Abstract: The present invention generally relates to enhancement and recovery of muscle performance in a state of stress induced by physical exercise, disease or trauma. More particularly the invention relates to means for improved muscle performance and for providing more efficient muscle recovery after physical or traumatic stress. The present invention also relates to means for increasing body mass, including muscle mass, and especially lean body mass. Specifically, the invention relates to a nutrient supplement and the use thereof for enhanced recovery and/or performance of the muscles. The invention further relates to a method for improving muscle performance in and muscle recovery from a state of stress induced by physical exercise, disease or trauma.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for treating arthritis utilizing substantially pure diacetylrhein having an aloe-emodin content of less than 20 ppm.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hydroxy acid or a product containing thereof and a product made containing the same. The invention is characterized by the use of the hydroxy acid as a feed additive, either alone or in combination with other useful compounds or a product containing the same.

Abstract: Sennosides A, B and Al of the formula: ##STR1## which are substantially free from sennosides C, D and Dl, and from aloe-emodin derivatives, are prepared by a process whereina) a sennoside mixture is reduced to rhein-9-anthrone-8-glucoside and aloe-emodin-9-anthrone-8-glucoside,b) a liquid-liquid partitioning of the compounds obtained is carried out between a polar organic solvent which is only partly miscible with water and an aqueous phase andc) the rhein-9-anthrone-8-glycosides contained after the partitioning in the aqueous phase is again oxidized to the corresponding sennosides and these are recovered.

Abstract: Diacetylrhein which is substantially free of aloe-emodin components, is prepared by a process whereina) rhein-9-anthrone-8-glusoside containing aloe-emodin components is subjected to a liquid-liquid partitioning of the compounds obtained is carried out between a polar organic solvent which is only partly miscible with water and an aqueous phase,b) the rhein-9-anthrone-8-glucoside contained after the partitioning in the aqueous phase is oxidized to rhein-8-glucoside,c) the glucose residue in the 8-position of the rhein-8-glucoside is split off in an acidic medium and,d) the rhein obtained is acetylated and the diacetylrhein recovered.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for obtaining laxative compounds from senna drug, wherein(a) the senna drug is extracted with aqueous methanol by countercurrent percolation and the extract concentrated at a temperature of .ltoreq.50.degree. C. until the methanol has been completely removed from the extract;(b) the extract obtained is purified by continuous liquid-liquid extraction with an organic solvent;(c) the refined material (raffinate) obtained is transferred to a crystallization apparatus, acidified, while stirring, to a pH of 1.5 to 2.0, seeded with sennoside crystals, left to crystallize while stirring and the crystalline crude sennoside obtained separated off;(d) whereafter, the crude sennoside are, if desired, recrystallized and optionally converted with a pharmacologically compatible base into a pharmacologically compatible salt.