Department of Clinical Pharmacokinetics, Hoshi University, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2012 Jan 31;139(2):409-13. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2011.11.025. Epub 2011 Nov 25.
We have previously reported that Byakkokaninjinto improves cutaneous pruritus by increasing the expression level of aquaporin-3 (AQP3). In this study, we examined the effect of Gypsum fibrosum (main component: CaSO(4)), which is the main component of Byakkokaninjinto, on the cutaneous AQP3 expression level.
KKAy mice were given a diet containing 0.3% Gypsum fibrosum extract, or a diet containing 0.3% CaSO(4) for 4 weeks. The urine volume, plasma glucose levels, cutaneous AQP3 protein expression, and the Ca(2+) content were measured.
The 24-h urine volumes and the plasma glucose levels in the Gypsum fibrosum extract group were not significantly different from those in the control group. In the Gypsum fibrosum extract group, the cutaneous AQP3 protein levels increased significantly, by approximately 3.2-fold, compared to the control group. The cutaneous Ca(2+) content in the control group was approximately 35μg/g. In the Gypsum fibrosum extract group, the Ca(2+) content increased to approximately 51μg/g, which was significant compared to the control group. In the CaSO(4) group, an increase in the AQP3 protein expression levels and Ca(2+) content were observed; the extent of these increases were similar to those in the Gypsum fibrosum extract group.
The results of this study suggest that Gypsum fibrosum plays an important role in the increased levels of cutaneous AQP3 expression enhanced by Byakkokaninjinto. The results also indicate that the increase in AQP3 caused by Gypsum fibrosum is attributable to an increase in the cutaneous Ca(2+) content from its main component, CaSO(4).
我们之前曾报道过白虎人参汤通过增加水通道蛋白 3（AQP3）的表达水平来改善皮肤瘙痒。在这项研究中，我们研究了白虎人参汤的主要成分石膏（主要成分：CaSO4）对皮肤 AQP3 表达水平的影响。
KKAy 小鼠给予含有 0.3%石膏提取物或含有 0.3% CaSO4 的饮食 4 周。测量尿液量、血浆葡萄糖水平、皮肤 AQP3 蛋白表达和 Ca2+含量。
石膏提取物组 24 小时尿液量和血浆葡萄糖水平与对照组无显著差异。在石膏提取物组中，皮肤 AQP3 蛋白水平显著增加，约为对照组的 3.2 倍。对照组皮肤中的 Ca2+含量约为 35μg/g。在石膏提取物组中，Ca2+含量增加到约 51μg/g，与对照组相比有显著差异。在 CaSO4 组中，观察到 AQP3 蛋白表达水平和 Ca2+含量增加；这些增加的程度与石膏提取物组相似。
本研究结果表明，石膏在白虎人参汤增强皮肤 AQP3 表达水平中起重要作用。结果还表明，石膏引起的 AQP3 增加归因于其主要成分 CaSO4 引起的皮肤 Ca2+含量增加。
