Herbal factors in the treatment of autoimmunity-related habitual abortion

Tokishakuyakusan, a traditional Japanese medicine (Kampo) mitigates iNKT cell-mediated pregnancy loss in mice

OBJECTIVE

Tokishakuyakusan (TSS) is a traditional herbal medicine that has been used empirically to prevent recurrent pregnancy loss. Its mode of action remains unclear. With their potent capacity to produce cytokines, invariant natural killer (iNKT) cells are involved in the control of fetomaternal immunity in early gestation. This study aimed to clarify the effect of TSS on iNKT cell activities in a well-studied murine miscarriage model.

METHODS

Pregnant mice were fed 1% TSS-containing or control diet from the day of vaginal plug formation. Alpha-galactosylceramide (AGC) was administered intraperitoneally to the pregnant mice at day 9.5 postcoitus (pc) to stimulate iNKT cells. Peripheral cytokine levels were evaluated using cytokine arrays. The percentage of iNKT cells among splenocytes was examined by flow cytometric analysis. The incidence of pregnancy loss was assessed at day 12.5 pc.

RESULTS

The ratio of fetal resorptions to total conceptuses was significantly higher in the group exposed to TSS (34%) than in controls (78%). A rapid and robust surge in inflammatory cytokines, including IFN-γ and TNF-α, was detected in the peripheral blood of control animals 2 hours after AGC administration. This peripheral cytokine induction was significantly attenuated in the TSS-fed group compared with the control. The percentage of iNKT cells among total splenocytes was lower in the TSS-fed group than in controls.

CONCLUSION

The findings in this study suggest that the inhibitory effects of TSS on pregnancy loss may involve immune modulation of iNKT cells during early pregnancy.

Danggui-Shaoyao-San Improves Learning and Memory in Female SAMP8 via Modulation of Estradiol

Previous studies showed that Danggui-Shaoyao-San (DSS), a traditional Chinese medicinal prescription, could alleviate cognitive dysfunction of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. However, the mechanisms remain unclear; we have now examined the effect of DSS on SAMP8 and elucidated the possible mechanism. Animals were treated with DSS for 2 months, and step-down test and Morris water maze (MWM) test were used to evaluated cognitive abilities. The estradiol (E2), NO, and glycine in blood plasma or in hippocampus were detected to explore the possible mechanisms. The latency of SAMP8 in step-down test was shorter than that of age-matched SAMR1, and DSS increased the latency especially in female animals. In MWM test, we got similar results; SAMP8 spent more time to find the platform, and DSS decreased the time before finding the platform, with little effect on swim velocity, during the training sessions. During test session, DSS increased the time spent in target quadrant especially in female SAMP8. In female SAMP8, plasma E2, NO, and glycine were elevated in plasma or hippocampus tissue. In conclusion, DSS could ameliorate deterioration of cognition in SAMP8, especially in female animals. Increasing E2, NO, and glycine might contribute to the cognitive improvement effect of DSS in female SAMP8.

Maternal administration of the herbal medicine toki-shakuyaku-san promotes fetal growth and placental gene expression in normal mice

Toki-shakuyaku-san (TSS), an herbal formula based on traditional Chinese medicine, is commonly used in obstetrics. To examine the effects of TSS on the normal mouse fetus and placenta, TSS was administered to normal pregnant mice and their placentas and fetuses were studied. First, the effects of maternal TSS treatment on implantation were investigated. Administration of TSS from gestation day 0.5 (G0.5) to G6.5 showed that litter size was not altered at embryonic day 11.5 (E11.5), but the number of resorbed fetuses was slightly decreased. Then, to investigate effects on fetal and placental growths after implantation, TSS was administered from G5.5. At E14.5, the body weight of fetuses from TSS-treated dams was significantly increased. Gene expression of insulin-like growth factor 2 (Igf2), one of the most important modulators of fetal growth, was significantly increased in the placentas and fetuses of TSS-treated dams. In addition, the expression of particular placental developmental genes and nutrient transporter genes was significantly increased in TSS-treated placentas. At E18.5, after longer-term administration of TSS, fetal and placental weights were not altered, but the expression of the placental developmental and nutrient transporter genes remained elevated compared with controls. These results suggest that maternal TSS treatment in normal mice enhances the expression of Igf2, placental developmental genes and nutrient transporter genes, resulting in increased fetal weight. No obvious changes were observed in the expression of these genes after longer-term maternal TSS treatment.

Danggui-Shaoyao-San and its active fraction JD-30 improve Abeta-induced spatial recognition deficits in mice

AIMS OF THE STUDY

Previous studies showed that Danggui-Shaoyao-San (DSS), a traditional Chinese medicinal prescription, could alleviate cognitive dysfunction of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. However, the mechanism and substance basis remain unknown. JD-30 is a fraction extracted from DSS, whose activity we previously was evaluated. beta-Amyloid (Abeta) is believed to be a critical etiological factor of AD. We have now examined the effect of DSS and JD-30 on AD model mice induced by Abeta, and elucidated the possible mechanism.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Mice were intracerebroventricular injected with the aggregated Abeta(25-35) to mimic AD. Groups of mice were treated with DSS or JD-30 by intragastric infusion over 2 weeks, and their spatial learning and memory capacities were measured by the Morris water maze procedure. The mechanisms were investigated by extracellular microelectrode recordings, and also electron microscopy.

RESULTS

Our results show that Abeta(25-35) induced impairment of spatial learning and memory in mice, as well as inhibition of long-term potentiation (LTP) in the hippocampus. The impairments were ameliorated by DSS or JD-30 administration. Additionally, JD-30 not only prevented the aggregation of Abeta(25-35), but disrupted aggregated Abeta(25-35) fibrils.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that JD-30 is one of the chief active fractions extracted from DSS by its ability to ameliorate deterioration of cognition, and by blocking and disrupting the aggregation of Abeta so that synaptic plasticity was improved, which may be one of the mechanisms involved.

Determination of the effectiveness of components of the herbal medicine Toki-Shakuyaku-San and fractions of Angelica acutiloba in improving the scopolamine-induced impairment of rat's spatial cognition in eight-armed radial maze test

The improving effects of various components of Toki-Shakuyaku-San (TSS) and fractions isolated from Angelica acutiloba Radix (Toki) on scopolamine-induced spatial memory impairment were investigated in eight-armed radial maze. The scopolamine-induced memory impairment was characterized by prominent increase of error choices in addition to decreased correct choices. Toki, Cnidium officinale Rhizoma (Senkyu), Poria cocos Hoelen (Bukuryo), Alisma orientale Rhizoma (Takusha), and Atractylodes lancea Rhizoma (Sojutsu) increased the correct choices, while only the Toki, Sojutsu, and Takusha decreased the error choices. No effect was produced by Paeonia lactiflora Radix (Shakuyaku). Investigation of effects of fractions isolated from Toki revealed that its activity mainly resided in the butanol layer and its contents of N-methyl-beta-carboline-3-carboxamide and amines. Moreover, the alkaloid, internal and external solutions (containing poly-, di-, and monosaccharides) obtained by dialysis with Visking cellophane tubing also improved the memory. However, no improving properties were detected for methanol and hexanol layers, L-(-)-tryptophan, L-arginine, L-(-)-lysine, and choline chloride. The results showed that the TSS components could improve the reference and working memory impaired by scopolamine. The improving effect of TSS is produced greatly by the Toki component, the activity of which was greatly produced by the fraction extracted by butanol.