Hachimijiogan is beneficial for the treatment of obesity and its related metabolic disorders.

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K07332
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 52010:General internal medicine-related
• Research Institution: Daiichi University, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Principal Investigator: Kagawa Syota 第一薬科大学, 薬学部, 准教授 (30463201)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 八味地黄丸 / 肥満 / 代謝 / レプチン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

I investigated the anti-obesity effects of Hachimijiogan (HJG) and the suppression of metabolic disorders induced by obesity. The results showed that HJG administration significantly suppressed weight gain, hepatic steatosis, and insulin resistance induced by a high-fat diet (HFD). In addition, HJG suppressed hyperleptinemia induced by HFD feeding, which suggested the improvement of leptin resistance might be the mechanism on the anti-obesity effect of HJG. The n-butanol fraction of HJG methanol extract also upregulated gene expression of Uncoupling protein 1 in 3T3L1 adipocytes under β3-adrenergic receptor agonism, indicating that HJG may act directly on white adipose tissues.

Free Research Field

漢方医学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究において、HJGの元来持つ代謝亢進作用から派生する抗肥満作用を証明できたことは、HJGの肥満症治療薬としての基礎研究の基盤を確固たるものにすることができた点で、学術的意義は大きいと思われる。加えて、「ドラッグリポジショニング」の観点から、HJGが、未だ普及が不十分である肥満症治療薬の１つの候補として、臨床利用にシフトできるポテンシャルを証明できたことは、今後も増加するであろう肥満症患者の抑止に大きく貢献できる意味で、本研究の社会的意義も大きいと考えられる。