The quantitative analysis of sennosides in Rhei Rhizoma and Chinese medicinal preparations containing Rhei Rhizoma was investigated. Sennoside-A, -B and 8-glucosyl rhein of main components were separated and determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on LiChrosorb RP-18 column with a mobil phase of MeOH: pH 3.4 succinate-borate buffer (1: 2).
Compositions of twenty-two market drugs originated from five species Rhei Rhizoma of Kinmon Daio, Gao, Batei Daio, Kohoku Daio and Rhei Rhizoma pulv. were as follows (in mg/g): sennoside-A 2.19-28.12, sennoside-B 0.63-16.40, 8-glucosyl rhein 1.33-19.43. The large content variations probably result in the difference of purgative action.
Quality tests were made on fourteen kinds of Chinese medicinal preparations containing Rhei Rhizoma. The quality of Chinese medicinal preparation is changed by crude drugs and preparation methods such as extraction, concentration and others.

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Seven hundred and fifty mg niceritrol was administrated daily to 9 patients with obese fatty liver for 8 weeks after 8 weeks of dietary treatment. Blood viscosity was decreased at shear rate 37.6 sec^-1 and 376 sec^-1 after 4 weeks of the administration.
RBC-filtrability was increased significantly after 8 weeks of administration (p< 0.05). Plasma viscosity was decreased at shear rate of 37.6 sec^-1 (p< 0.02), 75.2 sec^-1 (p< 0.02) and 376 sec^-1 (p< 0.01) after 4 weeks of the administration, respectively.

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Glycyrrhizin was studied by thin layer chromatography (TLC) using an NH₂-chemically bonded stationary phase, prepared from pre-coated silica gel plate treated with benzene solution containing 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (3APTS). TLC plate treated with 3APTS were applied to the'evaluation of glycyrrhizin in commercial drug samples. The 3APTS treated plates were developed in a chromatographic chamber at room temperature with n-BuOH/ NH₄OH/ EtOH (5: 2: 1) to a distance of 8 cm from the origin. The plates were dried, then treated for detection. Glycyrrhizin appeared as a dark violet spot on a blue background in UV light.
The UV absorbance of the glycyrrhizin spot on the 3APTS treated plate was measured at 254 nm with a Shimadzu dual-wavelength TLC Scanner CS-910, and the quantitative determination was carried out with a Shimadzu C-R1A Chromatopac.

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Mandelonitrile in Apricot Kernel Water was studied by high-performance liquid chromatography using an octadecyl bonded stationary phase. According to the Kawai method, 0.5ml of Apricot Kernel Water is treated with 0.3ml of 1% hydroxylamine hydrochloride solution, which react with free benzaldehyde. After an excess of hydroxylamine is removed by adding 0.2ml of acetone, the mixture is treated with 0.3ml of 10% ammonia solution. And then, the aqueous solution is saturated with NaCl, and the benzaldehyde produced corresponding to mandelonitrile is extracted with 2ml of ethl acetate containing 0.6mg of α-(o-tolylazo)-β-naphthylamine as an internal standard. This method was applied to analysis of a colored preparation composed of Apricot Kernel Water, Senega Syrup and M. Verdau J (3: 5: 5) or Apricot Kernel Water, Liquid Brocin and M.Verdau I (3: 5: 10). With this method, the amount of benzaldehyde produced corresponding to mandelonitrile was determined within 1.68% error over the range from 0.5-5.0μg/ml.

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The dissolution rates of theophylline from four products (three sustained-release formulations and a conventional tablet) were determined by the rotating basket method and, the paddle method in JP 10 dissolution apparatus. From the data obtained under the condition of the rotating basket method at a stirring rate of 200rpm, there was no significant difference between two sustainedrelease formulations, Theo-dur^® tablet and E-0686 granule, as shown in the previous bioavailability studies. This condition was employed for the dissolution tests for sustained-release product of theophylline.
Dissolution studies of halved pd crushed sustained-released tablets, which are commonly dosed to children, revealed that the drug release rates from these tablets were significantly higher than those from the whole tablets.

