Comparison of Granules of “Toukakujohki-toh” Extracts with Its Original Decoctions

Abstract

Comparison between the original decoctions of “Toukakujohki-toh, ” one of the commonly prescribed formulas in oriental medicine, and the granules of the extracts of 6 commercially available brands was studied on the following subjects;1) Contents of cinnamic aldehyde, cinnamic acid and glycyrrhizic acid;2) TLC profiles of the freeze-dried decoction and of the granules extracted with n-hexane, chloroform and methanol;3) Effects on blood coagulation and fibrinolysis in vitro. In all of the six brands, the total amount of extracts in the daily dose was smaller than 1/3 of the original decoctions. Especially, volatile compounds in the granules such as cinnamic aldehyde and cinnamic acid were remarkably reduced as compared with those in the decoctions. The TLC profiles of 2 preparations, decoctions and granules also showed a difference from each other.It was indicated that the effects of the granules of Toukakujohki-toh extracts on coagulation measured in prothromdin time and activated partial thromboplastin time and on fibrinolysis of urokinase measured by fibrin plate method were only 10% of the effects of original decoctions.