Objective : To investigate effects of herbal preparations formulated(Gihyeolgwanjeolbang-A, CWS-A) on complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced arthritis in rats. Method : Arthritis was induced by injecting CFA subcutaneously into the left knee joint and paw, and the herbal preparations formulated(CWS-A I, 82.3 mg/kg ; CWS-A II, 164.6 mg/kg) was administered orally (i.g.) for 10 consecutive days beginning on day 10 after the injection. External shape, paw edema, inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1beta), and histological observation were assessed. Result : In swelling of the paw, CWS-A I and CWS-A II group in 15 days and 20 days were significantly reduced compared to controls. In serum ALT, CWS-A I and CWS-A II group were significantly reduced compared to controls. In TNF-${\alpha}$, CWS-A I and CWS-A II group were a tendency reduced compared to controls. In HGB, HCT, MCHC of erythrocytes, CWS-A II group was increased compared to controls. In histological observations, CWS-A II group was observed synoviocytes more than control group and was observed proteoglycans in the deep layers. Conclusion : The data suggest that CWS-A significant anti-arthritic effects that may be mediated by suppressing inflammatory parameters.

Objectives : In the theory of Korean medicine, Pear has long been considered to protect throat, bronchus and lung. Pear has been believed to remove sputum in Korean people. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of pear ethanol extract (PEE) on asthma induced by ovalbumin in mice. Methods : We investigated the effects of PEE on airway hyperresponsiveness to methacholine, production levels of ovalbumin (OVA) specific total immunoglobulin G (IgG), IgG1, IgG2a and IgE in serum and histopathological changes of lung tissues in asthamtic mice. Results : PEE decreased airway hyperresponsiveness to methacholine significantly compared to non-treated asthmatic mice (P<0.05). Level of OVA specific IgE in serum was lowered by oral administration of PEE effectively (P<0.05). In histopathological observation, administration of PEE reduced infiltration of immune cells into lung tissue. Conclusion : These results suggest that pear has anti-asthmaitc action and related mechanims are involved in anti-inflammatory action such as reducing level of OVA specific IgE and immune cell infiltration.

Objectives : The objectives of this study lie in theoretical establishment of formulas for purging five viscera for curing the sthenic syndrome of five viscera through analyzing the component medicines and combination principles of Hyeongok's formulas for purging five viscera, and furthermore, maximizing the clinical use of them. Methods : This study analyzed the component medicines and combination principles of Hyeongok's formulas for purging five viscera based on the theory for properties and tastes of herbal medicines from the "Yellow Emperor's Canon of Internal Medicine", the theory for principal herbal medicine, assistant herbal medicine, adjuvant herbal medicine, dispatcher herbal medicine, and the five elements doctrine. Hyeongok's formulas for purging five viscera are Sagantang, Saseemtang, Sabeetang, Sapyeotang, and Pyeongshintang. Results : There are three methods for curing the sthenic syndrome of five viscera according to the five elements doctrine : in case of Sagantang purging the liver, purging the heart and invigorating the lung ; Saseemtang, purging the heart, purging the spleen and invigorating the kidney ; Sabeetang, purging the spleen, purging the lung and invigorating the liver ; Sapyeotang, purging the lung, purging the kidney and invigorating the heart ; Pyeongshintang, purging the kidney, purging the spleen and invigorating the spleen. Conclusions : First, to cure the sthenic syndrome of five viscera, the methods of purging five viscera, and invigorating five viscera should be used according to the five elements doctrine. Secondly, herbal medicines appropriate for those treatment methods should be chosen according to the theory for properties and tastes of herbal medicine and thirdly, the combination of those herbal medicines should be carried out according to the theory for principal herbal medicine, assistant herbal medicine, adjuvant herbal medicine, dispatcher herbal medicine. As a good example, Hyeongok's formulas for purging five viscera are combined according to the above theories. In conclusion, this formula was created by applying to the theory for properties and tastes of herbal medicines.