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Dissolution profiles for cytochrome c in capsule containing enteric coated granules and in enteric coated tablet were investigated. The studies were carried out by using the JP X dissolution method II (paddle method) with agitation at 100rpm in 2nd fluid of JP X disintegration test.
A marked difference of dissolution profiles between two dosage forms was observed. The capsule achieved nearly 100% dissolution in 40min and the mean dissolution time (MDT) of cytochrome c in capsule was estimated as 16.6min. The tablet showed a poor dissolution profile and achieved only 72% dissolution in 40min. The MDT of cytochrome c in tablet was estimated as 22.2min. The contents of cytochrome c in capsule and tablet were determined by extraction with distilled water and phosphate buffers. Cytochrome c in capsule was completely extracted into distilled water and phosphate buffers and the content of cytochrome c in capsule was 105% of the labeled amount. A large difference between distilled water and phosphate buffers was recognized in extraction from tablet, and the content of cytochrome c in tablet was closed to the labeled amount by extraction with 1.0M phosphate buffer. The results suggest that cytochrome c may probably be adsorbed to the additives of the tablet.

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Microbial study on six kinds of waters used for dispensing was carried out by challenging five kinds of microbes to each water respectively. Waters used were fresh tap water, dechlorinated tamp water and fresh purified water with or without 0.05% ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate (paraben). And microbes were E. coli, S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, C. albicans and A. niger. Frerh tap water was found to be effective against, three microbes but only transiently effective against P. aeruginosa and none against A. niger.
Additive effects of paraben to both fresh tap water and dechlorinated tap water were not observed, especially, antimicrobial activity, of fresh tap water against C. albicans was markedly reduced.
On the other hand, additive effect of paraben was confirmed with fresh purified water and no chemical reaction, such as oxydation or ionic reaction due to free residual chlorine, was occurred. From our microbial study and chemical standpoint, fresh purified water and sterilized purified water were more suitable for dispensing use than fresh tap water.

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In order to obtain information on the compatibility of Berachin Dry Syrup (BE. D. S.) with drugs in common use, two presentation of the mixtures were investigated: powder (27 drugs) and solution (20 drugs) preparation. Forty seven drugs were studied by sensory test, and solution preparation (20 drugs) was investigated for changes in redispersibility, viscosity, pH and buffer capacity curve. BE. D. S. residual amouut (%) was measured by absorptiometry and high-performance liquid chromatography.
The changes with time were analyzed by scoring and subject to a time series analysis (by 2 mean vector). A significant change was observed for 6 of the 27 drugs in the wetting under the severe condition (30°C, R. H. 92%), and no change for solution was observed. In solution, a significant change wasn't observed in redispersibility, viscosity, pH, and buffer capacity curve. BE. D. S. was almost stable in 2 weeks under any condition tested.
The above results show that BE. D. S. can be kept in the mixtures with various syrups under the best and moderate condition.

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We described the quantification of clonazepam in plasma using a semi-quantitative enzyme immunoassay reagent which rapidly identifies benzodiazepine overdosed in emergency cases. Since this reagent reacts with not only clonazepam but also several benzodiazepines and their metabolites, it is necessary to separate clonazepam from their metabolites before the measurement of its level. We excluded the interference of the clonazepam metabolites by using a sample preparation column.This method enabled the rapid quantification of clonazepam in plasma.
The between-run precision was established by 8 replicated analyses during 20 days, and the coefficient of variation values ranged from 8.0 to 14.8%. Assay precision of this method were shown to be lesser than that of the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. The lowest measurerable clonazepam concentration in plasma was about long/ml in the case of 0.5ml of sample used. Concentrations of plasma clonazepam in 29 patients determined by this method and HPLC method were compared and showed good correlations in the order of 0.917 in the linear regression analysis. We concluded that this method was sufficiently sensitive, convenient, and practically acceptable for the conventional therapeutic drug monitoring.

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