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The effect of Ginseng Radix Rubra (Red ginseng) on human vascular endothelial cells was examined. Red ginseng was found to promote the proliferation of vascular endothelial cells, inhibit the production but promote the decomposition of endothelin, which is known to constrict blood vessels and raise blood pressure as well as accelerated the synthesis of nitric oxide, which is known to have an angio-tonic effect. Furthermore, Red ginseng was observed to increase the production of Interleukin 1 beta, which is known to play important roles in the homeostatic activities of the human body such as immunity and inflammation as well as increasing the production of tissue plasminogen activators, which suppress the formation of thrombin in the blood coagulation and fibrinolysis mechanisms. It is suggested that Red ginseng has the effect of accelerating endothelial cells proliferation and of promoting physiological activities.

The effects of Ninjinyoeito on endothelial cells in human umbilical veins was examined. We found that Ninjinyoeito accelerates the inhibition and decomposition of Endothelin-1 production, which is known to constrict veins and raise blood pressure, and promote the synthesis of nitric oxicide which is known to have a vasophypotonic effect. We also found that Ninjinyoeito accelerates Interleukin 1-beta (IL-1 beta) production. IL-1 beta is a substance that plays important roles in maintaining the homeostasis of living organisms in immunity and inflammation, for example, as well as in the production of tissue plasminogen activators, which are known to have an anti-thrombotic effect on blood coagulation and on the fibrinolysis mechanism. Thus, it is suggested that Ninjinyoeito is effective in accelerating the physiological functions of human vein endothelial cells in vitro.

We studied the effect of Ninjinyoeito in relation to the endothelial cells of the human aorta. Ninjinyoeito produced a cell proliferation acceleration effect, resulting in suppression of the synthesis and acceleration of the disintegration of endothelin, which acts as a vasoconstrictor and vasopressor. Also, acceleration of the synthesis of prostacyclin, which shows antithrombosis and platelet coagulation suppressing effects, was observed. The results suggest that Ninjinyoeito accelerates physiological function of in vitro human aorta endothelial cells.

The effect of Sho-saiko-to on the concentration of vitamin E in serum and on the granuloma formation in Carrageenin cotton pellet-induced rats was investigated. As a result, in the granuloma rats of Sho-saiko-to group, a significantly improved inhibitory effect on granuloma formation and a higher concentration of vitamin E in serum, cholesterol and phospholipid were observed compared to the control group. Despite this lipid-increasing action by Sho-saiko-to, the concentration of serum lipid peroxide was significantly lower than in the control group. Furthermore, a significant negative correlation between the concentration of vitamin E and granuloma weight was observed. These results suggest that vitamin E plays an important role in promoting the anti-inflammatory effect of Sho-saiko-to.

The effects of Ninjinyoeito on endothelial cells from a human umbilical vein were examined. As a result, the maximum cell density obtained after the addition of Ninjinyoeito was found to be 400 ng/ml, and its inhibitory effect on the development of endothelial injury was also observed. In addition, the levels of LDH and Al-p, which are parameters decreasing with aging, were significantly high. Judging from these results, Ninjinyoeito presumably exerts an anti-aging effect by inhibiting the metabolic aging of cells.

The inhibitory effect of Orengedokuto on lipid peroxide and sialidase was investigated using rats affected with carrageenin cotton pellet-induced granuloma and adjuvant arthritis. As a result, in the case of rats with carrageenin cotton pellet-induced granuloma, a significant inhibitory effect on granuloma formation was observed in the Orengedokuto treated rats (150 mg/kg/day) which showed a decrease in serum lipid peroxide (p < 0.001) and an increase in acid soluble glycoprotein (p < 0.001). In the case of adjuvant-induced arthritic rats, however, the condition of the arthritis was not improved at all, and was even aggravated in spite of the decrease in serum lipid peroxide.

The effect of sho-saiko-to on the concentration of acid soluble glycoprotein in serum and on the granuloma formation in carrageenin cotton pellet-induced rats was investigated. As a result, a significant negative correlation between the concentration of acid soluble glycoprotein and granuloma weight was observed. Furthermore, both the concentration of acid soluble glycoprotein and the inhibition rate of the granuloma formation were significantly higher in the sho-saiko-to group than in the control group. These results suggest that acid soluble glycoprotein plays an important role in promoting the anti-inflammatory effect of sho-saiko-to.