[Simultaneous Quantitative Analysis of Berberine and Other Alkaloids in Powdered Phellodendron Bark].

Phellodendron bark ("Obaku") is an important crude drug used in Kampo-medicine. Recently, powder formulation of phellodendron bark was approved as an "efficacious treatment for bruise, sprain, and periodontal diseases", and it has been marketed as an OTC agent. To obtain this approval, the examination of quality control-related characteristics is necessary. Therefore, we established a quantitative method for jatrorrhizine, palmatine, and berberine determination. In this study, we compared the contents of the three constituents obtained from the extracts of Japanese and Chinese phellodendron bark and found remarkable difference.

Effects of Cultivation Month and Genetic Background on Phenolic Content of Citrus tachibana Peel.

Species of the Citrus genus are known as rich sources of phenolic compounds. Peels of Citrus tachibana and Citrus unshiu are used in herbal formulations, sometimes in similar ways. In this study, we examined the effects of plant maturity and genetic background on the total phenolic contents and quantities of specific flavonoids in C. tachibana peel. In addition, we compared these values in C. tachibana and C. unshiu peels. The total phenolic contents and the contents of nobiletin, tangeretin, and hesperidin were higher in the extracts of the immature peel than in those of the mature peels of C. tachibana; moreover, the quantities of these compounds were also influenced by the genetic background of C. tachibana. In the extracts of C. unshiu peel, the contents of total phenolics, nobiletin, and tangeretin were lower than those of C. tachibana peel. However, the hesperidin content was higher in extracts of C. unshiu peel than those of C. tachibana peel. This study evaluated the phenolic and flavonoid contents of C. tachibana and C. unshiu in an effort to provide new insights into herbal medicines for further study and utilization.

[Quality Evaluation of Saposhnikoviae Radix (Differences between Wild-type and Cultivated Products)].

　Saposhnikoviae Radix ("Boufu") is an important crude drug used in Kampo formulation. It is extracted from wild-type plants. However, recently, extraction has become difficult because of a decrease in wild-type plants. Therefore, cultivated plants account for the majority of the market, from which the crude drug is extracted. However, the cultivation techniques used are not sufficient to obtain the desirable extracts. In this study, we compared the contents of the extract and the quantitative values of characteristic constituents obtained from wild-type and cultivated plants, and found a remarkable difference. Therefore, it is considered that these indicators play an important role in the establishment of better cultivation technology.