Japanese herbal (
Kampo) medicine,
Hochuekkito (Bu-Zhong-Yi-Qi-Tang in Chinese, TJ-41) and
Juzentaihoto (Shi-Quan-Da-Bu-Tang in Chinese, TJ-48) are well-known
Kampo formulas used as tonic. Although these medicines have separately been applied to the patients clinically depending on their symptoms, the differences of the pharmacological activities for these medicines have not been fully understood.
TJ-48 and TJ-41 were compared for their effects on antibody response in upper respiratory mucosal immune system in vivo.
Oral administration of TJ-41 (100 mg kg(-1) per day) to early aged BALB/c mice, which were nasally sensitized with
influenza hemagglutinin vaccine, significantly enhanced influenza virus-specific
IgA and
IgG antibody titers in nasal cavity and sera, respectively. However,
oral administration of
TJ-48 (100 mg kg(-1) per day) failed to show the enhancing activity. TJ-41 increased not only influenza virus-specific
IgA antibody titer but also total
IgA antibody titer in nasal cavity. The stimulating activity of TJ-41 disappeared
after treatment with
methotrexate. The present study strongly suggests that TJ-41 can stimulate the mucosal immune system of upper respiratory tract, and results in enhancement of
antigen-specific antibody response in upper respiratory mucosal and systemic immune systems.