Kampo Medicine in a Modern Context: Ethnopharmacological Perspectives

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Editorial

02 September 2022

Editorial: Kampo Medicine in a Modern Context: Ethnopharmacological Perspectives

Kenny Kuchta

and

Silke Cameron

2,644 views

4 citations

Editors

5

Kenny Kuchta

University Medical Center Göttingen

Silke Cameron

Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology, University Medical Center Göttingen

Yukihiro Shoyama

Nagasaki International University

Kenji Watanabe

Yokohama College of Pharmacy

Munekazu Iinuma

Gifu Pharmaceutical University

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About

Japanese Kampo medicine is based on the accumulation of empirical knowledge on traditional combinations of medicinal plant drugs. Mechanisms of action are currently reevaluated in a modern scientific context. Active constituents of Kampo drugs have already been characterized. Representative fields of action are immunomodulation, microcirculation, and neurovegetative and functional disorders. Thus, Kampo medicine can be used in autoimmune disease, allergies, supportive in tumor patients, functional disorders of the gastrointestinal tract and urinary bladder, dysmenorrhea, fatigue and burnout, as well as diabetic angiopathies, neuropathies, cerebral vascular disorders, lumbago, fibromyalgia, and arthritis. Pharmacological actions are based on multi-component / multi-target mechanisms. This Research Topic aims to contribute to the scientific understanding of Kampo drugs, extracts, and prescriptions.

Whilst the spectrum of phytochemical constituents of many Kampo drugs is well characterized, the composition of a preparation might change depending on different cultivars and extraction mechanisms. Potential synergistic effects of different active constituents still have to be clarified, especially in view of these multi-component medications with multi-target actions. Furthermore, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic activities have to be studied in animal models as well as patients. Empirical knowledge can guide modern scientific approaches. In this context, current pressing questions remain regarding their potential anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal effects, as well as anti-tumor activity. Studies of cell-to-cell interactions, intracellular signaling, gene expression, epigenetic modifications and protein synthesis in view of Kampo medicine and its clinical applications are a major goal of the current Research Topic.

We would welcome in this Research Topic pharmacology-relevant studies following subtopics within the context of Kampo drugs:
• Phytochemical constituents of Kampo drugs;
• Multi-component / multi-target acting mechanisms;
• Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic activities;
• Anti-infectious and anti-tumor activity;
• Cell-to-cell interaction and microenvironment studies;
• Intracellular signaling and epigenetic regulations;
• Clinical applications of Kampo medicine.

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One can find more information about the Article Type guidelines in the Ethnopharmacology section here.

All the manuscripts submitted to this project will be peer-reviewed and need to fully comply with the Four Pillars of Best Practice in Ethnopharmacology (you can freely download the full version here).

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Editors

Kenny Kuchta

University Medical Center Göttingen

Silke Cameron

Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology, University Medical Center Göttingen

Yukihiro Shoyama

Nagasaki International University

Kenji Watanabe

Yokohama College of Pharmacy

Munekazu Iinuma

Gifu Pharmaceutical University

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61,011 Total views

43,858 Article views

15,686 Article downloads

1,467 Topic views

Published In

Frontiers in Pharmacology

Ethnopharmacology

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