This paper presents a detailed pharmacognostical study of the stem and root of the crude drug Ipomoea quamoclit Linn. (Convolvulaceae). Morphoanatomy of the stem and root have been studied with the aim to aid pharmacognostic and taxonomic species identification using light and confocal microscopy, WHO recommended physico-chemical determinations and authentic phytochemical procedures. The physico-chemical, morphological and histological parameters presented in this paper may be proposed as parameters to establish the authenticity of stem and root of I. quamoclit and may possibly help to differentiate the drug from its other species.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the various chemical components present in the cone volatile oil of Cupressus macrocarpa and also determine its antimicrobial activity. Totally 13 compounds were identified with 99.99% by GC-MS analysis. The major compounds identified were terpinene-4-ol (19.42%), dinopol (15.63%), ${\alpha}$-pinene (13.58%), and ${\beta}$-pinene (12.16%). The antimicrobial activity was carried out for the oil and a 2% cream formulation using cup plate method by measuring the zone of inhibition. The gram positive organisms used were Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus megaterium, and Bacillus cogulans. The gram negative organisms used were Escherichia coli, Kleibseilla pneumonia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella typhi. In vitro antifungal studies were also carried out by using organisms, Candida albicans, Aspergillus flavus, Trichoderma lignorum and Cryptococcus neoformans. The standard drugs used were penicillin ($100{\mu}g/mL$), gentamycin ($100{\mu}g/mL$) and griseofulvin ($100{\mu}g/mL$) for gram positive bacteria, gram negative bacteria and fungi respectively. Both oil and cream formulation showed good activity against fungi than bacteria. This study is being reported for the first time on cone volatile oil of this plant.

Acanthopanacis Cortex (AC) has been popularly used as an herbal medicine for medical treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, insomnia, impotence and diabetes. Here, we investigated immunostimulating effects of the aqueous extract of AC on macrophage. We studied nitric oxide (NO) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ release in response to AC treatment, as they are important secretory products of macrophage. AC alone induce the NO and TNF-${\alpha}$ production. AC increase c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase 1/2 (JNK) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation but does not p38 activation in RAW 264.7 cells. Also AC resulted in the enhanced cell-surface expression of CD80 and CD14. In addition, AC resulted in enhanced T cell-stimulatory capacity and increased T cell secretion of interferon (IFN)-gamma. After feeding with AC to mouse for 10 days, the change of $CD28^+$ and $CD40^+$ population was analyzed. AC increased $CD28^+$ population in splenocytes in vivo. These studies indicate that AC induces macrophage activation and suggest the possible use of AC in macrophage-based immunotherapies.

Ethanolic extract (50% v/v) and alkaloid fraction of Tylophora indica leaves were examined for lysosomal enzyme inhibitory activity in adjuvant-induced arthritic rats. The alkaloid fraction showed statistically significant inhibition of arthritic lesions (p < 0.05) from day 18, (p < 0.025) from day 20 and (p < 0.001) from day 21 onwards in the adjuvant-induced arthritis, which was comparable to the response of standard drug Indomethacin. The ethanolic extract was less significant than the alkaloidal fraction in inhibition of arthritis. Alkaloid fraction showed significant (p < 0.001) inhibitory effect on the lysosomal enzyme activities in adjuvantinduced arthritic rats. It also significantly prevented decrease in collagen levels and synovial damage observed during arthritis and also inhibited increase in urinary excretion levels of collagen degradation products like hydroxyproline, hexosamine, hexuronic acid, etc. Both ethanolic extract as well as the alkaloid fraction, however, did not show any significant activity in normal nonarthritic rats. The ethanolic extract and the alkaloid fraction may thus be able to inhibit the progress of inflammation and inhibit the destructive activity of lysosomal enzymes on structural macromolecules like collagen etc. in the synovial capsule in joints during arthritic states. They may thus prevent synovial damage observed during arthritis.

The methanol extract of seeds of Swietenia macrophylla King. (MESM) was studied for its antidiabetic activity in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. It was principally aimed to correlate the efficacious role of MESM on reduction of oxidative state associated with diabetes. The extract was found to be potent antidiabetic evidenced by significant reduction of blood glucose level in diabetic rats (47.96% reduction of blood glucose level, at 300 mg/kg, on day 10). It was found that, MESM at 300 mg/kg, significantly decreased TBARS (35.03 and 22.22%) whilst increased GSH (86.75 and 31.45%), SOD (93.05 and 45.88%) and CAT (56.99 and 68.46%) levels in liver and kidney respectively in diabetic rats.

