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Determination of β-d-glucan and endotoxin levels in Kampo extracts
Hajime Nakae1, Gaku Takahashi2, Ryo Sato2
1Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine Akita University Graduate School of Medicine Akita Japan.
Aims:
Kampo medicine is based on the use of established formulations combining natural extracts with no "brand-name" products or corresponding "generic" formulation. Due to differences in manufacturing practices, products of different pharmaceutical companies may contain different concentrations of β-d-glucan and endotoxins. The aim of this study was to compare the concentrations of β-d-glucan and endotoxins in five Kampo extracts from four pharmaceutical companies.
Methods:
Packages of Kampo extracts were dissolved in distilled water. β-d-Glucan and endotoxin concentrations were measured using high-sensitivity kinetic turbidimetric Limulus assay.
Results:
All Kampo extracts examined in this study were found to contain detectable concentrations of β-d-glucan and endotoxins. Significant differences in the concentration of β-d-glucan and endotoxins (P = 0.0024 and P = 0.0013, respectively) were observed between products of different pharmaceutical companies.
Conclusions:
High β-d-glucan and endotoxin contents were detected in Kampo extracts, with a large variability in the concentrations of both β-d-glucan and endotoxins among extracts from different pharmaceutical companies.
