[Stimulatory effect of a traditional herbal medicine, Unkeito on LH-RH release]

In order to study the effect of Unkeito (Chinese name, Wen-Jan-Tang), a traditional Chinese herbal medicine and its components on luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) and LH release, the mediobasal hypothalamus (MBH) alone or the pituitary alone or the pituitary in sequence with the MBH from normal female rats in diestrus was perifused in a sequential double-chamber perifusion system. LH-RH release from MBH increased significantly (p less than 0.05) by 50-100% of the basal level 30-90 min after the beginning of Unkeito administration. Unkeito at 5 micrograms/ml induced significant LH release (60-95% increase) from the pituitary in series with the MBH, but had no effect on LH release from the pituitary perifused alone. One of Unkeito's components Botanpi induced significant LH release, although other five components had no effect on LH release. These data suggest that Unkeito induces LH release from the pituitary through hypothalamic LH-RH, and can be used for the treatment of patients with hypothalamic amenorrhea.