Objectives : In this study, we investigated the effect of KOB, a polyherbal medicine for allergic rhinitis and its main herb, Astragali Radix on allergic responses in ovalbumin (OVA)-induced Allergic rhinitis(AR) mice. Methods : Sprague Dawley (SD)-rats were orally administrated with KOB (500 mg/kg), Astragali Radix water extract (ARW, 100 mg/kg) or anti-histamine drug, dosodium cromoglycate (50 mg/kg) as a reference drug, and then intraperitoneally injected with compound 48/80 (8 mg/kg). Rats were measured the mortality and serum levels of histamine. BALB/c mice were orally administrated with KOB (500 mg/kg), ARW (100 mg/kg) or anti-histamine drug, Ketotifen (10 mg/kg) as a reference drug, followed by sensitization and challenge of OVA. Mice were measured the serum levels of histamine and IgE, and observed histopathological changes of nasa mucosa H&E staining. Results : KOB and ARW significantly decreased the mortality and the serum levels of histamine in compound 48/80-induced anaphylatic rats. KOB and ARW also decreased the serum levels of histamine and IgE in OVA-induced AR mice, and inhibited histopathological changes of nasal mucosa with inflammation and the eosinophils infilteration. Conclusions : These data suggest that KOB has a strong anti-allergic effect through the inhibitory property of Astragali Radix, the main component of KOB against allergic responses in allergic rhinitis.

Objective : Canavalia gladiata DC semen (CGS) have been used to improve hematopoietic activity. In the current study, we investigated whether CGS regulate hemato-potentiating function using hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) as a testing system. Methods : HSCs isolated from femur in mice with leukopenia and thrombocytopenia induced induced by CTX. Then, Real-time PCR was performed to measure the mRNA expression and hematopoietic related gene (EPO, IL-3, SCF, c-kit, GM-CSF), the phoaphorylation of GATA-1 and STAT-5a/b were observed by ELISA method, and the number of granulocyte erythrocyte monocyte macrophage colony-forming units (CFU-GEMM) and erythroid burst forming units (BFU-E), semisolid clonogenic assay was performed. Result : When HSCs were treated with CGS, the expression of hematopoietic related genes (EPO, IL-3, SCF, c-kit, and GM-CSF) were significantly increased at the levels of mRNA as well as production in HSCs. Additionally, CGS enhanced phosphorylation of STAT-1 and signal transducer and activator of transcription-5a/b (STAT-5a/b) in HSCs. Furthermore, CGS significantly enhanced the growth rate of granulocyte erythrocyte monocyte macrophage colony-forming units (CFU-GEMM) and erythroid burst forming units (BFU-E) in vitro. Conclusion : These result suggest that CGS has hematopoietic enhancement via hematopoietic cytokine-mediated GATA-1/STAT-5a/b pathway.

Objectives : Schisandrae Fructus (SF) has traditionally been used to balance level of body fluid and to strengthen kidney function. It has been reported that the SF extract has antioxidant, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective and anticancer effects. This study investigated an antiproliferative effect of SF extract on PC-3 human prostate cancer cells and analyzed active ingredients of SF extract qualitatively and quantitatively. Methods : We examined the antiproliferative effect of SF extract with MTT assay, DAPI staining and annexin-V/7-AAD double staining. The active ingredients of SF extract were identified by using HPTLC and HPLC/DAD system. Results : SF-chloroform fraction inhibited growth of PC-3 cells and changed the morphology of nucleus in a dose dependent manner. A dose-dependent apoptotic cell death was also measured by flow cytometry analysis. It was analyzed that SF-chloroform fraction contained more schizandrin than other fractions by using HPTLC and HPLC/DAD system. Conclusions : These results suggest that SF extract and schizandrin may be a potential chemotherapeutic agent for the control of PC-3 human prostate cancer cells.

Objectives : The purpose of this study is searching for grounds of new regulations about submerging properties of Aquilariae Lignum described in the Korean Herbal Pharmacopoeia. Methods : Through the investigation of the various Chinese histories and herbal classics, the definitions of Aquilariae Lignum and documents on actual trade and discrimination methods by sinking under water. Results : In Jiaozhouyiwuzhi(交州異物志) written in the early 2nd century, Aquilariae Lignum was defined as heart wood part or knots sinking under water due to hard and dark deposition of resins. Also, which are not sinking were defined as zhan xiang(棧香), and which are floating were named as qian xiang(槧香). The definitions of Aquilariae Lignum had not been changed till Ching Dynasty era, but the classification and the names about not-sinking and floating Lignum materials were a little changed. Conclusions : These results indicate that it is reasonable to make a regulation that "Aquilariae Lignum sinks under water" in the property description of The Korean Herbal Pharmacopoeia.

