Chohachi Konno

Structure of kukoamine A, a hypotensive principle of Lycium chinense root barks1☆

From the crude drug “jikoppi”, the root barks of Lycium chinense, a novel spermine alkaloid, kukoamine A, showing hypotensive activity has been isolated and the structure has been determined as that represented by formula I on the basis of chemical and physical evidence.

Structure of panaxan B, a hypoglycaemic glycan of Panax ginseng roots☆

Abstract A hypoglycaemic principle, panaxan B, obtained from the roots of Panax ginseng , was shown to be a peptidoglycan with M r of about 1 800 000. Physico-chemical and chemical studies indicated panaxan B to be mainly composed of α-1 → 6 linked D -glycopyranose residues with branching at the C-3 position, the ratio of terminals, branching positions and intermediate units being about 1:1:1.8.

Structure-activity relationship of ericaceous. Toxins on acute toxicity in mice

Abstract The acute toxicity of 36 samples of ericaceous toxins and their congeners has been determined using mice. Those whose LD50 values are low (

Effect of glycans of Saccharum officinarum on carbohydrate and lipid metabolism of rats

A polysaccharide fraction of Saccharum officinarum was tested for its effects on carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in normal rats and those fed a high sugar diet. Feeding with the high sugar diet induced an elevation of serum glucose and significant accumulation of lipid peroxides in the serum and liver. The accumulation of lipid peroxides was inhibited by combined feeding with the polysaccharide fraction. Pathological examination showed that endothelial cell swelling in ascending aorta was found in one third of rats receiving the high sugar diet control but no pathological change was observed in all of the rats concurrently treated with the polysaccharide fraction.

Structure of cleomiscosin A, a coumarino-lignoid of Cleome viscosa seeds

Abstract Cleomiscosin A, isolated from the seeds of Cleome viscosa , has been shown to be a coumarino-lignoid and its structure has been advanced as I on the basis of chemical and physical evidence.

Cleomiscosin D, a coumarino-lignan from seeds of Cleome viscosa

Abstract Cleomiscosin D, a minor coumarino-lignan of the seeds of Cleome viscosa , has been proved to be regioisomer of cleomiscosin C. A method of degradation of coumarino-lignans for the identification of the coumarin moiety has been developed.

Determination of aconitine alkaloids by high-performance liquid chromatography☆

Abstract A rapid, specific and precise method using high-performance liquid chromatography has been developed for the separation and quantitation of the aconitine alkaloids. The alkaloid components present in the crude drug “bushi”, Aconitum roots, have been resolved on an ODS chemically bonded silica gel column using a phosphate buffer (pH 2.7)-tetrahydrofuran (89:11) mobile phase. An alternative method involving ion-pair chromatography with a phosphate buffer (pH 2.7)-tetrahydrofuran (85:15) mixture and 0.01 M sodium hexanesulphonate has also been developed. Determination of the aconitine alkaloids by the two techniques showed very good agreement. In terms of speed, component resolution and quantitation, the assay reported here is superior to other methods. The method has been applied to the evaluation of commercially available preparations of aconitine.

Structure of moracenin B, a hypotensive principle of Morus root barks☆

Abstract From the crude drug “sōhakuhi”, the root barks of Morus plants, a new derivative of isoprenoid flavones, moracenin B, showing hypotensive activity has been isolated and the structure has been determined as I on the basis of chemical and physical evidence.

Mechanism of analgesic action of mesaconitine. I. Relationship between analgesic effect and central monoamines or opiate receptors

The contribution of the central monoamines and the opiate receptor to mesaconitine (MA)-induced analgesia was investigated by means of pharmacological and neurochemical methods in which morphine (Mor) was used for comparison. The analgesic action of MA (i.c.) determined by the acetic acid-induced writhing method and the tail flick method was dose-dependent, indicating that its activity is elicited through the central nervous system. MA-induced analgesia was decreased by alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine (alpha-MT), 6-hydroxydopamine, diethyldithiocarbamate, disulfiram and reserpine, and increased by methamphetamine and norepinephrine (NE). The mode of action of MA was similar to that of Mor except for the results obtained upon combined administration with 1-dopa, dopamine, alpha-MT or chemicals related to 5-hydroxytryptamine. In addition, MA promoted the alpha-MT-induced decrease in NE levels in hippocampus, medulla oblongata plus pons and spinal cord. Levallorphan did not affect the analgesic activity of MA, showing that its activity is not mediated via the opiate receptors. Consequently, it is concluded that the analgesic activity mediated by MA is closely related to responses involving the central catecholaminergic system, in particular, the noradrenergic system.

Sesquiterpenoids. Part XLVII. Structure, configuration, conformation, and thermal rearrangement of furanodienone, isofuranodienone, curzerenone, epicurzerenone, and pyrocurzerenone, sesquiterpenoids of Curcuma zedoaria

Five new furo-sesquiterpenoids, furanodienone [(1E,4E)-8,12-epoxygermacra-1(10),4,7,11-tetraen-6-one](1), isofuranodienone [(1E,4Z)-8,12-epoxygermacra-1(10),4,7,11-tetraen-6-one](2), curzerenone [6,7-dihydro-5β-isopropenyl-3,6β-dimethyl-6-vinylbenzofuran-4(5H)-one](3), epicurzerenone [6,7-dihydro-5α-isopropenyl-3,6β-dimethyl-6-vinylbenzofuran-4(5H)-one](4), and pyrocurzerenone [6,7-dihydro-1,5,8-trimethylnaphtho-[2,1-b]furan)(15) have been isolated from the rhizomes of Curcurma zedoaria Roscoe, and their structures have been elucidated on the basis of chemical and spectroscopic evidence. The conformation of the ten-membered ring in (1) and (2) has been determined by use of the intramolecular internuclear Overhauser effect. Thermal rearrangements of these sesquiterpenoids are described.