Anti-inflammatory and Antioxidant Effects of Japanese Herbal Medicine Kyoseihatekigan on Vocal Fold Wound Healing

Objectives: The Japanese herbal medicine kyoseihatekigan (KHG) has been used to alleviate the symptoms of croaky voice and globus hystericus, and each of its components has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. However, the mechanisms underlying these beneficial actions of KHG on the vocal folds remain largely unknown. We examined the effects of KHG on rat vocal fold wound healing and assessed its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Study design: Animal model.

Methods: The vocal folds of Sprague-Dawley rats were unilaterally injured under endoscopy. Rats were divided into three groups based on KHG dosing from pre injury day 4 to post injury day 3: 0 mg/kg/day (sham group), 500 mg/kg/day (1% KHG group) and 1000 mg/kg/day (2% KHG group). Histologic changes were examined to assess the degree of inflammation and oxidative stress at day 3, and fibrosis at day 56. In addition, gene expression related to pro-inflammatory cytokines and transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-β1) signaling was examined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR).

Results: Histologic analysis showed that the 1% and 2% KHG treatments significantly decreased cell infiltration and the 4-hydroxy-2-nonenalx-immunopositive area, and increased hyaluronic acid at day 3. Both KHG treatments significantly decreased fibrosis at day 56. qPCR revealed that mRNA of interleukin-1β and cyclooxygenase-2 were significantly suppressed at day 1 and TGF-β1 mRNA was significantly downregulated at day 5 in both KHG groups.

Conclusions: The current findings suggest that KHG has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects in the early phase of vocal fold wound healing, which can lead to better wound healing with less scar formation.