ISOLATION OF A VITAMIN-E ANALOG FROM A GREEN BARLEY LEAF EXTRACT THAT STIMULATES RELEASE OF PROLACTIN AND GROWTH-HORMONE FROM RAT ANTERIOR-PITUITARY-CELLS IN-VITRO

We have previously reported that green barley leaf extract, a dried extract of young green barley leaves that is widely used in Japan and other countries as a nutritional supplement, contains a molecule(s) that enhances the release of growth hormone and/or prolactin from rat anterior pituitary cells in vitro. Using reverse-phase high peformance liquid chromatography and fast atom bombardment-mass spectrometry (FAB-MS) we have now isolated and chemically characterized the molecule possessing this neuroendocrine activity. The molecule is alpha-tocopherol succinate, an analog of alpha-tocopherol or vitamin E. This is the first report documenting a role for this vitamin E analog on pituitary endocrine release.