Preventive Effects of a Traditional Chinese Medicine

Preventive Effects of a Traditional Chinese Medicine (Sho-saiko-to) on Endotoxin-Induced Cytotoxicity and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Production in J774A.1 Cells

Shuhei Sakaguchi¹⁾ and Shinobu Furusawa²⁾

1) First Department of Hygienic Chemistry
2) Cancer Research Institute, Tohoku Pharmaceutical University

(Received March 29, 2004)
(Accepted May 31, 2004)

Sho-saiko-to, one of the most frequently prescribed Kampo medicines, is used clinically to treat chronic hepatitis and has shown confirmed clinical efficacy. The present study investigated whether Sho-saiko-to can suppress cytotoxicity and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α production in endotoxin-treated J774A.1 cells. Sho-saiko-to (10—20 μg/ml) did not affect the proliferation of J774A.1 cells, while a high concentration (50 μg/ml) of Sho-saiko-to induced a slight reduction in cell viability. Treatment with Sho-saiko-to (10—50 μg/ml) significantly inhibited endotoxin (10 μg/ml)-induced cytotoxicity in J774A.1 cells. In addition, Sho-saiko-to (20 μg/ml) suppressed TNF-α production by endotoxin (1 μg/ml)-activated J774A.1 cells. These findings suggest that the Kampo prescription Sho-saiko-to suppresses cytotoxicity or TNF-α production in macrophages treated with endotoxin and that it may be useful in improving septic shock symptoms. Sho-saiko-to may therefore protect against some of the various disturbances caused by endotoxins through its ability to inhibit TNF-α production in septic shock.