Inhibitory Effect of Shimotsu-to, a Traditional Chinese Herbal Prescription, on Acute Inflammation in Rats and Guinea Pigs

We examined the effect of topical application of Shimotsu-to, a traditional Chinese herbal prescription, on carrageenin-induced edema in rats and ultraviolet radiation-induced erythema in guinea pigs. Shimotsu-to (5% in water) markedly suppressed an acute edema of rat hindpaw induced by 1% carrageenin, and was more effective than any other single crude drug componcent of Shimotsu-to, Topical treatment with this prescription also inhibited ultraviolet erythema on the back skin of guinea pigs (a human sunbrun model). These results suggest the therapeutic effect on acute inflammation by topical application of Shimotsu-to.