Population pharmacokinetic analysis of daikenchuto, a traditional Japanese medicine (Kampo) in Japanese and US health volunteers.

We constructed population pharmacokinetic (PK) models for the five constituents of daikenchuto (DKT), a traditional Japanese herbal medicine. Data were collected from two randomized PK studies conducted in Japan and the United States. Participants received single oral doses of 2.

Evaluation of a bioreactor with stacked sheet shaped organoids of primary hepatocytes.

Hepatocyte organoids have an in vivo-like cell morphology and maintain cell viability and function in vitro. On the other hand, the oxygen supply to hepatocytes is sometimes limited in the core of organoids that are more than 100 mum in thickness. In this study, we designed and examined a new bioreactor using sheet-shaped organoids (organoid-sheets) in which the thickness was controlled to prevent hepatocyte death in the core of organoid due to limitation of oxygen supply.

A new culture technique for hepatocyte organoid formation and long-term maintenance of liver-specific functions.

To develop a useful hybrid artificial liver, it is important to use cultured hepatocytes that maintain liver-specific functions for a long time. These requirements were achieved recently by the use of a hepatocyte multicellular aggregate (organoid) with a tissue-like structure. In this study, we developed a three-dimensional culture of hepatocytes that formed an organoid.

The influence of the sennosides on absorption of glycyrrhetic acid in rats.

In the course of our clinical studies of Kampo medicine (traditional Japanese medicines), we observed the pharmacokinetic interactions between two herbs. When Onpito (TJ-8117, Kampo medicine) containing licorice and rhubarb was administered orally to human subjects, we observed that the AUC(0-lim) and Cmax of glycyrrhetic acid (GA) in plasma were lower than those treated with other Kampo medicines containing licorice. In this study, we demonstrate the pharmacokinetic interactions of GA derived from glycyrrhizinic acid (GL) in licorice and anthraquinones derived from rhubarb.

Permeability of the flavonoids liquiritigenin and its glycosides in licorice roots and davidigenin, a hydrogenated metabolite of liquiritigenin, using human intestinal cell line Caco-2.

The present investigation focused on the transepithelial flux of liquiritigenin (LG), davidigenin (DG), liquiritin (LQ), and liquiritin apioside (LA) using the human colonic cell line Caco-2 as a model of human intestinal absorption. Apparent permeability coefficients (Papp) for the apical to basolateral flux of LG and DG were (16.0 +/- 0.

Toxicological aspects of Kampo medicines in clinical use.

Among 210 medicinal prescriptions used in present-day Japan, the clinical uses and the acute, chronic and mutagenic toxicity study of 16 Kampo (Japanese herbal) medicines are summarized. These Kampo medicines are classified into two categories; eight prescriptions containing Bupleurum root (Bupleurum falcatum L.) such as Sho-saiko-to and Saiko-keishi-to, and eight prescriptions not containing Bupleurum root such as Juzen-taiho-to and Ninjin-yoei-to.

Biotransformation of the ipecac alkaloids cephaeline and emetine from ipecac syrup in rats.

The metabolism of cephaeline and emetine, which are the primary active components of ipecac syrup, were investigated in rats. Cephaeline-6'-O-glucuronide was found to be a biliary metabolite of cephaeline. Cephaeline (6'-O-demethylemetine) and 9-O-demethylemetine were observed to be enzyme-hydrolyzed biliary metabolites of emetine.

Absorption, distribution and excretion of 3H-labeled cephaeline- and emetine-spiked ipecac syrup in rats.

The maximum plasma radioactivity levels of tritium (3H)-labeled cephaeline, (24.3, 28.7 and 40.