Biol Pharm Bull. 2002 Sep; 25(9): 1183-7.

Pharmacological evaluation of Shokyo and Kankyo (1).

Hashimoto K, Kase Y, Murata P, Kido T, Nakai Y, Sakakibara , Higuchi M, Sasaki H, Okada M.

Kampo & Pharmacognosy Laboratory, Tsumura & Co., Inashiki-gun Ibaraki, Japan. hashimoto_kazunori@mail.tsumura.co.jp

Zingiberis Rhizoma (Shokyo, [Japanese characters: see text]) showed significant ameliorative effect on the BaCl2-induced delay of gastric emptying in rat. Bioassay-guided fractionation of the aqueous extract of Shokyo resulted in isolation of 6-gingesulfonic acid (1) and shogasulfonic acid A (3). These compounds significantly improved the delay of gastric emptying on both BaCl2-induced and N(G)-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA)-induced model in rat. Zingiberis Siccatum Rhizoma (Kankyo, [Japanese characters: see text]) had significant efficacy against castor oil-induced diarrhea. In addition, Kankyo showed the activity increasing intestinal blood flow in normal rat.