The effect of Goshuyuto, Japanese herbal medicine, on migraine induced by cortical spreading depression.

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K18722
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 57060:Surgical dentistry-related
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: Kozu Fumi 大阪大学, 大学院歯学研究科, 助教 (00850273)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 片頭痛 / 大脳皮質拡延性抑制 / 呉茱萸湯 / 三叉神経系

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We investigated the effectiveness and mechanism of action of Goshuyuto for migraine using the rat model of cortical spreading depression (CSD). Rats were administered chow containing 3% Goshuyuto or normal chow for 4 weeks. CSD was induced by application of 1 M KCl onto the pial surface, and behavioral testing, electrophysiological recordings and immunohistochemical staining were performed.
The total duration of immobility, a migraine-related nocifensive behavior, was significantly suppressed by Goshuyuto. There was no difference in the frequency of CSD induced by 1M KCl between the Goshuyuto and vehicle groups. Goshuyuto significantly reduced c-Fos expression in the trigeminal nucleus caudalis and upper cervical cord ("trigeminal cervical complex"), and locus coeruleus. These results suggest that Goshuyuto may alleviate the migraine headache, not by reducing the occurrence of CSD, but by suppressing neuronal activation in the trigeminal cervical complex and the locus coeruleus.

Free Research Field

歯科麻酔学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

片頭痛は反復性の激烈な頭痛発作を主症状とする疾患であり、患者のQOLは著しく阻害される。また、医療費、生産性の損失といった経済的影響も大きな問題となっていることより、多くの患者に有効な治療薬、予防薬の開発が強く求められている。現在までに、片頭痛予防効果があるといわれている西洋薬については基礎実験が行われてきているものの、同じく片頭痛予防薬として使用されてきた漢方薬の呉茱萸湯の片頭痛抑制効果を検討した基礎実験はなかった。本研究の結果は、呉茱萸湯の片頭痛治療への有効性を裏付けるだけでなく、今後の片頭痛治療戦略へ多いに貢献すると期待される。