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Bupleurum
and Dragon Bone Combination: A formula for stress-induced heart disease.
A
quick reference to results of Japanese studies to determine not only
its efficacy, but also its mode of action and safety, for the formula
Bupleurum and Dragon Bone combination followed with more detail in text.
To extend our knowledge, facilitate integrative therapies and stimulate
discussion.
- Decreases
LDL
- Reduces hypertension
- Reduces vasoconstriction
- Reduces tachycardia
- Decreases stress - cortisol
- Reduces soft tissue calcification
- Antioxidant
Blood
Lipid Profile
Taking Bupleurum and Dragon Bone significantly lowers LDL cholesterol
and total cholesterol levels. There were no changes noted in VLDL or
HDL cholesterol levels, though triglycerides decreased slightly.1,2 In addition to this, there was a significant decrease in the atheromatous
plaques in the intimal surface area of the thoracic aortae.
The
authors conclude the results suggest that Bupleurum and Dragon Bone
may protect against hypercholesterolemia and atheromatous lesions by
affecting apoE and LDL receptor mRNA gene expression in the liver.2
Blood
Pressure
The effects of Bupleurum and Dragon Bone on rats with increases in arterial
blood pressure, heart rate and peripheral blood flow induced by the
stimulant theophylline were examined. Theophylline stimulates endogenous
catecholamine production. Bupleurum and Dragon Bone ameliorated the
hypertension in the sympathetic system dominant state.3 That
is, it lowered stress-induced blood pressure rises.
It
is proposed that the antihypertensive effects of this herbal formula
could be related to inhibition of noradrenaline- induced vasoconstriction.4,5
Vascular
Effects
A study on the effect of Bupleurum and Dragon Bone on the vasoconstriction
of cutaneous arterioles induced by nor-adrenaline was carried out using
a rabbit ear chamber. The pretreatment with the TCM formula significantly
reduced the changes of the average diameter of NA- induced vasoconstriction
and also shortened its duration.5
Heart
Rate
In addition to lowering hypertension, Bupleurum and Dragon Bone reduces
stress-induced increases in heart rate.3
Another study using theophylline to induce tachycardia in rats and convulsions
in mice examined the effect of Bupleurum and Dragon Bone on these reactions.
Administration of the herbs prevented the tachycardia, lowered the increase
in arterial blood pressure and reduced the increased heart rate of the
rats treated with theophylline. In the mice the latency of convulsions
was prolonged by treatment with Bupleurum and Dragon Bone and 7 out
of 15 mice were saved from death due to convulsions. These results suggest
that theophylline- induced tachycardia and Bupleurum and Dragon Bone
suppress central nervous stimulation.6
Antistress
Effects
The common theme throughout the research findings is the calming effect
of Bupleurum and Dragon Bone formula on nervous system-induced cardiovascular
pathologies. Specifically this formula seems to be effective in stress
involving emotional factors and that the antistress effect of SRBT is
dependent strongly on the degree of psychological change compared with
physical changes.7, 8, 9
Bupleurum and Dragon Bone has a cortisol-lowering effect under stress.
Again this effect occurs on psychological stress models, not physical
stress.10
Tissue
Calcification
When looking at spontaneous soft tissue mineralisation of the heart
and tongue in mice, in only two weeks, administration of Bupleurum and
Dragon Bone, reduced heart calcium content by 50% and phosphorous by
35%. At four weeks tongue calcification was reduced by 79% and phosphorous
by 32%. These results strongly suggest that this formula may be useful
in preventing and curing soft tissue calcification.11
Antioxidant
Studies suggest that the pharmacological action of Chinese herbal medicines
used for the reduction of post- ischemic brain damage not only have
a free-radical scavenging activity, but also have a suppressive effect
on the generation of lipid peroxidation.12,13
Bupleurum and Dragon Bone is a traditional Chinese-Japanese
medicine formula clinically used for the treatment of hypertension and/or
atherosclerosis concurrent with stress disorders.
| 1 |
Nomura S, et al.Effects of Saiko-ka-ryukotsu-borei-to in patients
with hyperlipidemia. Phytomedicine. 8(3):165-73, 2001 May. |
| 2 |
Yoshie F, et al. Protective effects of Saiko-ka-ryukotsu-borei-to
(Chai-Hu-Jia-Long-Gu-Mu-Li-Tang) against atherosclerosis in Kurosawa
and Kusanagihypercholesterolemic (KHC) rabbits. Pharmacological
Re search. 43(5):481-8, 2001 May. |
| 3 |
Sanae F, et al. Effects of 9 Kampo medicines clinically used in
hypertension on hemodynamic changes induced by theophylline in
rats. Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin. 23(6):762-5, 2000
Jun. |
| 4 |
Wei MJ, et al. Endothelium-dependent and - independent vasoactive
actions of a Japanese kampo medicine, Saiko-ka-ryukotsu-borei-to.
Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy. 51(1):38-43, 1997. |
| 5 |
Okano H et al. Anti-pressor effect of a Chinese-Japanese herbal
medicine, saiko-ka-ryukotsuborei- to on hemodynamics in rabbits.
In Vivo. 13(4):333-7, 1999 Jul-Aug. |
| 6 |
Sanae
F, et al. Effects of Saiko-ka-ryukotsu-borei-to, a Japanese Kampo
medicine, on tachycardia and central nervous system stimulation
induced by theophylline in rats and mice. Japanese Journal of
Pharmacology. 79(3):283-8, 1999 Mar. |
| 7 |
Sasaki K, et al. Increase in monoamine levels caused by emotional
stress in mice brain regions is attenuated by Saiko-ka-ryukotsu-borei-to.
Methods & Findings in Experimental & Clinical Pharmacology.
20(1):27-30, 1998 Jan-Feb. |
| 8 |
Iizuka S, et al. Effects of Saiko-ka-ryukotsu-borei-to on irritable
characteristics in El mice. Methods & Findings in Experimental
& Clinical Pharmacology. 20(1):19-26, 1998 Jan-Feb. |
| 9 |
Fukushima M. [Profiles of effects of traditional oriental herbal
medicines on central nervous systems in humans--assessment of
saiboku-to and saiko-ka-ryukotsu-borei-to using EEG and pharmacokinetics
of herbal medicine-derived ingredients as indices]. [Japanese]
Seishin Shinkeigaku Zasshi - Psychiatria et Neurologia Japonica.
99(6):355-69, 1997. |
| 10 |
Sasaki K, et al. Effect of saiko-ka-ryukotsu-borei-to on the stress-induced
increase of serum corticosterone in mice. Biological & Pharmaceutical
Bulletin. 18(4):563-5, 1995 Apr. |
| 11 |
Hidaka
S, et al. Inhibitory effects of 1-hydroxyethylidene-1,1-bisphosphonate
and Chinese traditional (kampo) medicines on calcification of
the heart and tongue in DBA/2NCrj mice. American Journal of Chinese
Medicine. 24(1):65-75, 1996. |
| 12 |
Fushitani S, et al. [Studies on attenuation of post-ischemic brain
injury by kampo medicinesinhibitory effects of free radical production.
II]. [Japanese] Yakugaku Zasshi - Journal of the Pharmaceutical
Society of Japan. 115(8):611-7, 1995 Aug. |
| 13 |
Fushitani S, et al. [Studies on attenuation of post-ischemic brain
injury by kampo medicinesinhibitory effects of free radical production.
I.]. [Japanese] Yakugaku Zasshi - Journal of the Pharmaceutical
Society of Japan. 114(6):388- 94, 1994 Jun. |
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