.beta.-hydroxyaspartic acid derivatives

A method of inhibiting the uptake of glutamate by cells expressing a L-glutamate transporter, comprising administering a .beta.-hydroxyaspartic acid derivative to cells expressing a L-glutamate transporter, in an amount sufficient to inhibit the uptake of glutamate, said .beta.-hydroxyaspartic acid derivative having the following chemical formula (1):

• ##STR6## wherein R represents an aromatic acyl group which may be substituted on the ring, a straight or branched lower aliphatic acyl group, an aryl group which may be substituted on the ring, an aralkyl group which may be substituted on the ring, or a straight or branched lower alkyl group;
• or a salt thereof.

A method of treating a patient having neuropathy or a neurodegenerative disease wherein a L-glutamate transporter is involved in the onset or development of the disease, comprising administering a .beta.-hydroxyaspartic acid derivative in a pharmaceutically effective amount, to a patient in need of treatment for a neuropathy or a neurodegenerative disease, said .beta.-hydroxyaspartic acid derivative having the following chemical formula (1):

• ##STR7## wherein R represents an aromatic acyl group which may be substituted on the ring, a straight or branched lower aliphatic acyl group, an aryl group which may be substituted on the ring, an aralkyl group which may be substituted on the ring, or a straight or branched lower alkyl group;
• or a salt thereof.

A composition for inhibiting the uptake of glutamate into cells expressing a L-glutamate transporters thereon comprising a .beta.-hydroxyaspartic acid derivative of the following chemical formula (1):

• ##STR8## wherein R represents an aromatic acyl group which may be substituted on the ring, a straight or branched lower aliphatic acyl group, an aryl group which may be substituted on the ring, an aralkyl group which may be substituted on the ring, or a straight or branched lower alkyl group;
• or a salt thereof, together with a carrier.

A pharmaceutical composition comprising as an active ingredient a .beta.-hydroxyaspartic acid derivative of the following chemical formula (1):

• ##STR9## wherein R represents an aromatic acyl group which may be substituted on the ring, a straight or branched lower aliphatic acyl group, an aryl group which may be substituted on the ring, an aralkyl group which may be substituted on the ring, or a straight or branched lower alkyl group;
• or a salt thereof, together with a pharmaceutically acceptable exciptient or carrier.

A food composition comprising a .beta.-hydroxyaspartic acid derivative of the following chemical formula (1):

• ##STR10## wherein R represents an aromatic acyl group which may be substituted on the ring, a straight or branched lower aliphatic acyl group, an aryl group which may be substituted on the ring, an aralkyl group which may be substituted on the ring, or a straight or branched lower alkyl group;
• or a salt thereof.