Objectives : There is a pressing need to determine the clinical and scientific validity of herbal therapies for animal model with atopic dermatitis since some differences in systemic cytokine polarization between in animal model and in patients with atopic dermatitis has been reported. New studies for tang, medicinal herb itself or effective ingradients of medicinal herb showing anti-atopic dermatitis effectiveness are reviewed in terms of cytokine regulation. Methods : Those herbal therapies used to treat atopic dermatitis in animal model were introduced and the expression pattern of cytokine and the activity of mast cell were compared in both animal model and patients with atopic dermatitis. Results : In case of atopic dermatitis in human, there is a biphasic pattern of cytokine expression in atopic dermatitis, with acute skin inflammation associated with a predominance of IL-4 and IL-13 expression from Th2 cells, and chronic inflammation associated with increased IL-5 from Th2-cells and IFN-${\gamma}$ from Th1-cells. However, a pattern of cytokine expression in animal model with atopic dermatitis is not matched well to the biphasic pattern of cytokine expression in patients with atopic dermatitis. In addition, a kind of cytokine is different by animal model with atopic dermatitis. These differences would make herbal medicines, showing their effectiveness on atopic dermatitis, difficult to apply to patients with atopic dermatitis. Conclusion : The pattern of local cytokine expression plays an important role in modulating tissue inflammation, and in atopic dermatitis this pattern depends on the acuity or duration of the skin lesion. Thus, in order to develop medicinal herb itself or effective ingradients of medicinal herb showing anti-atopic dermatitis effectiveness, biphasic pattern of cytokine expression should be considered in animal model with atopic dermatitis.

Objectives : WHW is a polyherbal medicine for the treatment of chronic renal failure (CRF). WHW previously reported various biological property such as anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation and anti-renal fibrosis in CRF. This study aimed to investigate the anti-apoptotic effect of WHW on staurosporin(SSP)-induced apoptosis in canine kidney epithelial cells (MDCK). Methods : MDCK cells were treated with different concentrations of WHW (0.1, 0.2, 0.5 and $1mg/m{\ell}$) for 1 h, and then induced apoptosis by treatment of SSP ($1{\mu}M$) for 24 h. Cell viability was measured by WST-1 assay. The expression of apoptotic proteins such as caspase-3, Bax and Bcl-2 was determined by Western blot. Caspase-3 activity and ROS levels were also measured by their commercial available assay kits. Cell apoptosis was observed by Hoechst and DNA fragmentation. Results : WHW significantly increased the cell viability on SSP-treated MDCK cells. WHW inhibited SSP-induced expression of apoptotic proteins such as caspase-3 and Bax, and significantly decreased caspase-3 activity in MDCK cells. WHW significantly decreased SSP-induced production of ROS, and suppressed SSP-induced chromatin condensation and DNA fragmentation in MDCK cells. Conclusions : These results suggest that WHW has an anti-apoptotic effect in renal cells through suppressing the expression of apoptotic proteins, ROS production and DNA damages.

Objective : Obesity is often defined as a condition associated with accumulations of excessive body fats which resulting from disorder of energy balance in term of energy intake and energy expenditure. Methods : The effects of natural mixture (T) for inhibition of lipid metabolism on the liver, epididymal fat pads and pancreatic zymogen granules of high fat diet (HFD) supplied rats were observed by histopathology and histomorphometry. Results : As results of HFD supply, severe steatohepatitis such as increases of mean diameters of hepatocytes and the percentages regions of fatty changes was detected. In addition, hypertrophy of adipocytes (increase of mean diameters of epididymal fat pads) was also detected with dramatic decreases of pancreatic zymogen granules at histopathological and histomorphometrical observations. However, theses steatohepatitis and hypertrophy of adipocytes induced by HFD supply were inhibited by treatment of 5 % and 10 % T (T5, T10), respectively. Well corresponded as the results of adipocyte hypertrophy and steatohepatitis, the decreases of pancreatic zymogen granules were also dose-dependently inhibited by T treatment as compared with HFD control, respectively. Conclusion : In conclusion, based on the results, it is considered that test materials, T5 and T10, will be showed hepatoprotective and anti-obese effects, may be directly and/or indirectly mediated by pancreatic zymogen granules because they dose-dependently inhibited steatohepatitis, hypertrophy of adipocytes and decreases of pancreatic zymogen granules induced by HFD supply, respectively.

Objective : This study was conducted to investigate into the etymology of 218 species names for 128 woody herbal medicines in Korea. Methods : The examined herbalogical books and research paper which published at home and abroad. Results ; This study was conducted to investigate into the etymology of 218 species names for 128 woody herbal medicines in Korea. The origins of species names for woody herbal medicines in Korea were in order of the local place name by thirty seven(16.97%), the dialects and old name by twenty two(10.09%), the morphological characters of leaves by twenty(9.17%), the plant's constituents and uses by fifty(6.88%), the person's name by fifty(6.88%), the other's generic names and species names by thirteen(5.96%), the morphological characters of flowers by twelve(5.50%), the morphological characters of stems by twelve(5.50%), the words meaning a number by twelve(5.50%), the relative characteristic by comparing with the same genus by twelve(5.50%), and so on. Conclusion : According to the investigation which origin of species names of woody herbal medicines from herbalogy textbook, the number of species names of herbal medicine originated from the local place names by 37(16.97%) was the most of all.

