This paper describes the influence of post-harvest processing and the cultivation year on the components of the root of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi. The major flavonoid glycosides of Scutellariae Radix extract, baicalin and wogonoside were reduced by drying at high temperatures. The glycosides were also enzymatically hydrolyzed and C-glycoside was stable under any drying condition. Flavonoid glycosides were stored in the thin part of two-year-old roots and the bold part of one- and three-year-old roots, whereas aglycones were preserved in the bold part of two-year-old roots. However, in the freeze-dried samples unaffected by temperature and enzymatic activity, the glycosides were found in the bold roots and aglycones were found in the thin roots as expected. Furthermore, analysis of eight isolated compounds showed that wogonoside, wogonin and baicalein had potent inhibitory effects on NO production.

“Kasseki” is defined as “a mineral substance, mainly composed of aluminum silicate hydrate and silicon dioxide. It is not the same substance as the mineralogical talc” in The Japanese Pharmacopoeia (JP), while, “Huashi” is defined as “mainly hydrated magnesium silicate” in Pharmacopoeia of The People’s Republic of China (CP). Thus, the origins of Kasseki defined in JP (JP Kasseki) and Huashi defined in CP (CP Huashi) are different from each other even though they are highly similar as to morphological characteristics. The Kasseki distributed in the market and used in Japan is almost all imported from China. Previously, we have found that Japanese and Chinese markets have at least six (one is in Japan and five are in China) types of these mineral crude drugs (Types A-F) by using an X-ray diffraction method. These facts suggest that mineral crude drugs other than JP Kasseki may be mistakenly imported as Kasseki from the Chinese market to Japan in the future in response to increased demand. In this paper, for development a new simple and easy method for discrimination of the six types of this mineral crude drug, we investigated their color by using a spectrophotometer for L*, a*, b* values as defined by the CIE 1976 L*a*b* Color system. Among the six types, it was difficult to distinguish them from each other because we observed only slight differences in value among them, thouh the values of some parameters differed widely. On the other hand, the result suggested that it would be possible to discriminate Type A (JP Kasseki) from Type D (CP Huashi) by using this method. Furthermore, we examined ten samples of Type A and Type D, and significant differences were recognized for each L*, a* and b* value. These data suggested that the method using a spectrophotometer is valid for the discrimination JP Kasseki from CP Huashi.

According to the Japanese Pharmacopoeia Sixteenth Edition (JP16), the origin of Arecae Semen is the seed of Areca catechu Linné (Palmae). Arecae Semen is used as an ingredient of Kampo formulae such as Kumibinroto and Nyoshinsan. The seed contains alkaloids such as arecaidine, arecoline, guvacoline and guvacine. However, no quantitative test for Arecae Semen is designated in JP16. In this study, an analytical method using HPLC for arecaidine, arecoline and guvacine in Arecae Semen was elaborated, and was performed on the market samples.

The phenylalanine derivatives asperphenamate, N,O-dibenzoyl-L-phenylalaninol and O-acetyl-N-benzoyl-L-phenylalaninol, and the diterpenoids cassipourol and phytene-1,2-diol were isolated from the aerial parts of Villaresia congonha (Icacinaceae). The effects of the isolated compounds (1-5) on the growth of leukemia cells (HL60 and L1210) were examined.

A new acylated saponin called 15-hydroxyjegosaponin A was isolated from the pericarps of S. obassia together with jegosaponin A. The structure of 15-hydroxy-jegosaponin A was determined on the basis of chemical and physicochemical evidence. 15-hydroxyjegosaponin A and jegosaponin A showed anti-microbial activity, while their desacyl-saponins had no activity.

Salomonioside was isolated from the herbs of Salomonia cantoniensis LOUR. together with two known kaempferol glycosides. The structure of salomonioside was determined on the basis of chemical and physicochemical evidence. A known kaempferol glycoside showed a promoting effect on hyaluronic acid synthesis, while salomonioside showed anti-dental caries activity.