薬理と治療

Abstract

Background/Aim Helicobacter pylori（H. pylori）is recognized as the major cause of gastritis and gastric ulcer diseases in patients. In the present study, we investigated whether OKUSA-ICHOYAKU, a gastroprotective drug which is a combination of the Phellodendron Bark and 7 powdered herbal medicines, protects the H. pylori-induced gastritis in Mongolian gerbils. Methods Mongolian gerbils were infected with H. pylori, and they were administered OKUSA-ICHOYAKU （1000 mg╱kg）or berberin（0.3 mg╱kg）twice daily for 4 weeks, starting from 1 day after H. pylori infection. Four weeks after H. pylori infection the gastric mucosa was evaluated both macro- and microscopically. Viable H. pylori counts and myeloperoxidase activity were also determined after the treatment with these drugs for 4 weeks. Results Mongolian gerbils exhibited various pathological changes in the gastric mucosa after H. pylori infection, including edema, bleeding and congestion. OKUSA-ICHOYAKU given for 4 weeks suppressed these pathological changes associated with H. pylori infection, in particular gastric bleeding. Similar effects were obtained by the repeated treatment with berberin, a major ingredient of obacunone. Viable H. pylori counts were significantly reduced by the repeated treatment with OKUSA-ICHOYAKU as well as berberin, although either of these drugs did not significantly affect the increase in myeloperoxidase activity in H. pylori-infected stomach. Conclusion OKUSA-ICHOYAKU shows the preventive effect against gastritis induced in Mongolian gerbils by H. pylori infection, and this effect may be partly accounted for by the effect of berberin. It is assumed that daily intake of this drug might be useful for the prophylactic treatment of H. pylori-associated gastric diseases in patients.