Authentication of the traditional medicinal plant Eleutherococcus senticosus by DNA and chemical analyses.

Shigoka (SGK), the rhizome of Eleutherococcus senticosus, is a traditional medicine used as a tonic in northeastern Asia and far eastern Russia. We analyzed the nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence of the medicine available on the Japanese and Chinese markets and found that at least 3 species were used as the source plant of the commercial SGKs and that only 70% of all samples was made from the correct species. Furthermore, we performed the quantitative determination of 3 marker compounds, eleutheroside B (EB), syringaresinol diglucoside (Syr), and isofraxidin (Iso) by ultraperformance liquid chromatography (UPLC)/mass spectrometry (MS).

Authentication and chemical study of isodonis herba and isodonis extracts.

Isodonis Herba is used as a Japanese dietary supplement and folk medicine. The extract of the herb (Isodonis extract) is also used as a food additive whose major compound is enmein (1). Here we compared internal transcribed spacer sequences of nuclear ribosomal DNA from Isodonis Herba available on the Japanese and Chinese crude drug markets, and found that the former derived from Isodon japonicus and Isodon trichocarpus, while the latter derived from distinct species such as Isodon eriocalyx.

DNA authentication of Plantago Herb based on nucleotide sequences of 18S-28S rRNA internal transcribed spacer region.

Internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of nuclear ribosomal RNA gene were amplified from 23 plant- and herbarium specimens belonging to eight Plantago species (P. asiatica, P. depressa, P.

Regiocontrolled Iodoaminocyclization Reaction of an Ambident Nucleophile Mediated by Basic Metallic Reagent.

A new and general method of iodine-mediated cyclization reactions of allyl or homoallyl carbamates, ureas, and amides was found to give N-cyclized products as single regioisomers. The present reaction proceeded in good yield through regiocontrol (N-cyclization > O-cyclization) and the increase in the reactivity of an ambident nucleophile by a basic metallic reagent. The N-cyclization selectivity was remarkably affected by the additive employed.