The biological formation of a potent flavor compound, 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline, in the aromatic rice variety (Khao Dawk Mali 105) was studied in seedlings and callus of the rice. Concentrations of 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline were determined by GC-MS-SIM using an isotope dilution method. Increases in concentration occurred when proline, ornithine, and glutamate were present in solution, with proline increasing the concentration by more than 3-fold compared to that of the control. Results of tracer experiments using (15)N-proline, (15)N-glycine, and proline-1-(13)C indicated that the nitrogen source of 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline was proline, whereas the carbon source of the acetyl group was not the carboxyl group of proline. 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline was formed in the aromatic rice at temperatures below that of thermal generation in bread baking, and formed in the aerial part of aromatic rice from proline as the nitrogen precursor.

The effects of chronic treatment with hot water extract of Bitter Melon (Momordica charantia L.) or Ginger Rhizome (Zingiber offifinale Rosc) on spontaneous mammary tumorigenesis were examined in SHN virgin mice. In mice given free access to extract of Bitter Melon (0.5%) or Ginger (0.125%) in drinking water, the development of mammary tumors was significantly inhibited. Furthermore, the former inhibited uterine adenomyosis with a common pathological background to mammary tumors and the latterinhibited mammary tumor growth. While the mechanism of the effects of these natural products remains to be clarified, there were no adverse effects of chronic treatment with these agents as estimated from body weight, food and water intake and various plasma component levels as well as external appearance. Thus, these natural products, popular in Japan as foodstuffs, also appear to have a health benefit.

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The effects of combined treatment with Guan-mu-tong (Gmt: Caulis aristolochiae manshuriensis) and other major components of Shi-Liu-Wei-Liu-Qi-Yin (SLWLQY), a Chinese herbal medicine prescribed for breast diseases, on normal and preneoplastic mammary gland growth were investigated. SHN virgin mice were divided into 6 groups at 3 months of age and treated with the samples in drinking water as shown in Table 2 for 8 weeks. Each sample was extracted repeatedly with hot water, dried in vacuo and dissolved with tap water at the concentration indicated in Table 2. Normal and preneoplastic mammary gland growth and thymidylate synthetase activity in the mammary gland were inhibited by Gmt alone; but its effect was affected slightly by the further addition of other products. However, the excretion of urinary components, which is abnormally low in SHN mice, was gradually enhanced by the addition of other products to Gmt and was highest by SLWLQY. The elongated estrous/metestrous stage of the estrous cycle induced by Gmt+Zq was returned to the control level by further addition of other products and by SLWLQY. The normal parameters in this strain during this age period such as body weight change, food and water intake and immune system were affected little by all treatments. All these findings strongly suggest that one of the principles of prescribing Chinese herbal medicines is to normalize the physical conditions, which, in turn, contributes to therapy and protection from diseases.

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