STUDIES ON THE CONSTITUENTS OF EDIBLE AND MEDICINAL-PLANTS .3. EFFECTS OF 7 LIMONOIDS ON THE SLEEPING TIME INDUCED IN MICE BY ANESTHETICS

Effects of seven limonoids, obakunone (1), 7alpha-obakunol (2), 7beta-obakunol (3), limonin (4), 7alpha-limonol (5), 7beta-limonol (6) and nomilin (7), on the sleeping time induced in mice by anesthetics were assayed. All the limonoids, except for 2, shortened the sleeping time induced by alpha-chloralose and urethane. 7 gave the highest reduction rate of sleeping time, and the order of the reduction rate of sleeping time was as follows; 7 > 1 and 3 > 4, 5 and 6. As the chemical structures of these compounds are similar to each other, the relationship between the structure and the effects of limonoids on sleeping time was discussed.