Usefulness of a Japanese herbal medicine, "Bofu-tsusho-san" with tailor- made diet therapy in subjects with metabolic syndrome Efectividad de una Medicina Herbal Japonesa, "Bofu-tsusho-san", junto a una dieta personalizada en sujetos con síndrome metábolico.

We conducted a randomized, double-blind placebo controlled study of bofu-tsusho-san (BF), in obese women with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). The Kampo formula, Bofu-tsusho-san consists of the total 18 cruds drugs (Table 1), including Ephedrae Herba which enhances noradrenaline release from sympathetic nerve ending, Glycyrrhizae Radix, Forsythiae Fructus, Schizonepetae Spica and 12 other crude drugs. BF showed thermogenic and lipolytic anti-obesity effects via ephedrine and inhibitory action of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase 2.5 times stronger than that of caffeine. BF was effective not only for the reducing body weight, visceral fat and waist circumference, but also for the improvement of insulin resistance without adverse effects on glucose or lipid metabolism. BF may be effective for treating metabolic syndrome and symptoms associated with obesity.