Abstract: Compounds and use of the compounds for formula (I) where X is selected from the group consisting of a single bond, O, N—(C1-C4)-alkyl, N—Ar1, CR5R6, S, S(O) and SO2; Z1 and Z2 are independently selected from hydrogen, -Alk-OH, —CH2—Ar2—CH2—OH, -Alk?-C(O)ORx, —CH2—Ar2—C(O)ORx and —C(O)—Ar2—C(O)ORx, where Rx is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, phenyl, benzyl and C1-C4-alkyl; R1 and R2 are independently selected from the group consisting of optionally substituted mono- or polycyclic aryl having from 6 to 26 carbon atoms as ring members and optionally substituted mono- or polycyclic hetaryl having a total of 5 to 26 atoms as ring members, R5 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-C4-alkyl and a radical Ar1; R6 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C1-C4-alkyl; Alk is C2-C4-alkandiyl; provided that R1 and R2 are not both phenyl, if R3 and R4 are both hydrogen.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compounds of the formula (I) where X is selected from the group consisting of a single bond, O, N—(C1-C4)-alkyl, N—Ar1, CR5R6, S, S(O) and SO2; Z1 and Z2 are independently selected from hydrogen, -Alk-OH, —CH2—Ar2—CH2—OH, -Alk?-C(O)ORx, —CH2—Ar2—C(O)ORx and —C(O)—Ar2—C(O)ORx, where Rx is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, phenyl, benzyl and C1-C4-alkyl; R1 and R2 are independently selected from the group consisting of optionally substituted mono- or polycyclic aryl having from 6 to 26 carbon atoms as ring members and optionally substituted mono- or polycyclic hetaryl having a total of 5 to 26 atoms as ring members, R5 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-C4-alkyl and a radical Ar1; R6 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C1-C4-alkyl; Alk is C2-C4-alkandiyl; provided that R1 and R2 are not both phenyl, if R3 and R4 are both hydrogen.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a leukotriene receptor antagonist that can be conveniently prepared from a natural source. The object has been achieved by finding that a marine product such as a squid phospholipid extract or an Akiami paste shrimp phospholipid extract contains the antagonists of BLT and CysLT1, which are leukotriene receptors. Therefore, the present invention provides a dietary composition and a pharmaceutical composition for inhibiting the activity of leukotriene receptors, containing a squid phospholipid extract or an Akiami paste shrimp phospholipid extract.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a leukotriene receptor antagonist that can be conveniently prepared from a natural source. The object has been achieved by finding that a marine product such as a squid phospholipid extract or an Akiami paste shrimp phospholipid extract contains the antagonists of BLT and CysLT1, which are leukotriene receptors. Therefore, the present invention provides a dietary composition and a pharmaceutical composition for inhibiting the activity of leukotriene receptors, containing a squid phospholipid extract or an Akiami paste shrimp phospholipid extract.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a therapeutic agent for effectively preventing or ameliorating diseases caused by dysfunction of NOS. The present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition for preventing and/or treating diseases associated with dysfunction of NOS, comprising as an effective ingredient, a compound of the formula (I): wherein R1 and R2 each represents a hydrogen atom or, taken together with each other, represent a single bond, while R3 represents —CH(OH)CH(OH)CH3, —CH(OCOCH3)CH(OCOCH3)CH3, —CH3, —CH2OH, or a phenyl group when R1 and R2 each represents a hydrogen atom, or —COCH(OH)CH3 when R1 and R2 together represent a single bond, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

Abstract: A method of producing glycogen is provided. The method comprises the step of heat- and pressure-treating a sugar-containing material under acidic conditions. The sugar-containing material is a polysaccharide or an oligosaccharide. Alternatively, the sugar-containing material is a plant material selected from the group consisting of Panax notoginseng, Yun Nan San-chi powder (trademark), Panax ginseng, wheat flour, soybean, soy flour, shiitake, and coffee extract residue. Representatively, the glycogen includes a molecule having a molecular weight of 10,000 or less. The glycogen has a specific rotation of [?]D+197° and anomeric proton peaks at 5.37 ppm and 4.95 to 5.33 ppm in 1H NMR spectra.

Abstract: A method of producing glycogen is provided. The method comprises the step of heat- and pressure-treating a sugar-containing material under acidic conditions. The sugar-containing material is a polysaccharide or an oligosaccharide. Alternatively, the sugar-containing material is a plant material selected from the group consisting of Panax notoginseng, Yun Nan San-chi powder (trademark), Panax ginseng, wheat flour, soybean, soy flour, shiitake, and coffee extract residue. Representatively, the glycogen includes a molecule having a molecular weight of 10,000 or less. The glycogen has a specific rotation of [?]D+197° and anomeric proton peaks at 5.37 ppm and 4.95 to 5.33 ppm in 1H NMR spectra.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a therapeutic agent for effectively preventing or ameliorating diseases caused by dysfunction of NOS. The present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition for preventing and/or treating diseases associated with dysfunction of NOS, comprising as an effective ingredient, a compound of the formula (I): wherein R1 and R2 each represents a hydrogen atom or, taken together with each other, represent a single bond, while R3 represents —CH(OH)CH(OH)CH3, —CH(OCOCH3)CH(OCOCH3)CH3, —CH3, —CH2OH, or a phenyl group when R1 and R2 each represents a hydrogen atom, or —COCH(OH)CH3 when R1 and R2 together represent a single bond, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