Gossypin, a naturally occurring polyhydroxy flavonoid, when subjected to in vitro cytotoxic screening against vero cell lines exhibited 68.75% inhibition at a concentration of $1000{\mu}g$. When tested against five bacteria and five fungi, the flavone derivative showed a moderate activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, mild inhibition against Pseudomonas aerugenosa and Salmonella typhi and no activity against any of the tested fungi, in the concentrations studied.

Saussurea costus (Falc.) Lipchitz syn S. lappa C. B. Clarke (commonly known as 'Kuth') belonging to the family Asteraceae is a well known medicinal plant which finds wide usage in different indigenous systems of medicine of India, China, Korea & Tibet. In different folk medicines the roots of S. costus are used to treat various disorders like ulcer, stomachache, malaria, leprosy, dysentery and toothache. However due to over exploitation, it has become endangered and has become the concern of different governmental bodies in India. The increasing demand of this endangered Himalayan species has resulted in a situation where it is often substituted, knowingly or unknowingly, by other morphologically similar species. Arctium lappa, belonging to the same family, is one such plant that has often been found to be present in the market samples of 'Kuth'. The present study was thus carried out and morphoanatomical characters, physicochemical as well as chemical parameters were developed for proper identification of roots of S. costus and its differenciation from A. lappa as well as authentication of the commercial market samples. The detailed morphoanatomical studies revealed that roots of S. costus can be distinguished from A. lappa on the basis of some important microscopial characters eg. the schizogenous resin ducts observed in roots of S. costus, were absent in A. lappa.. Besides, the HPTLC fingerprint profile showed a distinct band at Rf. 0.72 in S. costus, which was totally absent in A. lappa and a band at $R_f$ 0.64 in A. lappa which was absent in S. costus Chlorogenic acid, used as a chemical marker for HPTLC analysis, was estimated to be 0.077% in S. costus as compared to 0.107% in A. lappa. Thus these detailed pharmacognostical parameters can be successfully used to distinguish between roots of S. costus and A. lappa.

In this study, the twenty-four ethyl acetate extracts of twenty-two medicinal plants, traditionally used in Vietnam as anti-diabetes agents, were investigated for ${\alpha}$-amylase and protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) enzymes inhibitory activity in vitro. The results indicated that, twelve materials (50.0%) showed moderate to strong inhibitory activity in ${\alpha}$-amylase inhibitory activity with $IC_{50}$ values ranging from 2.5 to $48.8{\mu}g/mL$; meanwhile, ten extracts (41.6%) could demonstrate PTP1B activity with $IC_{50}$ values less than $30.5{\mu}g/mL$. Some plants presented interesting activities against both of ${\alpha}$-amylase and PTP1B enzymes such as Catharanthus roseus, Carthamus tinctorius, Momordica charantia, Gynostemma pentaphyllum, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Smilax glabra, Psidium guajava (leave), and Rehmannia glutinosa. The study may provide a proof, at least in a part, for the ethno-medical use in diabetes disease of these plants.

Phytochemical investigation of the aerial parts of Lotus ornithopodioloides L. resulted in the isolation of six known compounds. The structures were determined utilizing physical, chemical, spectral methods as well as direct comparison with reference materials whenever possible. The compounds were identified as: ${\beta}$-sitosterol; the two triterpenes oleanolic and betulinic acids; the two cyanogenic glycosides lotaustralin and linamarin in addition to the flavonol diglycoside kaempferitin.

Fresh Rehmanniae radix is known as a traditional medicine with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. However, whether Rehmanniae radix attenuates autoimmune inflammation in lupus models characterized by T cell-dependent autoimmune disease including overproduction of proinflammatory cytokines, loss of T cell tolerance, and B cell hyperactivity remains unclear. We investigated the effect of fresh Rehmanniae radix methanol extracts (RGMeOH) on the in vitro overproduction of proinflammatory cytokines by immune cells from pristaneinduced lupus BALB/c mice. These results showed that RGMeOH remarkably attenuated Con A-increased overproduction of proinflammatory cytokines, such as IL-2, IFN-${\gamma}$, IL-6 and IL-10 by splenocytes from pristaneinduced lupus mice. RGMeOH greatly reduced LPS-induced production of TNF-${\alpha}$ by splenic macrophages from pristane-induced lupus mice, while significantly enhanced LPS-induced production of IL-10 but did not alter IL-6 by splenic macrophages and splenocytes. These findings suggest that RGMeOH may ameliorate lupus systemic inflammatory autoimmunity via down-regulation of TNF-${\alpha}$ and T cell-dependent cytokine production.