Objectives : Under normal condition melanin protects the skin from extracellular stimuli including ultraviolet (UV)-induced oxidative skin damages, but excess production and accumulation of melanin can induce hyperpigmentation causing esthetic problems. Therefore, in this study we tried to search for natural skin whitening materials from marine natural resources. Methods : Water and ethanol extracts of marine natural resources were prepared from Porphyra thalli (PT), Laminariae thallus (LT), Ostreae concha (OC), Sargassum thallus (ST), Undaria thallus (UT), Codium thalli (CT), Enteromorpha thalli (ET), Syngnathoides biaculeatus (SB), and Hippocampus coronatus (Hc). Their effects against UVB and ${\alpha}$-melanocyte stimulating hormone (${\alpha}$-MSH)-induced melanogenesis were investigated based on melanin formation in B16 mouse melanoma cells. The mRNA and protein expression of enzymes involved in the melanogenic process were further examined by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot analysis, respectively. Results : Water extract of Ostreae concha (OCW/E) effectively inhibited UVB and ${\alpha}$-MSH-induced melanin production in B16 melanocytes, which seemed to be mediated by inhibition of mRNA expression of tyrosinase and tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TRP-1). In another experiment, ethanol extracts from Porphyra thalli (PTE/E), Laminariae thallus (LTE/E), Sargassum thallus (STE/E), Undaria thallus (UTE/E), Codium thalli (CTE/E), Syngnathoides biaculeatus (SBE/E), and Hippocampus coronatus (HcE/E) significantly suppressed UVB and ${\alpha}$-MSH-induced melanin formation. Furthermore, ethylacetate fraction isolated form LTE/E (LTE/EEt) decreased UVB and ${\alpha}$-MSH-elevated extracellular melanin levels via inhibition of tyrosinase protein expression. Conclutions : These results suggest that marine natural resources such as Porphyra thalli, Laminariae thallus, Ostreae concha, Sargassum thallus, Undaria thallus, Codium thalli, Syngnathoides biaculeatus and Hippocampus coronatus have anti-melanogenic effects, thereby exhibiting high potentials to be utilized as one of the ingredients for the development of new whitening functional cosmetics.

Objective : Banhahubak-tang is indicated for globus hystericus, marked by a subjective sensation as if something stuffed in the throat, chest distress, cough or vomiting, greasy whitish, taut and smooth pulse. In this study, the effects of Banhahubak-Tang extract (BHTe) were tested for anti-stress action. Methods : BHTe was extracted by pure water using electronic extractor and then fed to ICR male mice ($20{\pm}2g$) orally with the dose of 100mg/kg/day for five days. Mice were exposed to sociopsychological stress by restraining and seeing foot shock stressed mice for one hour for five days. Results : BHTe administered group showed a tendency of decreasing of serum corticosterone secretion when compared with control group, and BHTe administration also significantly up-regulated noradrenaline secretions in the dorsal cortex of brain. Lipid peroxidation of the brain tissues of mice were tested by measuring malondialdehyde, but BHTe showed no significant change. The elevated plus-maze test was designed to detect the effect of anxiolytic drugs, and BHTe administered group showed a significant increase of latency time. Conclusions : These results suggest that BHTe can effectively rid the psychological stress and it's related diseases.

Objective : This study was carried out to clarify the origin of 94 genus for 125 species of herbal woody plants. Methods : The examined herbalogical books and research paper which published at home and abroad. Results : The generic names of 30.85% by ratin ; Ancient Greek and other language, 14.89% by the personal name, 12.77% by the growth characteristics, 8.51% by the shape of fruit and other related shape,, 6.38% by the place names, 5.32% by the colors have been named. Conclusion : According to the investigation which Origin of the Herbal Medicinal woody Plants Genus from Herbalogy textbook, The number of genus names which are originated from ratin ; Ancient Greek and other language by 30.85% was the most of all.

Objectives : The aim of this study was to authenticate whether fractionated extract of Rumex japonicus HOUTT. (RJ) has anti-inflammatory effects in mouse macrophage, RAW264.7 cells. Methods : Roots of RJ were extracted by methanol for 48hours. The methanol that gained was filtered and freeze dried. The methanol extract was dissolved in water and dichloromethane (DCM). After that, two layers were separated. Ethyl acetate (EA) added to the water layer and separated again. All the layers were filtered and freeze dried and the extracts were tested. Cytotoxic activity of extracts on RAW 264.7 cells was measured using MTS assay. The nitric oxide (NO) production was measured and proinflammatory cytokines and $PGE_2$ were measured by ELISA kit. The levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), I ${\kappa}$-B-${\alpha}$ and nuclear NF-${\kappa}B$ p65 expression were detected by western blot. Results : Our results indicated that DCM and EA extracts of RJ inhibited the LPS-induced NO, $PGE_2$ production and iNOS, COX-2 expression accompanied by an attenuation of TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$ and IL-6 production in RAW 264.7 cells most effectively. DCM and EA extracts also had suppression effects of LPS-induced NF-${\kappa}B$ and MAPKs activation. Conclusions : This results demonstrate that fractionated extract of RJ has anti-inflammatory effects and among the fractioned extract, dichloromethane and ethyl acetate extract have best anti-inflammatory effects.