Studies for the detail mechanisms of depression onset and the development of novel antidepressants based on 'the Wakan-yaku, Sino-Japanese traditional medicine, theory'

The Wakan-yaku is systematized medical care that has been practiced for several hundred years in Japan. Based on the theories of Wakan-yaku and using various Wakan-yaku prescriptions for depression treatment, the experimental studies for 1) novel-classification of depressive disorders, 2) establishment of highly effective drug treatment including the Wakan-yaku prescriptions, and 3) to supply of novel basic knowledge for development of new antidepressants were carried out. The following results were obtained; Wakan-yaku effects in the brain of drug-sensitive/-insensitive human and depression-model mice by image analytical method (MRI), the integrated viewpoint of the action mechanism using the model animal, identification and the significance of genes which changes the expression by Wakan-yaku or the constitutions in cultured cells, and the bioassay of active compounds by using the combined methods of electrophysiological technique with 3D-HPLC analysis/purification.