Display Settings:

Format

Send to:

Choose Destination
    Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2011;2011:812163. Epub 2011 May 26.

    Evaluation of oxygen radical absorbance capacity in kampo medicine.

    Source

    Center for Kampo Medicine, School of Medicine Keio University, 35 Shinano-machi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan.

    Abstract

    Antioxidant capacity of food has come to be shown in terms of oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) mainly on vegetables or fruit. However, the evaluation of Kampo in terms of ORAC has not yet been accomplished. It is important that such an investigation is also conducted for Kampo medicine. We measured the ORAC value of almost all the available Kampo formulas used in the Japanese National health insurance system and examined the ORAC value both for the daily prescription, and also the crude herb ingredients. The ORAC value of Kampo medicine ranged 4.65-5913 units/day. The ORAC value was high in Kampo formulas including Rhei Rhizoma, and was relatively high in Kampo formulas including anti-inflammatory herbs other than Rhei Rhizoma. The ORAC value was also high in Kampo formulas including crude herbs that have relaxation effects. The ORAC value of a crude herb would seem to not be fixed but be dependent on combination with other crude herbs from the comparison of different herbs added to the basic Kampo medicine. These results suggest variability and complexity of the antioxidant capacity of Kampo medicine within the similar range of food. On the other hand, investigation of the compound changes of various crude herbs with ORAC may lead to the elucidation of the action mechanism of Kampo medicine.

    PMID:
    19126557
    [PubMed - in process]
    PMCID:
    PMC3137646
    Free PMC Article

    Images from this publication.See all images (1) Free text

    Figure 1

      Supplemental Content

      Icon for Hindawi Publishing Corporation Icon for PubMed Central

      Save items

      loading

      Recent activity

      Your browsing activity is empty.

      Activity recording is turned off.

      Turn recording back on

      See more...
      Write to the Help Desk