Dai-kenchu-to raises levels of calcitonin gene-related peptide and substance P in human plasma

Sensory afferent neurons in the gastrointestinal mucosa regulate neuropeptides [calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), substance P, etc.], which play various physiologic roles and are gastroprotective. To determine whether the pharmacologic effects of Dai-kenchu-to (DKCT) on the gastrointestine are due to changes in gastrointestinal mucosa regulatory peptide levels, we examined the effects of the DKCT on the levels of CGRP-like immunoreactive substances (IS) and substance P-IS in plasma taken from five healthy subjects. A single oral administration of DKCT 7.5 g caused significant increases in plasma CGRP-IS at 40 min, and in substance P-IS levels at 20 and 60 min, compared with a placebo group. The present study may indicate that the pharmacologic action of DKCT is closely related to changes in CGRP- and substance P-IS levels.