Abstract: Disclosed are botanical compositions, and more particularly to compositions having particularly beneficial therapeutic or prophylactic properties in a mammal. In particular, the compositions of the present inventions are useful inter alia in the treatment and/or prophylaxis of obesity, overeating, and other eating disorders, as well as an oral supplement in place of, or commensurate with, the consumption of food. The compositions of the present invention may be conveniently formulated for suitable administration, such as, for example, as a dried composition. In particularly preferred embodiments, the compositions of the present invention encompass formulations that comprise, consist essentially of, or consist of, a plurality of at least three herbal plants, horticultural and/or botanical equivalents, and/or extracts thereof, having similar or equivalent medicinal or therapeutic properties.

Abstract: The present invention consists in a method of preparing amino thiohydantoins either in isolation or as the C-terminals residue of a peptide. The method comprises reacting the amino acid or peptide with an acylating agent and thiocyanate or isothiocyanates in the presence of a strong acid. The present invention also relates to an improved method for C-terminal sequencing of peptides which routinely analyses all of the common amino acids of peptides. The invention involves the use of a strong, volatile, anhydrous organic or mineral acid to cleave the terminal amino acid thiohydantoin.

Abstract: The present invention provides peptides and compounds which inhibit the enzyme activity of Type II phospholipases A.sub.2. The preferred compounds are pentapeptides. Where the phospholipase is human Type II phospholipase A.sub.2 the preferred peptides are FLSYK and KFLSY.