Background: Tranditonal Japanese Kampo medicine have been used for various diseases, however, there is few reports regarding Kampo medicine to exert renal protective action. In the present study, we investigated renal protective effect of Kampo medicine by using the model with cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity (CIN).

Methods: We used and examined four Kampo formulas (A-D), which are considered to have an efficacy of anti-inflammation. We evaluated the effect of them via in culture cells and a mouse model with CIN.

Results: First, we checked whether those Kampo formulas exerted a preventive action of cisplatin-induced cell injury by using renal proximal tubular cells, and only C inhibited cell death by cisplatin. Mice administered cisplatin developed kidney injury with renal dysfunction, augmented oxidative stress, increased apoptosis, and elevated inflammatory cytokines; however, most of these symptoms were suppressed by treatment with C. Additionally, C did not interfere with its anti-tumor effect against tumor cells in in vitro experiments.

Conclusion: These findings suggest that Kampo formula C has a renal protective action.