Effects of Dai-kenchu-to on levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) and vasoactive intestinal peptides in human plasma.

We examined the effects of Dai-kenchu-to (DKCT) on the levels of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin; 5-HT) in plasma taken from 6 healthy subjects. A single oral administration of 7.5 g DKCT caused significant increases in plasma VIP at 30, 60 to 90 and 120 min (3.5-5.5 pg/ml), compared with the response in a placebo group (about 1.0 pg/ml). DKCT also caused significant increases in plasma 5-HT at 30 (121.8+/-7.3 ng/ml) and 60 (156.5+/-8.0 ng/ml) min, compared with the response in the placebo group (about 101 ng/ml). These results indicate that the stimulatory effect of DKCT on VIP-immunoreactive substance (VIP-IS) secretion is due, at least in part, to increased 5-HT levels in the abdomen. As a consequence, increased VIP-IS may improve feelings of coldness in the abdomen.

RCT Entities:   Population Interventions Outcomes