Abstract: A method of producing glycogen is provided. The method comprises the step of heat- and pressure-treating a sugar-containing material under acidic conditions. The sugar-containing material is a polysaccharide or an oligosaccharide. Alternatively, the sugar-containing material is a plant material selected from the group consisting of Panax notoginseng, Yun Nan San-chi powder (trademark), Panax ginseng, wheat flour, soybean, soy flour, shiitake, and coffee extract residue. Representatively, the glycogen includes a molecule having a molecular weight of 10,000 or less. The glycogen has a specific rotation of [?]D+197° and anomeric proton peaks at 5.37 ppm and 4.95 to 5.33 ppm in 1H NMR spectra.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a therapeutic agent for effectively preventing or ameliorating diseases caused by dysfunction of NOS.

Abstract: The present invention provides domestic fowl eggs having a high content of arachidonic acid and optionally docosahexaenoic acid obtained by feeding egg-laying domestic fowls &ohgr;6 highly unsaturated fatty acids and optionally &ohgr;3 highly unsaturated fatty acids, their production process, a lipid that originates from them, and a food that contains said lipid.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are pyrroloazepine derivatives having anti-.alpha..sub.1 activity and anti-serotonin activity represented by the following formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R means a hydrogen atom, a linear or branched C.sub.1-6 alkyl group or a C.sub.7-10 aralkyl group, A denotes a linear or branched C.sub.2-10 alkylene, alkenylene or alkynylene group, Z stands for O, NOR.sub.1 or NOCOR.sub.5 in which R.sub.1 and R.sub.5 is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl, aryl or aralkyl group, and Y means a particular piperidinyl or pyrrolidinyl group; and salts thereof. Their preparation processes are also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention provides a pyrroloazepine compound represented by the following formula (I) or (II): ##STR1## wherein Z.sub.1, Z.sub.2, R, A and Y are defined in the claims. The pyrroloazepine compounds according to the present invention are drugs having excellent anti-serotonin action. Coupled with their high safety, they can therefore be used as novel therapeutics for ischemic heart diseases. In addition, the compounds of the present invention include those having anti-.alpha..sub.1 action. Such compounds are effective as hypotensive drugs. Pyrroloazepine compounds according to the present invention are therefore extremely useful as therapeutics for a wide variety of circulatory diseases.

Abstract: This invention provides a pyrroloazepine derivative represented by the following formula (I): ##STR1## where the substituents are defined in the specification. The pyrroloazepine derivatives according to the present invention are drugs having excellent anti-.alpha..sub.1 action and anti-serotonin action and feature high safety. They can therefore be used, for example, as novel therapeutics for circulatory diseases.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are pyrroloazepine derivatives, which are useful as therapeutics for circulatory diseases, represented by the following formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R means a hydrogen atom, a linear or branched C.sub.1-6 alkyl group or a C.sub.7-10 aralkyl group, A denotes a linear or branched C.sub.2-10 alkylene, alkenylene or alkynylene group, Z stands for O, NOR.sub.1 or NOCOR.sub.5 in which R.sub.1 and R.sub.5 is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl, aryl or aralkyl group, and Y means a particular piperidinyl or pyrrolidinyl group; and salts thereof. Their preparation processes are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are pyrroloazepine derivatives, which are useful as therapeutics for circulatory diseases, represented by the following formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R means a hydrogen atom, a linear or branched C.sub.1-6 alkyl group or a C.sub.7-10 aralkyl group, A denotes a linear or branched C.sub.2-10 alkylene, alkenylene or alkynylene group, Z stands for O, NOR.sub.1 or NOCOR.sub.5 in which R.sub.1 and R.sub.5 is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl, aryl or aralkyl group, and Y means a particular piperidinyl or pyrrolidinyl group; and salts thereof. Their preparation processes are also disclosed.

Abstract: A novel N-substituted imidazole or thioimidazole derivative and a pharmacologically acceptable acid addition salt thereof, which have a brain function-improving action, are disclosed. The derivative or salt is used as an effective ingredient of a brain function-improving medicine.

Abstract: A novel nitrogen-containing compound capable of preventing hardening of blood vessels by controlling formation of peroxide lipids in cell membranes, which is valuable as an anti-arteriosclerotic agent, is disclosed.

Abstract: 2-phenylbenzoxepin derivatives having a hypoglycemic activity, hypotensive activity, and platelet coagulation inhibiting activity, a process for production of the derivatives, and pharmaceutical compositions containing the derivatives.

Abstract: A novel pyrrolizidine derivative of the formula, ##STR1## which has potent antiarrhythmic activity and low toxicity is produced. The derivative can be synthesized: by acylating 2,6-xylidine to protect the amino group, nitrating the protected xylidine to introduce a nitro group at 3-position, reducing the nitro group to an amino group, followed by diazotizing and hydrolyzing, and then the resulted 3-hydroxy-2,6-dimethylaniline being condensed with 8-halocarbonylmethylpyrrolizidine; or by nitrating N-(2',6'-dimethyl)phenyl-8-pyrrolizidineacetamide to introduce a nitro group at 3'-position, reducing the nitro group to amino group, diazotizing the amino group and hydrolyzing the diazonium compound.