Proceedings of the 12 th China and Japan Joint Meeting on Pharmacology ( CJP - 2002 ) and the 8 th International

To elucidate the efficacy of Choto-san (Diao-Teng-San) in comparison with a placebo, a double-blind study was carried out in 139 patients suffering from vascular dementia. Choto-san extract glanules (7.5 g/d) and a placebo, were given 3 times a day for 12 weeks, respectively. Informed consent was obtained from the patients and/or their families. Choto-san was statistically superior to the placebo in global improvement rating, utility rating, and global improvement ratings of subjective symptoms, psychiatric symptoms and disturbance in daily living activities. Such items as spontaneity of conversation, lack of facial expression, decline in simple mathematical ability, nocturnal delirium, sleep disturbance, hallucination or delusion, and putting on and taking off clothes were significantly improved at one or more evaluation points in those taking Chotosan compared to those taking the placebo. However, no significant difference between the Choto-san and placebo groups was observed in the global improvement rating of neurological symptoms at any of the evaluation points. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of the overall safety rating. These results suggest that Choto-san has a favorable effect on vascular dementia and can be recommended as a treatment for this condition. Double-blind, placebo-controlled studies are significant to evaluate the efficacy and safety of herbal medicines. IL-02 Molecular physiology of volume-regulated chloride channels in heart