Open AccessProtective Effects of Kampo Medicines and Baicalin against Intestinal Toxicity of a New Anticancer Camptothecin Derivative, Irinotecan Hydrochloride (CPT‐11), in Rats
Author(s) -
Takasuna Kiyoshi,
Kasai Yoshio,
Kitano Yutaka,
Mori Kazuhiko,
Kobayashi Reiko,
Hagiwara Takehiro,
Kakihata Kohji,
Hirohashi Masaaki,
Nomura Mamoru,
Nagai Eiichi,
Kamataki Tetsuya
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
japanese journal of cancer research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.035
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1349-7006
pISSN - 0910-5050
DOI - 10.1111/j.1349-7006.1995.tb03010.x
Subject(s) - kampo , medicine , toxicity , baicalin , pharmacology , diarrhea , irinotecan , anorexia , camptothecin , traditional medicine , gastroenterology , pathology , chemistry , colorectal cancer , cancer , high performance liquid chromatography , alternative medicine , chromatography , organic chemistry
In clinical use, irinotecan hydrochloride (CPT‐11; 7‐ethyl‐10‐[4‐(piperidmo)‐l‐piperidino]carbonyl‐oxycamptothecin), a novel antitumor agent, causes a relatively high incidence of severe forms of diarrhea. We investigated whether baicalin, an inhibitor of β ‐glucuronidase, which deconjugates the glucuronide of the active metabolite of CPT‐11, SN‐38 (7‐ethyl‐10‐hydorxycamptothecin), and Japanese herbal medicines ( Kampo medicines) which contain baicalin can ameliorate CPT‐11‐induced intestinal toxicity in rats. CPT‐11 (60 mg/kg i.v. once daily for 4 consecutive days) induced intestinal toxicity characterized by diarrhea, loss of body weight, anorexia and disruption of intestinal epithelium. Treatment with baicalin (25 mg/kg p.o. twice daily) or Kampo medicines (TJ‐14 and TJ‐114; 1 g/kg p.o. twice daily) from the day before to 4 or 10 days after the start of CPT‐11 administration resulted in significantly decreased weight loss, improved anorexia and a delayed onset of diarrheal symptoms. Histological examination revealed that Kampo medicine‐treated animals had less damage to the intestinal epithelium and that damage was repaired more rapidly than in control rats. These results suggest that the prophylactic use of Kampo medicines (TJ‐14 and TJ‐114) may be of value against CPT‐11‐induced intestinal toxicity.