Bone-loss-improving action of kudzu vine ethanol extracts (PVEE) was clarified. PVEE was composed roughly of 80% fiber, 10% puerarin, 3.6% daidzin, 2.5% 6″-O-malonyldaidzin, and the other minor isoflavones. Ten-week-old ovariectomized (OVX) mice were fed diets containing PVEE (20 mg/kg body weight/day) for 8 weeks. The bone resorption markers (urinary deoxypyridinoline and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase activity) was elevated in OVX mice and was significantly decreased in OVX mice that consumed PVEE for 8 weeks. Consistent with the decrease in the markers, the number of matured osteoclasts in the distal femur was diminished in OVX mice fed PVEE diets. PVEE diets also suppressed the decrease in femoral bone mineral density (BMD) by OVX. PVEE showed the affinity for estrogen receptor α and β nearly 1/10000 weaker than 17β-estradiol. No hypertrophy in the uterus by the PVEE diet was observed. These results suggest that PVEE could be a promising resource for a functional food that improves osteoporosis.

Summary Puerarin, a daidzein-8-C glucoside, is the major isoflavonoid in Kudzu ( Pueraria lobata ), and is unique in that it contains C-C conjugated glucose at position 8 of the isoflavonoid structure. A puerarin diet at a dose of 5 mg/kg b.w./d to fed ovariectomized mice for 2 mo diminished the urinary deoxypyridinoline, a typical bone-degradation product. Since the bone absorption marker, serum tartarate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) activity of puerarin-fed mice decreased but the bone formation marker, osteocalcin level, did not alter, the puerarin diet was proved to specifically depress the bone absorption, but not the overall bone metabolism. In accordance with that results, the femur structure of puerarin-fed mice was restored compared with that of puerarin-free diet mice. The atrophied uterine due to low estrogen (E2) level after ovariectomy was not restored by the puerarin diet, suggesting that puerarin exerted the anti-osteoporotic action through a non estrogen receptor (ER) mediated-pathway, in vivo . The growth of an ER-positive human breast cancer cell, MCF-70, was not enhanced by puerarin, suggesting that puerarin did not show estrogen-like action on MCF-7 cells, even at a ten thousand times higher concentration than that of E2. Furthermore, ICI182,780 (ICI), an estrogen antagonist, suppressed the enhanced growth of MCF-7 cells by E2, but not that by puerarin. In an ER-binding assay, puerarin was proved not to bind to ER ␣ or ␤ , or if all, extremely weakly, although daidzein, an aglycon of puerarin, showed a little stronger binding compared with puerarin. All these results strongly indicate that puerarin exerts its anti-osteoprotic action independently of the ERmediated pathway.

With the recent aging of society, the prevention of frailty has become an important issue because people desire both a long and healthy lifespan. Klotho-hypomorphic (kl/kl) mice are known to show phenotypes of premature aging. Ninjin’yoeito (NYT) is a traditional Japanese Kampo medicine used to treat patients with vulnerable constitution, fatigue or physical exhaustion caused by aging and illness. Recent studies have reported the potential efficacy of NYT against frailty. We therefore evaluated the effect of NYT on the gait function, activity, the histopathological status of organs and survival using kl/kl mice as a model of aging-related frailty. Two sets of 28-day-old male kl/kl mice were assigned to the vehicle (non-treated; NT), 3% or 5% NYT dietary groups. One set of groups (NT, n = 18; 3% NYT, n = 11; 5% NYT, n = 11) was subjected to the analysis of free walking, rotarod, and spontaneous activity tests at approximately 58 days old. Thereafter, we measured triceps surae muscles weight and myofiber cross-sectional area (CSA), and quantified its telomere content. In addition, we evaluated bone strength and performed histopathological examinations of organs. Survival was measured in the second set of groups (NT, 3% NYT and 5% NYT group, n = 8 each). In the walking test, several indicators such as gait velocity were improved in the NYT 3% group. Similar results were obtained for the latency to fall in the rotarod test and spontaneous motor activity. Triceps muscle mass, CSA and its telomere content were significantly improved in the NYT 3% group. Bone density, pulmonary alveolus destruction and testicular atrophy were also significantly improved in the NYT 3% group. Survival rate and body weight were both significantly improved in the NYT3% group compared with those in the NT group. Continuous administration of NYT from the early stage of aging improved not only gait performance, but also the survival in the aging-related frailty model. This effect may be associated with the improvements in aging-related organ changes such as muscle atrophy. Intervention with NYT against the progression of frailty may contribute to a longer, healthier life span among the elderly individuals.

Abstract:Hallucinations are a common non-motor symptom of Parkinson's disease and various forms of dementias. Yokukansan and Yokukansankachimpihange have attracted attention due to their effectiveness in the treatment of hallucinations of dementia. To clarify which component in these formulas contribute to the effects, at first, we focused on their differences in compositions to examine the pharmacological effects on the selective 5-HT2A/2C agonist 1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl)-2-aminopropane (DOI)-induced head-twitch response (HTR) in mice that has been used as animal hallucination model. Results indicated that water extract of Byaku-jutsu (Atractylodes japonica) showed a stronger inhibitory effect on DOI-induced HTR than that of So-jutsu (A. lancea) corresponding to their major constituents of atractylenolide III and β-eudesmol, and suggested that the major constituents should be active constituents contributing to the antihallucination effects of Byaku-and So-jutsu. Besides, the part B-C ring (butenolide) in atractylenolide III was found to be similar to the structure of serotonin and suggested that the B-C ring may partially play role in antagonistic activity against serotonin receptors. Thus, a novel, rational design of butenolide-related compounds may as potential lead compounds for new drug development. Analysis of the chemical components of Byaku-and So-jutsu and further study on their structure-activity relationships are currently in progress.

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