HGF and cancer: In 2011, the collaboration of Dr. Hyuga and Dr. Hanawa from the Oriental Medicine Research Center of Kitasato University (OMRC-Kitasato) with our group found a previously unknown pharmacological action of Ephedra Herb, which impaired hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)-induced cancer cell motility and growth by suppressing the phosphorylation of the HGF receptor (c-Met) [135].