Evaluation of rooting characteristics of Ephedra cuttings by anatomy and promising strain selection based on rooting characteristics and alkaloid content.

The differences in rooting characteristics of cuttings prepared from E. sinica strains were investigated and found that cuttings prepared from strains with high rooting characteristics showed approximately 90% of the cuttings were rooted, whereas cuttings prepared from low rooting characteristics did not root. To understand the reason for this substantial difference, the anatomy of nodes was examined and found that adventitious roots were generated from the cortex and parenchyma in pith.

Seasonal variation of alkaloids and polyphenol in Ephedra sinica cultivated in Japan and controlling factors.

We investigated the seasonal variation of alkaloids (ephedrine and pseudoephedrine), total polyphenol, and sugar contents in Ephedra sinica cultivated in Japan and elucidated the controlling factors for the variation. In 2018, alkaloids and polyphenol contents increased dramatically from May to July, decreased to their lowest in October, and slightly increased again in November. The reduction of alkaloids and polyphenol contents in the autumn may be affected by precipitation in summer.

Complete Genome Sequence of Infecting Rehmannia glutinosa in Japan.

The complete genome sequence of isolate Jiou of rehmannia mosaic virus (ReMV) infecting in Japan was obtained via Sanger sequencing. Isolate Jiou shared high nucleotide sequence identity (>94%) with other known ReMV isolates.

The combination of ITS2 and psbA-trnH region is powerful DNA barcode markers for authentication of medicinal Terminalia plants from Thailand.

The dried fruits of Terminalia plant (Combretaceae) called "Samo" have been used as herbal medicine in Thai traditional medicine. Four "Samo" crude drugs, namely, Samo thai, Samo thed, Samo dee-ngu, and Samo phiphek, are used as the main ingredients in Triphala and Trisamo recipes. Their commercial products are available in processed and powdered form, but are difficult to authenticate by conventional methods.

A Novel Clerodane Diterpene from Vitex cofassus.

New clerodane diterpene, 16-hydroxy-pentandralactone (1) and known diterpene acuminolide (2) were isolated from the methanol extract of Vitex cofassus leaves. The chemical structure and the absolute configuration of 1 were determined by MS, NMR and electron circular dichroism (ECD) experiments. The isolated compounds were evaluated for their antiproliferative activities against a panel of human tumor cell lines, including a multidrug-resistant (MDR) cell line.

Pharmacological evaluation for improvement of Kanazawa Sutra, medicinal thread for anal fistula.

Kanazawa Sutra (KanS) is a medicinal thread that is used for the treatment of anal fistula. It is used as a substitute for Kshara Sutra (KS) which is used in Ayurvedic medicine. KanS is composed of Ficus carica latex (FCL), Capsicum annuum tincture (CAT), Achyranthes fauriei Kshara (which is processed ash from the whole plant) and powdered Curcuma longa rhizome (CLR).

Molecular Analysis of Terminalia spp. Distributed in Thailand and Authentication of Crude Drugs from Terminalia Plants.

Terminalia, a large genus of Combretaceae, is distributed in Tropical Asia, Africa, and America. Some Terminalia plants are used in folk medicine because they possess powerful medicinal properties. Dried fruits of Terminalia bellirica and Terminalia chebula are used as the main ingredient in Triphala, a famous polyherbal formulation in Ayurvedic medicine and Thai folk medicine, because of their laxative, detoxifying, and rejuvenating effects.

[The Original Formulation for Toso-shu (Tusujiu), Created by the 3rd Century Chinese Physician, Hua Tuo].

The original formulation for "Tusujiu," which Japanese people still consume on the morning of January 1st, was created by Hua Tuo, but has not been studied in detail. The book Huatuo Shenyi Bizhuan, found in 1918, describes a concoction, "Biyijiu," that shows great similarity to the current Tusujiu; the ingredients for Biyijiu being rhubarb, atractylodes rhizome, cinnamon bark, platycodon root, zanthoxylum fruit, processed aconite root and smilax rhizome. The procedures for preparing and drinking it are to "pound the ingredients and then put them into a silk bag dyed with madder.

[Herbological Study on the Medicinal Effects of Roasted Licorice and Honey-roasted Licorice].

In China, the crude drug licorice ("kanzo" in Japanese, "gancao" in Chinese) has been used both dried and roasted as the situation demands from ancient times. The meaning of "roasted licorice" is simply roasted and honey-roasted in ancient and modern times, respectively. However, it is not clear medicinal purposes of processed licorice or why licorice processed with honey began to be used.

Influence of genetic factors on the ephedrine alkaloid composition ratio of Ephedra plants.

We investigated the ephedrine alkaloid [(-)-ephedrine and (+)-pseudoephedrine] composition ratio of a crude Chinese herbal drug described in the Japanese Pharmacopoeia 'Ephedra herb (Chinese name: Mahuang)'. There were marked changes in the alkaloid composition ratio of wild plants in areas where both male and female clusters coexisted. However, in genetically homogeneous areas with the growth of male or female clusters alone, all of the coefficients of the regression lines were positive, but each gradient varied.

Phylogenetic examination of crude drugs derived from Yunnanese Swertia plants.

Aiming to examine whether the genetic background of the crude drugs derived from four Yunnanese Swertia plants and their chemical constituent profiles correlate, we analyzed the nucleotide sequences of their nuclear ribosomal DNA regions including ITS1, 5.8S ribosomal RNA gene, and ITS2, together with those of Japanese S. japonica and S.

A-type proanthocyanidins from the stems of Ephedra sinica (Ephedraceae) and their antimicrobial activities.

