Quality evaluation of medicinal products and health foods containing chaste berry (Vitex agnus-castus) in Japanese, European and American markets.

The aim of present study was to evaluate the qualities of chaste berry (fruit of Vitex agnus-castus L.) preparations using HPLC fingerprint analysis. Seven medicinal products 1 from Japan and 6 from Europe, and 17 health foods, 6 from Japan and 11 from the United States were analyzed.

Liver hydrolysate assists in the recovery from physical fatigue in a mouse model.

It is reported that liver hydrolysate (LH) enhances liver function. However, the effects of LH on physical fatigue are unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of LH on alterations in locomotor activity and energy metabolism such as 5'-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), glycogen content, and blood lactic acid, after forced walking.

[Effects of liver hydrolysate on the blood glucose in metabolic syndrome model rats (SHR/NDmcr-cp)].

Insulin resistance associated with visceral fat obesity has been suggested to be the pathological basis of metabolic syndrome. Many studies have demonstrated increased oxidant stress in diabetic patients and animal models of diabetes mellitus. In this study, the effect of liver hydrolysate administration on the blood glucose was examined in SHR/NDmcr-cp (SHR-cp) rats that show spontaneously occurring metabolic syndrome-like abnormalities.

[Analysis of the components of porcine liver hydrolysate and examination of the antioxidant activity and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibiting activity].

Hypertension and oxidant stress predispose to the onset and progression of arteriosclerotic diseases. In this study, the components of two kinds of porcine liver hydrolysates (LH-I and LH-II) were analyzed, and the antioxidant effects and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibiting effects of LH-I and LH-II were examined in vitro. Furthermore, the effects of LH-I and LH-II on the blood pressure were examined in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR).