Novel approach to curatives of Mibyou (presymptomatic diseases)

The traditional Oriental medicine and health supplement have been empirically practiced but most of them have not come through objective examination to prove their efficacy. From pharmacological aspect, we have been investigating the medical benefits of traditional Oriental medicines and health supplements as curatives and their varied actions and mechanisms. The study on airway inflammation has shown that even a Kampo preparation, Bakumondo-to, has anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, immunomodulatory, secretory-modulating and metabolic regulatory actions. The base of all its actions is founded on the restoration of normal molecular and cellular functions through DNA transcriptional regulation. In other previous studies, we showed that a health supplement, royal jelly (RJ) has weak estrogenic activity. RJ competes with 17β-estradiol for binding to the human estrogen receptors α and β, though it is much weaker than diethylstilbestrol in binding affinity. Treatment of MCF-7 cells with RJ enhances proliferation, and concomitant treatment with tamoxifen blocked this effect. A reporter gene assay showed that RJ enhanced transcription of the luciferase gene through the estrogen-responsive element in MCF-7 cells. Furthermore, subcutaneous injection of RJ restored the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor gene in the uteri of ovariectomized rats. We suggest that the diverse pharmacological functions of RJ can be ascribed, in part, to its estrogenic effects. We hypothesize that polyherbal medicines and health supplements, which have multiple actions, may be better than Western medicine of single component to treat various diseases including 'Mibyou' (presymptomatic disease). Our findings provide us with a new idea on the nature of disorder and disease-state development which involve complicated mechanisms and will contribute to novel principles to prevent diseases and establish new treatment. Adoption of means of translational research should provide objective background for efficacy and stimulate broader application and usage of traditional medicines and health supplements as curatives of Mibyou.