Phytochemical investigation of the n-BuOH-soluble fraction of the EtOH extract of the herbaceous stems of Ephedra sinica, which is known as Ephedrae Herba in Traditional Chinese Medicine, led to the isolation and identification of 12 A-type proanthocyanidins, containing five dimers, two trimers and five tetramers [i.e., (+)-epigallocatechin-(2α→O→7,4α→8)-(-)-catechin, named ephedrannin D₁, a dimer; epigallocatechin-(2α→O→7,4α→8)-epigallocatechin-(4α→8)-catechin (ephedrannin Tr₁), a trimer; and epigallocatechin-(2α→O→7,4α→8)-epigallocatechin-(4α→8)-epigallocatechin-(2α→O→7,4α→8)-gallocatechin, named ephedrannin Te1, a tetramer).

Difference in cultivation characteristics and genetic polymorphism between Chinese and Japanese strains of Wolfiporia cocos Ryvarden et Gilbertson (Poria cocos Wolf).

Poria, a dried sclerotium of Wolfiporia cocos Ryvarden et Gilbertson (Polyporaceae) has been used as a crude drug in both Chinese and Japanese (Kampo) traditional medicines. Recently, cultivated products of Chinese Poria strains have accounted for most of the market, while the cultivation of Japanese Poria strains has not been successful. Aiming to determine the relationship between the differences in cultivation characteristics and genetic polymorphism, we conducted a field cultivation experiment, a rot test, and rapid amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis of Poria strains collected from China and Japan: 3 Chinese and 7 Japanese strains.

[Surveys on resources and varieties on Chinese markets of crude drug mahuang].

Many species of the genus Ephedra plants are used as Chinese traditional medicines, in Chinese which are known as "Mahuang" (Ephedrae Herba). In order to get a clear picture of resources distribution and varieties on Chinese markets of the crude drug Mahuang and provide scientific basis for their resource conservation and sustainable use, during recent years we conducted field investigations and market researches many times. The results showed that the most common species on the Chinese markets was E.

Comparison of contents of five ephedrine alkaloids in three official origins of Ephedra Herb in China by high-performance liquid chromatography.

In the present paper, a fast and economical HPLC method [on a Phenomenex Polar-RP column with a solution of (phosphoric acid:triethylamine:dibutylamine:water = 0.40:0.1:0.

Evaluation of the taste of crude drug and Kampo formula by a taste-sensing system (4): taste of Processed Aconite Root.

It is difficult to describe the taste of Processed Aconite Root (PAR) because it contains toxic compounds, and tasting poses some risk to the examiner. Therefore, there is no description of the taste of PAR in the latest Japanese Pharmacopoeia, although the taste of crude drugs has been regulated as a criterion for judgment. In this study, we revealed the objective taste of PAR by using a taste-sensing system.

The relationship between growth of the aerial part and alkaloid content variation in cultivated Aconitum carmichaeli Debeaux.

Processed root of aconite, Aconitum carmichaeli Debeaux--known as bushi in Japan--is indispensable for treating diseases among elderly persons in Japanese and Chinese traditional medicine. Its active component is bushi diester alkaloid (BDA), which consists of aconitine (ACO), mesaconitine (MES), hypaconitine (HYP), and jesaconitine (JES). Since an overdose of BDA results in severe side effects, the BDA content should be within safe limits.

Studies of Ephedra plants in Asia. Part 6: Geographical changes of anatomical features and alkaloids content of Ephedra sinica.

Ephedra sinica Stapf is the main botanical origin of the Chinese herbal drug Mahuang, Ephedra Herb. Eighty-five samples of E. sinica, collected across eastern China, Mongolia, and Buryatia (Russia), were studied anatomically and chemically to elucidate the local variations and the relation between environmental factors and the variations.

[Herbological studies on combination of rhubarb and mirabilite].

In traditional Chinese medicine, it has long been thought that the medicinal effect of a crude drug can be modified by combination with other crude drugs. One well-known example is the combination of mirabilite (a purgative) and rhubarb (an anti-inflammatory and essentially anti-blood stasis drug). One description in the medicinal literature states that mirabilite has to be added after rhubarb has been decocted.

Ephedra resource in Sichuan and Yunnan Provinces 2007.

Wild Ephedra plants growing near the Tibetan border of Yunnan and Sichuan Provinces and north-central Sichuan were surveyed and their DNA and ephedrine alkaloids content were analyzed. By analysis of internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS) 1 DNA, E. likiangensis was found to be the dominant species in these regions, which clustered into 2 major groups in the phylogenic tree.

Molecular analysis and chemical evaluation of ephedra plants in Mongolia.

Ephedrae herba has been used in traditional Chinese and Japanese (Kampo) medicine from ancient times, with the primary resource being in China. In the present study, a field survey as well as molecular and chemical assessments were conducted on Ephedra plants in Mongolia to clarify whether they could be an alternative resource of the Ephedrae herba used in Japanese Kampo medicine. Ephedra sinica, E.

Molecular characterization of akebia plants and the derived traditional herbal medicine.

The stems of Akebia plants, Akebiae Caulis, have long been used in traditional Chinese and Japanese medicines, and are mainly produced in western Japan. Three Akebia plants, Akebia quinata (AQ), A. trifoliata (AT), and A.

Antioxidative potentiality of a Kampo formulation measured by an ex vivo study.

Objectives: Antioxidants in herbs or crude herbal formulations are well known. The antioxidative effect of a Kampo formulation, Bofu-tsusho-san (BTS), was studied in healthy human subjects by means of an ex vivo study of the lag time of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation.

Methods: Eighteen (18) healthy young males (22 +/- 3 years old), who were screened out from 38 males by strict screening tests of serum lipids, were randomly assigned into 3 groups (active BTS 7.