池上 文雄

Kampo (Japanese herbal) medicines, produced by combining multiple crude drugs, almost all of plant origin but with some of animal or mineral origin, contain great many substances. Since Kampo medicine results from the combination of many substances, their effect is a combination of the various interactions of the constituent substances. It has been demonstrated that several potential side effects such as allergic reactions, diarrhea and vomiting may be experienced when administering Kampo medicine. In addition, it has been reported that Kampo medicine may have antagonistic or synergistic interactions with western drugs or with some foods such as grapefruit juice. Among the 210 medicinal prescriptions used in present-day Japan, the clinical uses and the acute, chronic and mutagenic toxicity of some Kampo medicines are described. Studies of some potential interaction between Kampo medicines and western drugs are also considered. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Kampo (Japanese herbal) medicines, produced by combining multiple crude drugs, almost all of plant origin but with some of animal or mineral origin, contain great many substances. Since Kampo medicine results from the combination of many substances, their effect is a combination of the various interactions of the constituent substances. It has been demonstrated that several potential side effects such as allergic reactions, diarrhea and vomiting may be experienced when administering Kampo medicine. In addition, it has been reported that Kampo medicine may have antagonistic or synergistic interactions with western drugs or with some foods such as grapefruit juice. Among the 210 medicinal prescriptions used in present-day Japan, the clinical uses and the acute, chronic and mutagenic toxicity of some Kampo medicines are described. Studies of some potential interaction between Kampo medicines and western drugs are also considered. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Among 2 10 medicinal prescriptions used in present-day Japan, the clinical uses and the acute, chronic and mutagenic toxicity study of 16 Kampo (Japanese herbal) medicines are summarized. These Kampo medicines are classified into two categories, eight prescriptions containing Bupleurum root (Bupleurum falcatum L.) such as Sho-saiko-to and Saiko-keishi-to, and eight prescriptions not containing Bupleurum root such as Juzen-taiho-to and Ninjin-yoei-to. Studies of some potential interaction between herbal medicine and western drugs are also described. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Among 2 10 medicinal prescriptions used in present-day Japan, the clinical uses and the acute, chronic and mutagenic toxicity study of 16 Kampo (Japanese herbal) medicines are summarized. These Kampo medicines are classified into two categories, eight prescriptions containing Bupleurum root (Bupleurum falcatum L.) such as Sho-saiko-to and Saiko-keishi-to, and eight prescriptions not containing Bupleurum root such as Juzen-taiho-to and Ninjin-yoei-to. Studies of some potential interaction between herbal medicine and western drugs are also described. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

The seeds and one to three years old plants of Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) were analyzed for their free amino acid contents. The neuro-excitatory beta-ODAP (beta-N-oxalyl-L-alpha,beta-diaminopropionic acid), suggested to be the cause of the crippling neurolathyrism, was the major component in the seed extract (70% of the total free amino acids detected) and showed the highest concentration (0.43% by wt) compared to that in the different parts of young plants. beta-ODAP concentration was higher in the shoots as compared to roots and declined in older plants. The amount of beta-ODAP in the roots may be considered as an indirect measure of age and quality. Another neuro-active non-protein amino acid, GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), increased dramatically after germination and reached highest concentration in different parts of 3 year-old plants. Glutamine and arginine were the two major free proteinogenic amino acids in the ginseng plants and together they constituted over 50% of all the free amino acids detected in the root. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

