In 1899, Rohto Pharmaceutical began by manufacturing and selling the gastrointestinal medicine "Ikatsu®". Driven by the belief that "a person's vitality resides in their stomach and intestines," they developed this medicine with the sole aim of improving the health of the Japanese people. This philosophy and history have been passed down through generations, and today, the company sells the "Pansiron" series as an over-the-counter (OTC) medicine. Furthermore, they have developed products that address the concerns of people in response to societal changes, such as launching an easy-to-understand series of herbal medicines for symptoms unique to modern life.
To address our customers' concerns, we develop products that focus not only on the problem itself, but also on homeostasis—understanding the underlying causes of those symptoms.
Furthermore, "eating" is the most fundamental human activity for obtaining the nutrients necessary to maintain human health. As the source of the human body, "eating" contributes to building a body that does not rely on medicine, even at the "pre-disease" stage before illness occurs. We develop our food products with this perspective of fundamental care in mind.
In the food sector, we focus on essential nutrients for children and women, as well as inner care for the eyes and skin. We are also developing general food businesses, including restaurant operations and agriculture/livestock farming. Moving forward, we will continue to promote research and development and business development without limiting ourselves to specific fields or functions, aiming to deliver the joy of healthy longevity to our customers.
Research Case Studies
Pursuit of effectiveness
Research on the mechanisms of action of herbal medicines
Antibacterial activity of Magnolia bark extract in direct drug inoculation tests.
Changes in cerebral blood flow due to a decrease in atmospheric pressure
It has long been said that traditional Chinese medicine (Kampo) exerts its effects through the combination of multiple herbal ingredients. However, the mechanisms by which many herbal ingredients and Kampo medicines work have not been scientifically elucidated.
We discovered that an extract from Magnolia buds, a herbal medicine derived from the buds of a plant in the Magnoliaceae family, exhibits antibacterial activity against the bacteria that cause sinusitis. Applying this finding, we developed an oral medication for rhinitis that combines Magnolia bud extract with an anti-allergic component.
On the other hand, Goreisan (containing Atractylodes lancea) has long been known as a headache remedy for rainy weather. Although the mechanism of its action had not been elucidated, we focused on cerebral blood flow, which is the cause of weather-related headaches, and conducted joint research with Kumamoto University.
As a result, we found that Goreisan has the effect of suppressing the increase in cerebral blood flow when atmospheric pressure drops. In contrast to loxoprofen, an analgesic component tested at the same time, which made it difficult for cerebral blood flow to return to normal levels when atmospheric pressure returned from a low-pressure state, Goreisan allowed blood flow to return to normal levels quickly, confirming that it is a useful prescription for weather-related headaches.
We are engaged in research on the mechanisms of herbal medicine and traditional Chinese medicine.
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Research focusing on the absorption of food in the digestive tract
Changes in absorption amount depending on the molecular weight of chondroitin sulfate
In food, ingested components are absorbed from the digestive tract and reach a specific location to perform their function. Therefore, how effectively these components are absorbed is a crucial issue.
Chondroitin sulfate is present in many tissues in the body, such as articular cartilage, skin, and blood vessels, and exhibits excellent water-retaining properties. However, there has been a challenge in that chondroitin sulfate is not easily absorbed when ingested.
Therefore, we developed low-molecular-weight chondroitin sulfate. We demonstrated through intestinal absorption tests using the inverted intestinal tract method that the absorption rate of low-molecular-weight chondroitin sulfate is 14.5 times higher than that of high-molecular-weight chondroitin sulfate.
Furthermore, calcium intake is insufficient in Japanese people of all ages, and it is an important mineral not only for children's growth but also for building a healthy body in the elderly. However, calcium is a nutrient that is difficult to digest and absorb, so improving its absorption rate has been a challenge.
We have demonstrated through inverted intestinal tract studies that Oligomil®, a peptide developed from milk protein, enhances calcium permeability in the small intestine.
We will continue our research to maximize the absorption of food components and develop products that take bioavailability into account.
Pursuit of a pleasant drinking experience / Formulation technology
A discussion about chewable and granular stomach medicines.
Products created with the goal of providing a pleasant drinking experience for stomach medicines.
For oral medications, not only is the drug's effectiveness important, but ease of administration and pleasant taste are also crucial factors.
In the past, stomach medicines were mainly in granule or tablet form, and it was common practice to take them with water. However, when you are out and about and experience sudden heartburn or stomach pain, you are not always in an environment where you can take medicine with water.
Therefore, we developed the first chewable gastrointestinal medicine that can be taken without water in the over-the-counter (OTC) drug market (" Pansiron Cool NOW" (Category 2 drug)).
Conventional stomach medicines often leave a powdery texture and a distinctive taste in the mouth when dissolved in the mouth. However, by carefully adjusting the combination of ingredients, we have created a stomach medicine that can be taken without water and has a pleasant taste and texture.
Furthermore, we have continued our pursuit of a more pleasant drinking experience in recent years. While tablets and granules are the mainstream forms of gastrointestinal medicines, we have received feedback from customers that tablets are large and difficult to swallow, and granules spread in the mouth as powder, making them difficult to swallow and giving off a distinctive taste.
Therefore, we created a new technology called "small granules" that combines the advantages of both (" Pansiron Active 55® ST" (Category 3 pharmaceutical product)).
These are granules similar to tablets, but they are small and easy to swallow without getting stuck in the throat.
In this way, Rohto Pharmaceutical develops oral medications with a focus on ease of administration and pleasant taste.
An approach aimed at healthy longevity
Research focusing on nobiletin contained in shikwasa from the village of longevity (Ogimi Village)
Healthy fruit Shikuwasa / Nobiletin's effect on extending nerve processes
Our group company, "Ceres Okinawa," located in Ogimi Village, Okinawa Prefecture, extracts juice from Okinawan specialty fruits such as shikwasa and NAPPLE.
Okinawa Prefecture is known for its low dementia prevalence, and Ogimi Village is said to be a village of longevity. We began researching the components of shikwasa, a specialty product of Ogimi Village, as we suspected the secret might lie there.
As a result, we discovered that nobiletin, a component found in shikwasa citrus fruit, has the effect of improving cognitive function. Furthermore, our own research revealed that the combination of nobiletin and DHA has a synergistic effect in activating nerve cells.
We will continue our research to support each individual in living a longer, healthier, and more vibrant life.
Women's health management
Addressing nutritional deficiencies in modern women, tailored to each customer's lifestyle.
Scenes from our company's morning activities / Products developed with women's nutritional management in mind
While it has become commonplace for women to participate in society, we also believe that nutritional support and health management tailored to age and life events are important, and we want to contribute to the health of our customers and employees.
We have previously launched the "Dalura" soup series, which uses organic beans and contains nutrients that women often lack, such as folic acid, iron, and dietary fiber. We have also launched "Propo Protein," which allows you to easily consume protein (plant-based), hot ingredients (black ginger extract), and minerals (iron, calcium, magnesium). We will continue to support the health management of modern women.