SHOSAIKOTO (KAMPO MEDICINE) PROTECTS MACROPHAGE FUNCTION FROM SUPPRESSION BY HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA

The feeding of cholesterol-enriched diet for 2 weeks was enough to red uce nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) and interleukin-1 ( IL-1) productions in thioglycollate-elicited murine macrophages. Altho ugh not showing anti-hypercholesterolemic action against ICR mice, Sho saikoto, a Kampo medicine, partially prevented the reduction of NO and IL-1 productions induced by the feeding of cholesterol-enriched diet, and completely released the reduction of PGE, production. These data suggest that the malfunction of macrophage induced by hypercholesterol emia may contribute to early atherogenesis and that Shosaikoto retains macrophage function to preveny the development of atherosclerosis, ev en though serum cholesterol is markedly increased.