Kampo medicines Rikkunshito and Hangeshashinto prevent cisplatin-induced intestinal mucosal injury in rats

Background/Purpose: We examined the effects and mechanisms of rikkunshito (RKT) and hangeshashinto (HST) on cisplatin-induced mucosal injuries in the rat small bowel. Methods: Juvenile rats were divided into 6 groups: sham control, cisplatin injection without kampo medicines, and cisplatin injection with oral administration of low and high doses of RKT (10 0 0 mg/kg and 20 0 0 mg/kg) and HST (500 mg/kg and 10 0 0 mg/kg). Fecal condition, intestinal morphological changes, enterocyte proliferation, and enterocyte apoptosis were assessed. Results: Diarrhea and atrophy of ileal villi observed in the cisplatin group were significantly improved in all kampo groups. Injury scores of the jejunum were significantly lower with RKT (20 0 0 mg/kg) and HST (500 and 1000 mg/kg) than with cisplatin, and those of the ileum were significantly lower with HST (500 and 10 0 0 mg/kg) than with cisplatin. Enterocyte proliferation of the jejunum was significantly increased with RKT (20 0 0 mg/kg) and HST (50 0 mg/kg) compared with cisplatin, and those of the ileum were significantly increased in all kampo groups compared with the cisplatin group. Jejunal and ileal apoptosis following cisplatin administration was significantly inhibited by HST. Conclusions: RKT and HST prevented cisplatin-induced intestinal mucosal injury with increasing proliferation of intestinal epithelial cells. HST also attenuated cisplatin-induced crypt cell apoptosis. (c) 2021 Published by Elsevier Inc.

Automated summary

Rikkunshito (RKT) and hangeshashinto (HST) were effective in preventing cisplatin-induced intestinal mucosal injury, increasing proliferation of intestinal epithelial cells, and attenuating crypt cell apoptosis.