The seeds and one to three years old plants of Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) were analyzed for their free amino acid contents. The neuro-excitatory beta-ODAP (beta-N-oxalyl-L-alpha,beta-diaminopropionic acid), suggested to be the cause of the crippling neurolathyrism, was the major component in the seed extract (70% of the total free amino acids detected) and showed the highest concentration (0.43% by wt) compared to that in the different parts of young plants. beta-ODAP concentration was higher in the shoots as compared to roots and declined in older plants. The amount of beta-ODAP in the roots may be considered as an indirect measure of age and quality. Another neuro-active non-protein amino acid, GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), increased dramatically after germination and reached highest concentration in different parts of 3 year-old plants. Glutamine and arginine were the two major free proteinogenic amino acids in the ginseng plants and together they constituted over 50% of all the free amino acids detected in the root. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Gastrol (1), together with 10 known phenolic compounds. has been isolated from the MeOH extract of the rhizomes of Gastrodia elata Blume (Orchidaceae). and their structures were elucidated by detailed spectral analyses including by 2D NMR spectroscopic analyses. The relaxant effects of these constituents on smooth muscle preparations isolated from guinea-pig ileum were also studied in order to reveal their characteristic pharmacological activities. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Gastrol (1), together with 10 known phenolic compounds. has been isolated from the MeOH extract of the rhizomes of Gastrodia elata Blume (Orchidaceae). and their structures were elucidated by detailed spectral analyses including by 2D NMR spectroscopic analyses. The relaxant effects of these constituents on smooth muscle preparations isolated from guinea-pig ileum were also studied in order to reveal their characteristic pharmacological activities. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chromatographic separation of EtOH extracts of the stems of Derris scandens has yielded six new diprenylisoflavones, named derrisisoflavones A-F, together with six known isoflavones. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analyses. The known compounds were lupalbigenin, scandinone, erysenegalensein E, lupinisol A, lupinisoflavone G and 5, 7,4'trihydroxy-6, 8-diprenylisoflavone. Anti-dermatophyte activity of the isolated isoflavones from D. scandens against Trichophyton mentagrophytes was also examined. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

BIA, beta-(isoxazolin-5-on-2-yl)-alanine, is formed in high concentrations in the seedling stage of many plants belonging to the tribe Vicieae. The metabolism of this compound in different legume seedlings has been studied by radioisotope feeding. In Lathyrus sativus, BIA is metabolised to the neurotoxin ODAP (beta-N-oxalyl-alpha,beta-diaminopropionic acid) and the gamma-glutamyl derivative of BIA. In L. odoratus seedlings BIA is metabolised to the decarboxylation product of the glutamyl derivative, and the glutamyl derivative is proposed as an intermediate. In Pisum sativum seedlings, the main part of BIA is not further metabolised. While in Lens culinaris seedlings, besides the formation of the glutamyl derivative, another four unknown amino acids were found. Approaches for the detoxification of Lathyrus sativus by genetic transformation are suggested. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

A new macrocyclic diterpene, esulol A (1), was isolated from the aerial parts of Chinese Euphorbia esula L. (Euphorbiaceae). The relative structure was elucidated by spectroscopic analyses as a novel highly oxygenated jatrophane derivative.

3-N-Oxalyl-L-2,3-diaminopropanoic acid (beta-ODAP) induces neurolathyrism, a motor neuron disease. To elucidate the pathogenic mechanism of this process, the action of beta-ODAP on the excitatory amino acid (EAA) receptor-mediated currents was examined using cloned EAA receptors expressed in Xenopus oocytes. On the voltage-clamp recordings of an AMPA receptor(alpha(1)/alpha(2) heterooligomer), beta-ODAP was a strong agonist on this receptor, the potency being almost the same as L-glutamate. On the other hand, beta-ODAP had little effect on the glutamate-evoked currents through the expressed NMDA receptor (NR1(A)/NR2A), but showed a weak inhibitory effect on the glycine-modulatory site. beta-ODAP may cause the neurodegenerative disease, neurolathyrism, mainly through the excitotoxic interaction with AMPA receptors.

The relative stereochemistry of a new cage-type alkaloid, asparagamine A 1. isolated from the roots of Asparagus racemosus Willd. (Liliaceae). has been elucidated by spectroscopic, chemical and single-crystal X-ray analyses. This novel polycyclic pyrrolizidine derivative is both the first alkaloid to be isolated from this genus and also the first pyrrolizidine derivative with carbon substituents at C-5 and C-8. The compound showed anti-oxytocin activity in vitro in a dose of 10(-5)-10(-6) mg cm(-3).