Preventive effect of Morinda citrifolia fruit juice on neuronal damage induced by focal ischemia.

It is known that the fruit juice of Morinda citrifolia (M. citrifolia, Noni, Rubiaceae) has various pharmacological effects such as antioxidant or anti-inflammatory activities, which may help the inhibition of ischemic neuronal damage. Here, we examined the effect of the fruit juice of M.

New anthraquinone glycosides from the roots of Morinda citrifolia.

Six new anthraquinone glycosides: digiferruginol-1-methylether-11-O-beta-gentiobioside (1); digiferruginol-11-O-beta-primeveroside (2); damnacanthol-11-O-beta-primeveroside (3); 1-methoxy-2-primeverosyloxymethyl-anthraquinone-3-olate (4); 1-hydroxy-2-primeverosyloxymethyl-anthraquinone-3-olate (5); and 1-hydroxy-5,6-dimethoxy-2-methyl-7-primeverosyloxyanthraquinone (6) were isolated from Morinda citrifolia (Rubiaceae) roots together with four known anthraquinone glycosides. The structures of the new compounds were established using spectral methods. For five of the new compounds, the sugar is attached via the hydroxymethyl group of the anthraquinone C-2 carbon.

[Protective effect of Morinda citrifolia on the ischemic neuronal damage].

The fruits juice of Morinda citrifolia (Noni juice) is a well known healthy drink and has various pharmacological effects such as antioxidant. Here, we focused on the protective effect of Okinawa Noni juice (ONJ) against ischemic stress using cerebral ischemia-reperfusion model mice. We found that free intake of 10% ONJ for 7 days showed the protective effect on neuronal damage after ischemic stress, while 3% ONJ did not show such effects.

Role and necessity of a school pharmacist at the time of a disaster.

In times of disaster, it is envisaged that many schools will serve as refuges, and it seems important that school pharmacists play their role as co-medical is in such refuges. Here, we investigated the role of school pharmacists as medical caregivers at the time of the Kobe earthquake and elucidated their future necessity by questionnaire intended for pharmacists and nurse-teachers. Although there was no attendance request for the school pharmacist from either school or pharmacist society at the time of the disaster, about 30% of school pharmacists acted voluntarily.

Involvement of kappa opioid receptors in the inhibition of receptor desensitization and PKC activation induced by repeated morphine treatment.

Analgesic tolerance to morphine can develop from long-term use of this drug for the treatment of pain. Many reports have shown that stimulation of the kappa opioid receptor (KOR) suppresses development of analgesic tolerance to morphine. Here, we studied the KOR-mediated inhibition of morphine tolerance during repeated morphine treatment, with a focus on desensitization of the receptor.