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Essential oil from the leaves of Tateyamasugi (Cryptomeria japonica) exhibited strong inhibitory activity on ulceration induced by HCl/ethanol, HCl/aspirin, water-immersion stress and pylorus-ligation. We separated the antiulcer compounds from cedar essential oil by use of distillation and chromatography. As a result, terpinen-4-ol, a monoterpene, and elemol, a sesquiterpene, were isolated as active compounds. The antiulcer activity of the former was more potent than that of the latter. Terpinen-4-ol was a mixture of optical isomers and each possessed potent antiulcer activity. Secretion of gastric juice and output of acid and pepsin activity were lowered by terpinen-4-ol. These results suggest that terpinen-4-ol isolated from cedar essential oil could be a valuable antiulcer agent.

Four mannanases (Mannanases I, II, III, and IV) were isolated from the culture filtrate of a Streptomyces sp. by ion exchange chromatography. Mannanase IV was the main component and accounted for 64.4% of the total activity of the four mannanases. Mannanase IV was further purified by gel filtration, and the purified Mannanase IV was homogeneous on disc-gel electrophoretic analysis.Optimum pH and temperature for the activity of Mannanase IV were 6.8 and 57°C, respectively. It was stable at temperatures up to 45°C when examined at pH 6.8 for 30min, and lost only 15% of its activity at 70°C for 30min at pH 6.8. The isoelectric point and molecular weight were pH 3.65 and 42,900, respectively. The enzyme was strongly inactivated by Al3+, Hg2+, Fe2+, Fe3+, Cd2+, Ag+, Sn2+, and Cu2+, and completely inhibited by iodoacetic acid and N-bromosuccinimide. The enzyme hydrolyzed mannotriose to mannose and mannobiose, but did not hydrolyze mannobiose.

1) 精白粟粉末を用い, α-およびβ-amylase処理によりたん白質含量29.2%の粟たん白濃縮物を得, 白ネズミによる動物試験の供試試料とした。2) 精白粟, 粟たん白濃縮物, グルテンの各アミノ酸組成を分析, CSおよびEAA Indexを求めたところ精白粟が高い値を示した。また粟たん白濃縮物中のリジン含量が低下することが認められた。3) 精白粟, 粟たん白濃縮物, グルテンの一般成分組成を分析, 三訂日本食品標準成分表の精白米と精白粟の分析値を比較したところ粗たん白質で約1.5%, 粗脂肪で約3倍精白粟のほうが高い値を示した。また精白粟中のB1, B2およびミネラルを分析し, 精白米と比較したところB1は約5倍, 鉄は約15倍の値を示した。4) 粟たん白濃縮物およびグルテンをたん白源とし, 8%たん白質飼料で飼育した白ネズミの体重増加量は, 両区の間に有意差は認められずほぼ同程度の成育結果が得られた。また生物価, 消化率, 正味たん白質利用率を比較検討したところ, 生物価に有意の差は認められなかったが, 消化率, 正味たん白質利用率でグルテン区のほうがややすぐれている結果が得られた。

The hydrolysis of konjac glucomannan by a purified extracellular mannanase from Streptomyces sp. produced four kinds of oligosaccharides containing both glucose and mannose residues. These glucomanno-oligosaccharides were identified as O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(l→4)-D-mannopyranose (epicellobiose, G1M1-I), O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(l→4)-O-β-D-mannopyranosyl-(l→4>)-D-mannopyranose (G1M2-I), O-D-glucopyranosyl-(l→4)-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-D-mannopyranose (G2M1-I) and O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(l→4)-O-β-D-mannopyranosyl-(l→4)-D-mannopyranose (G2M2-I). On the basis of the structure of the above oligosaccharides, the mode of action of the mannanase on the glucomannan is discussed.

A systematic study on the electric stimulation of the eye by the sinusoidal alternating current was made by means of the electronic rheotome within a wide range of frequencies extending from 2 to 1, 000 c.p.s. under the various levels of illumination.1) The threshold strength-frequency curve for the dark adapted eye has at least two main minima in the vicinity of 7 and 30 c.p.s., while the curve for the light-adapted eye has a distinct minimum at about 20 c.p.s. There exists always an abrupt inflection of the strength-frequency curve at around 100 c.p.s.2) The shape of the threshold strength-illumination curve depends complicatedly upon the frequency of a.c. According to the curves' shape, all curves obtained were classified into four types, each corresponding to four ranges of frequency of 2-9, 9-25, 25-50 and 50-1, 000 c.p.s. respectively in approximateestimation.3) It was especially noted that the electric threshold for the frequency around 3 c.p.s. varies in a qualitatively parallel relation to the threshold for an adaequate stimulus with increase in illumination, and that the subjective sensation evoked by such low frequencies is also most alike to the sensation evoked by an adaequate stimulus, and that if the higher frequency is used for stimulation, only the onset and cessation of stimulation causes the electrical phosphenes to be perceived.4) It was discussed that the electrical phosphenes evoked by very low frequencies of sine waves seemed to have a close relation to the “on” elements in the retina, whereas those evoked by the higher frequencies, to the “on-off” and “off” elements.

Publisher Summary β-Mannanase refers to hydrolytic enzymes capable of hydrolyzing the (1→4)-β-D-mannopyranosyl linkages of the (1→4)-β-D-mannans, namely, mannan, galactomannan, glucomannan, and galactoglucomannan. The enzymes have been reported to be produced by various microorganisms including bacteria, fungi, and Streptomyces, and to occur in animals and plants. This chapter describes the isolation of mannanase-producing Streptomyces. The chapter describes the purification procedure and some properties of the enzyme. Copra mannan was used as a substrate for the determination of mannanase activity. Streptomyces sp. No. 17 as a representative strain was used in the production of mannanase because the strain showed high stability for the enzyme productivity.

Publisher Summary Mannooligosaccharides have been prepared from partial acid and enzymatic hydrolysates of plant mannans such as ivory nut, guaran, coffee bean, white spruce, and lucerne seeds. This ordinary preparation method, however, does not yield a substantial quantity of oligosaccharides. The chapter describes preparation method for mannooligosaccharides from copra mannan using the mannanase system from Streptomyces sp. The mannanase of Streptomyces has been observed to rapidly decrease the viscosity of viscous polysaccharides such as konjac glucomannan, guar gum, and locust bean galactoglucomannans. The enzyme is a typical endoenzyme. Therefore, the products arising from the enzymatic degradation of the substrate are heterooligosaccharides, that is, various glucomanno- or galactomannooligosaccharides. The chapter also describes the preparation of glucomannooligosaccharides from konjac glucomannan.

It is well known that all varieties of hereditary transmission may occur in retinitis pigmentosa. Although most of the cases of retinitis pigmentosa are inherited as an autosomal recessive trait some rare cases are inherited as an autosomal dominant trait. We have recently encountered a family with the latter type of inheritance. Our examinations were performed on six members of the family through six successive generations. Among the six members three cases were confirmed as affected individuals, and three others were thought to have early manifestations of retinitis pigmentosa.

Since primary retinitis pigmentosa is a progressive hereditary degeneration, there must be an early stage of the disease, and furthermore, in a pedigree showing recessive inheritance of retinitis pigmentosa,so-called genetic carriers who have no subjective symptoms and are apparently normal should be observed.