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. 2014 Dec 10;5:271. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2014.00271

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Copyright © 2014 Fujitsuka and Uezono.

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

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Summary of the mechanism of action by some ingredients of rikkunshito. Rikkunshito synergistically promotes endogenous ghrelin activity. The ingredients of rikkunshito such as heptamethoxyflavone and hesperetin (an aglycon form of hesperidin), antagonize 5-HT2b/2c receptors in the stomach and the hypothalamus, which are related to ghrelin secretion. Atractylodin activates ghrelin receptors in the stomach and the hypothalamus. 10-Gingerol inhibits ghrelin deacylating enzymes in various tissues, including the stomach. The potentiation of ghrelin signaling pathways may be responsible for rikkunshito’s attenuation of anorexia. POMC, pro-opiomelanocortin; GHS-R, ghrelin receptor; NST, nucleus tractus solitarii; NPY, neuropeptide Y; AgRP, agouti-related peptide.