Objectives : This study was performed to compare the preventive effect of water extracts from Saponariae Vaccariae Semen(SVS) and Melandryi Firmi Herba(MFH) on hyperlipidemia and liver damage induced by alcohol. Methods : Except for the normal group, I fed rat on 25% alcohol for 55 days. And each extract was administrated for the same period. I measured the serum component in rat's blood, body weight and weight of liver. Results : At first, I observed effects of SVS and MFH on hyperlipidemia induced by alcohol. SVS and MFH group didn't show the significant decrease of total cholesterol in comparison with those of the control group. SVS and MFH group showed the significant increase of HDL-cholesterol in comparison with those of the control group. SVS group showed the significant decrease of triglyceride in comparison with those of the control group, but MFH group didn't show the significant decrease of triglyceride in comparison with those of the control group. SVS group showed the significant increase of body weight in comparison with those of the control group at 4weeks and 8weeks. But, MFH group didn't show the significant changes of body weight in comparison with those of the control group at 4weeks and 8weeks. By the way, SVS group showed the significant decrease of triglyceride in comparison with those of MFH group. SVS group showed the significant increase of body weight in comparison with those of MFH group at 8weeks. At second, I observed effects of SVS and MFH on liver damage induced by alcohol. SVS and MFH group showed the significant decrease of AST(aspartate aminotransferase), ALT(alanine aminotransferase), ALP(alkaline phosphatase) and LDH(lactate dehydrogenase) in comparison with those of the control group. SVS group showed the significant increase of liver weight in comparison with those of the control group, but MFH group didn't show the significant increase of liver weight in comparison with those of the control group. By the way, SVS group showed the significant increase of liver weight in comparison with those of MFH group. Conclusions : Reviewing these experimental results, it suggests that water extracts from SVS and MFH have pharmaceutical preventive efficacy on hyperlipidemia and liver damage induced by alcohol. Therefore further additional study should be conducted to elucidate the pharmaceutical efficacy of these in depth.

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in the contents of constituents in Samultang and its fermentations with 10 species of lactic acid bacteria. Methods : Ten strains of lactic acid bacteria, Lactobacillus casei, L. acidophilus, L. casei, L. plantarum, L. amylophilus, L. curvatus, L. delbruekil subsp. lactis, L. casei, B. breve, and B. thermophilum, were used for the fermentation of Samultang. The increased and decreased constituents were identified using HPLC/DAD and various liquid chromatographic techniques, and the structure was elucidated using NMR and MS. These compounds were quantitatively analyzed using an HPLC/DAD system. Results : A remarkably increased component was identified to be nodakenetin and a decreased component was determined to be nodakenin. The fermentation of the ten lactic acid bacteria demonstrated that the decomposable rate of these two compounds in fermented Samultang were different. Samultang fermented by L. plantarum showed the most remarkable changes. Conclusion : Nodakenetin was identified as bioconversion component after fermentation and L. plantarum was discovered the best bacteria to increase the component.

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-oxidative and anti-atopic dermatitis effects of persimmon leaf extract obtained from Cheongdo-gun, where more than 60% of Korean persimmon is produced. Methods : Anti-oxidative effects of the crude persimmon leaf extract harvested monthly between May and November were determined by in vitro assay using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like reaction. Anti-atopic dermatitis effects of the crude persimmon leaf extract were determined by using collagenase type I inhibition assay and by quantitative assays including serum histamine, prostaglandin E metabolite and leukotriene $B_4$ levels in animal model of atopic dermatitis using Balb/c mice. Results : Persimmon leaf extract harvested in May had higher levels of total phenolic compounds (182.24 mg/g) and flavonoids (23.05 mg/g) than the ones of different month extract. Also, persimmon leaf extract harvested in May showed the most effective extract scavenging activities of DPPH free radical ($13.39{\pm}0.21\;{\mu}g/ml$) and superoxide anion radical ($40.52{\pm}2.32\;{\mu}g/ml$), leading to use the persimmon leaf extract harvested in May for the experiments hereafter. Persimmon leaf extract showed $326.71{\pm}4.6\;{\mu}g/ml$ of 50% inhibitory concentration ($IC_{50}$) for collagenase type I which is responsible for the degradation of extracellular matrix. In addition, persimmon leaf extract application group could decrease serum levels of histamine, prostaglandin E metabolite and leukotriene $B_4$ compared to the negative control in animal model of atopic dermatitis. Especially, persimmon leaf extract showed a significantly decreased serum leukotriene $B_4$ level relative to the levels of histamine and prostaglandin E metabolite. Conclusions : Persimmon leaf extract showed anti-oxidative and anti-atopic dermatitis effects in vitro and in vivo. These results suggest that persimmon leaf extract may have immunoregulatory function for alleviating atopic dermatitis by decreasing collagenase activity and mast cell activation.

