Hiroji InaSchool of Pharmacy，Tokyo University of Pharmacy＆Life Sciences 1432－1 Horinouchi，Hachioji，Tokyo 192－0392，Japan

Pharmacological Effects of Benzyl G lucoside and Chlorogenic Acid froMPrunusmume Fruit

Hiroji Ina
School of Pharmacy，Tokyo University of Pharmacy＆Life Sciences 1432－1 Horinouchi，Hachioji，Tokyo 192－0392，Japan

The fruitof Prunusmume SIEB.et ZUCC.(Rosaceae)has been traditionally used as medicinal food in Japan.In the course of our search on the pharmacologically active constituents of P.mume fruit，we found that the ethanol extractof P.mume showed a remarkable antihypertensive effect.Benzyl glucoside(BG)and chlogenic acid(CA)were isolated froMthe extract as active components.At this time，Iwish to report on antihypertensive effects，antinociceptive effects and antistressive effects of BG and CA.1—3)

Effects on angiotensin converting enzyme(ACE)，aldosterone and corticosterone levels were examined in rat plasma to elucidate antihypertensive effects of BG and CA.BG induced a decrease of aldosterone levels according to dose and the aldosterone level showed the lowest value in 50 mg/kg administration.Furthermore，the plasma corticosterone levels were increased by BG.The decrease of aldosterone levelswas proved by the increase of the corticosterone levelswhich is the precursor of aldosterone.On the other hand，ACE was obviously decreased in 30 mg/kg administration of CA.

We found that BG and CA inhibited acetic acidinduced writhing behavior ofmice.To elucidate the antinociceptive effects of BG and CA，we compared the inhibitory effects of BG and CA on bradykinin and prostaglandin E2 production，which are well known as substances having an important role for appearance of nociceptive action，in the abdominal cavities of mice with those of aspirin(Asp).BG，CA and Asp equally inhibited bradykinin production.BG and CA also inhibited prostaglandin E2 production，but the effects were smaller than that of Asp.

To investigate the effectiveness of BG and CA for relieving tension in experimentalmenopausalmodel rats (M－rats)caused by ether stress generally used as forced stress in stress experiments，the effects of BG and CA on ACTH and catecholamine(adrenaline，noradrenaline，and dopamine)levels，which participate in stress，were examined in the plasma ofM－rats.BG obviously recovered catecholamine levels decreased by ether stress and also increased dopamine to high levels.On the other hand，CA significantly decreased the ACTH level increased by ether stress.

These results suggest that BG and CA，the constituents of P.mume，are effective on high blood pressure，pain and stress disease.

1)Ina H.，Yamada K.，Matsumoto K.，Miyazaki T.，Nat.Med.，56，184(2002).

2)Ina H.，Yamada K.，Matsumoto K.，Miyazaki T.，Nat.Med.，57，178(2003).

3)Ina H.，Yamada K.，Matsumoto K.，Miyazaki T.，Biol.Pharm.Bull.，27，136(2004).