alzheimer’s disease are still limited. Some kampo medicines and herbal
extracts were reported to improve the lesion of cognitive function in animal
models for dementia, and memory-related behaviour and intellectual function
of Alzheimer’s disease patients.^24
Alzheimer’s disease patients are known to have decreased levels of acetyl-
choline and the acetylcholine-synthesizing enzyme, choline acetyltransferase
(ChAT), and these levels correlate well with severity of dementia. When rat
Japanese kampo medicine | 241