Objectives : This study was performed to investigate effect of evodiae fructus on acute reflux esophigitis rat induced by pylorus and forestomach ligation operation. Methods : Twenty-four laboratory rats were divided four groups and each group had six rats ; normal intact group, acute reflux esophagitis (RE) control group, two experiment RE group treated extract of evodiae fructus 600 mg/kg (EEF600) and 300 mg/kg (EEF300). All rats was fasted for 18 hr but free water, we induced RE by pylorus and forestomach ligation operation. Intact group and RE control group rats were orally administered a distilled water and two experiment groups were orally administed with EEF 600 mg/5ml/kg and 300 mg/5ml/kg. One hour after, rats were anesthetized, intact group was cut the abdomen open and sutured with 2.0 silk thread. RE control group and EEF group were cut the abdomen open, ligated pyloric canal and forestomach with 2.0 silk thread and sutured. Six hour after the operation, rats were sacrified, collected bloods in the abdominal vein, disectted a esophagus and stomach. The stomach was washed a 1 ml PBS and the esophagus was cut longitudinally and pictured a innter mucosa area to research damages in esophagus. Results : The esophagic tissue damage percentage of reflux esophagitis rat was increased compared to that of normal intact group. But esophagic damage percentage of EEF 600 were significantly decreased compared to that of RE control group. But there was no difference on gastric juice pH between control RE, alpha-tocopherol administration rat group and EEF administration rat group. In esophagus of RE control rat, gastric damage occurred severely and injury percentage of mucosa were increased, but EEF 600 mucous inflammatory damage percentage was significantly compared to that of RE control group. Proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and IL-6 in serum on RE control group were markedly grew than those of intact rat, those of vechicle group treated with EEF 600 and EEF 300 were remarkably decreased compared to production of proinflammatory cytokine of RE control group. In microscopic observation, intact group rat had no hyperemia, mucous injury and exclusion, ulcer and edema. But it could showed mucosa damages, submucosa edema and ulcer in RE control. However, administration of EEF 600 and EEF 300 made esophagus have less inflammation and injury by gastric acid. Conclusions : The results suggest that antiinflammatory Effect of EEF could attenuate the severity of reflux esophagitis and prevent the esophageal mucosal damage, and validate its therapeutic use in esophageal reflux disease.

Objective : This study was performed to evaluate the effect of Forsythiae Fructus (FF) ethanol extract on inflammatory cytokine production and its underlying mechanisms in mouse macrophages. Methods : Peritoneal macrophages from thioglycollate medium-injected mice were cultured and stimulated with lipopolysaccharide(LPS) or LPS/interferon(IFN)-${\gamma}$ for cytokine measurement and cellular signaling molecule analysis. Results : FF ethanol extract decreased the levels of secreted tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-${\alpha}$ and interleukin(IL)-6 in IFN-${\gamma}$/LPS-stimulated cells in a concentration-dependent manner. FF extract reduced IFN-${\gamma}$/LPS-induced STAT1 phosphorylation and LPS-induced p38 and JNK activation, but not ERK1/2 activity. The extract also inhibited LPS-induced $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ degradation through suppression of $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ kinase. Conclusions : These results suggest that FF ethanol extract affects the production of TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-6 through inhibition of activation of STAT-1, $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$, p38, and JNK.

Objective : Nelumbinis Folium (NF) is used for diarrhea, headache and dizziness in traditional medicine. In this paper, we examined the anti-inflammatory effects of the methanol extract of NF in mouse macrophages. Methods : Peritoneal macrophages from thioglycollate medium-injected mice were cultured and stimulated with lipopolysaccharide(LPS) or LPS/interferon(IFN)-${\gamma}$ for viability assay, cytokine measurement and Western blotting. Results : NF methanol extract suppressed the levels of nitric oxide (NO) through reduction of inducible NO synthase in a concentration-dependent manner. The extract reduced LPS/IFN-${\gamma}$-stimulated STAT1 phosphorylation and LPS-induced $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ degradation through inhibition of $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ kinase activation. The extract also inhibited p38, JNK/SAPK and ERK1/2 activation. Conclusions : Our findings suggested that NF has anti-inflammatory activity, and have a potential for therapeutic application. Further research is required to investigate its anti-inflammatory active compounds.