Effects of Hangeshashinto on Growth of Oral Microorganisms

Abstract

Oral mucositis (OM) in cancer patients induced by chemotherapy or radiotherapy has a significant impact on quality of life, and causes considerable morbidity. Oral microorganisms are likely to intensify the inflammatory process and aggravate the formation of ulcers. Hangeshashinto (HST), a Japanese kampo medicine, has been reported to be effective when used as a gargle for the treatment of OM. To clarify the effects of HST on oral microorganisms, we assessed its antimicrobial activity against 27 microbial species, including 19 oral bacteria and one fungus. HST extract inhibited the growth of Gram-negative bacteria, including Fusobacterium nucleatum, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Porphyromonas endodontalis, Prevotella intermedia, Prevotella melaninogenica, Tannerella forsythia, Treponema denticola, and Porphyromonas asaccharolytica, though inhibitory effects were less pronounced for Gram-positive bacteria and the fungal strain. We then investigated the effects of antibacterial activities on 15 purified ingredients of HST and determined that baicalein, berberine, coptisine, [6]-shogaol, and homogentisic acid actively inhibited the growth of these bacteria. These findings showed that HST inhibits the growth of specific Gram-negative periodontopathogenic bacteria, which are significant pathogens in OM, without disturbing the normal oral flora. Our data suggest that HST may be a useful treatment for OM in patients undergoing anticancer treatment.

Hainosan (painongsan) suppresses the biofilm formation of Porphyromonas gingivalis and Prevotella intermedia in vitro

“…These crude drugs, however, are not involved in hainosan. The present result for hangeshashinto was also almost identical to that of a previous report . Hangeshashinto may also be an alternative treatment option for oral cavity infectious disease.…”

“…The time–kill analysis was performed according to the method of Fukamachi et al . Sample solutions, including GAM medium with HNS or HST, were inoculated with bacterial suspension in triplicate.…”

Japanese Herbal Medicine Ninjinyoeito Mediates Its Orexigenic Properties Partially by Activating Orexin 1 Receptors

“…However, the level of increase in Z induced by NYT or citrus unshiu peel [NYT (% of control): 433.3 ± 19.5, citrus unshiu peel: 207.4 ± 28.0] was considerably smaller than that caused by OXA (% of control: 9,781.5 ± 252.9). Theoretically, kampo medicine comprises several medical herbal crude drugs; thus, it is considered to exert multiple actions (11,(44)(45)(46)(47)(48)(49)(50)(51). Furthermore, each action of kampo medicine is considered milder than that of a drug composed of only one component, such as western drugs.…”

Kampo Medicines for Infectious Diseases

“…Certain oral microorganisms are implicated in intensifying the inflammatory process and aggravating the ulcer formation of oral mucositis (OM) in cancer patients under chemotherapy or radiotherapy. A Kampo medicine, hangeshashinto (HST), has been investigated for antimicrobial activity against several bacteria and fungi (Fukamachi et al, 2015). HST extract inhibits the growth of gram-negative bacteria, including Fusobacterium nucleatum, P. gingivalis, Porphyromonas endodontalis, Prevotella intermedia, Prevotella melaninogenica, Tannerella forsythia, Treponema denticola, and Porphyromonas asaccharolytica, and less inhibitory effects on gram-positive bacteria and the fungal strains were observed.…”