Chemical Investigation of Naturally Occurring Drug Materials. Elucidation of Scientific Basis for Traditional Medicines and Exploitation of New Naturally Occurring Drugs

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Our research project comprises: 1) chemical characterization of the crude drug processing in anticipation of finding new bioactive substances, 2) chemical analysis of bioactive constituents in crude drugs, 3) scientific evaluation of food materials of medicinal value, and 4) exploitation of new bioactive substances from marine organisms. So far, we have elucidated the chemical constituents of following crude drugs and marine organisms. 1. Depending upon the kind of processing method, Rehmanniae Radix (rehmannia root) is classified into three types as Sho-jio, Kan-jio, and Juku-jio. We have compared in detail the chemical constituents (e.g. iridoid, ionone glucoside, cerebroside, acteoside, and oligosaccharide) of those differently processed rehmannia roots and elucidated their chemical characteristics. 2. Glycyrrhizae Radix (licorice root) is the crude drug prepared from the root of various Glycyrrhiza spp. We have analyzed in detail the chemical constituents (e.g. saponin, flavonoid, … More phenylpropanoid) of Glycyrrhizae Radices of various botanical origins and of differently processed ones. 3. Two glycero glycolipids named soya-cerebrosides I and II were isolated from soybean and their chemical structures elucidated. By using newly developed liquid membrane-type apparatus and human erythrocyte membrane, soya-cerebroside II has been found to exhibit ionospheretic activity for Ca^<2+> ion. 4. Two new saponins named theasaponins E_1 and E_2 have been isolated and their structures elucidated. 5. Four new potent cytotoxic dimeric macrolides named swinholides A,B, and C, and isoswinholide A having dimeric dilactone with a 44-membered ring were isolated from the marine sponge Theonella swinhoei. Their absolute stereostructures were elucidated and the structure-activity relationship has been studied in detail. 6. Heterosigma-glycolipids I,II,III, and IV,four new diacylglycero-glycolipids possessing omega3-polyunsaturated fatty acid residues, were isolated from the cultured raphidophycean dinoflagellate and their structures have been determined. Less