The methanolic extract of the roots of Lithospermum erythrorhizon (Boraginaceae) was found to show inhibitory activity towards farnesyl protein transferase (FPTase). Bioassay-guided fractionation of the methanolic extract resulted in the isolation of three naphthoquinone compounds, as inhibitors of FPTase. These compounds inhibited the FPTase activity in a dose-dependent manner.

Five steroids and two norsesquiterpene glycosides were isolated from the methanol extract of H. japonicus. Their structures were determined by means of physio-chemical and spectral data to be friedelin (1), stigmast-5-en-3-${\beta}$-ol (${\beta}$-sitosterol) (2), 7-keto-${\beta}$-sitosterol (3), 6${\beta}$-hydroxy-4-stigmasten-3-one (4), 7${\alpha}$-hydroxy-${\beta}$-sitosterol (5), 3-hydroxy-4,4-dimethyl-4-butyrolactone (6), daucosterol (7), (6S, 9S)-roseoside (8), and (9S)-drummondol-9-O-${\beta}$-D-glucopyranoside (spinoside B) (9). The compounds 1, 3, 4, and 6 - 9 were first isolated from this plant source.

In this report, we investigated the effect of aqueous extract of vinegar treated small black soybean (Glycine max Merr.) (Leguminosae) (VSBS) on mast cell-mediated allergic reaction and pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion. VSBS inhibited compound 48/80-induced systemic reactions. VSBS attenuated immunoglobulin (Ig) E-mediated passive cutaneous anaphylaxis. In addition, VSBS decreased the phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate plus calcium ionophore A23187-stimulated secretion of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$, interleukin (IL)-6 and interleukin (IL)-8 in human mast cells. Our findings provide evidence that VSBS inhibits mast cell-derived allergic reactions.

The antimicrobial activity of the essential oil from Pelargonium graveolens and its effects when it was combined with current antibiotics against antibiotic-resistant strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae were evaluated. The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the essential oil fraction and the main components of this plant were determined for two antibiotic-susceptible and two antibiotic-resistant strains of S. pneumoniae using broth microdilution tests. The combined effects of the oil with erythromycin, norfloxacin, or oxacillin were evaluated using a checkerboard microtitre assay. The combination of the oil fraction of P. graveolens, or its main component, together with the antibiotics tested significantly lowered the MICs of the antibiotics against all of the tested strains with fraction inhibiting concentration indices (FICs) ranging from 0.16 to 1.50. In particular, the activity of norfloxacin against all of the tested strains of S. pneumoniae was enhanced significantly by combination with citronellol. In conclusion, the combination of P. graveolens oil with antibiotics could be used to reduce the effective dose of antibiotic and to modulate the resistance of S. pneumoniae strains.

In this study, we investigated the potential of Resina Pini (RP) for anti-inflammatory and analgesic agents to treat inflammatory diseases such as gingivitis and periodontitis. Crude RP (RP1), recrystallized RP (RP2), and Ramus Mori Albae-treated RP (RP3), plus their respective water extracts (RP1-WE, RP2-WE and RP3-WE) were prepared for in vitro and in vivo tests. We couldn't find any signs of heavy metals pollution in all the RP samples. RP2-WE exhibited the highest viability of human gingival fibroblasts (HGF) and the strongest scavenging activity on superoxide anion. RP1, RP2 and RP3, RP2 showed potent scavenging activity on DPPH free radical. RP2-WE displayed a stronger inhibition on hyaluronidase (HAase) activity and RP3 also displayed potent HAase inhibition. RP2-WE, RP3-WE, RP3 and RP2 were reduced admirably the production of $PGE_2$ in HGF. In addition, RP2-WE and RP3-WE exhibited potent inhibitory activities on arachidonic acid-induced ear edema in mouse. Moreover, RP-2 prevented completely acetic acid-induced writhing by 100.0% and RP1, RP3, RP1-WE and RP2-WE also exhibited excellent protective activities against writhing. While aminopyrine, the positive control, showed 76.9% analgesic effect at the same dose. Taken together, these results suggest that recrystallized aqueous extract of Resina Pini could be a promising drug for the treatment of periodontal diseases.

Further bioactivity-directed fractionation of the ethanol extract of the seeds of Annona cherimolia has led to the isolation of two mono-tetrahydrofuran acetogenins, xylomaticin (1) and gonionenin (2). The structures of these compounds were characterized on the basis of chemical and spectroscopic data. Compounds 1 and 2 have a relative stereochemistry relationship of threo/trans/threo across the mono-tetrahydrofuran ring with its two flanking hydroxyls. Compounds 1 and 2 are known, but are first isolated from this plant. In brine shrimp lethality test (BST), 1 and 2 exhibited cytotoxic activity.

Three known ${\alpha}$-amyrin triterpenoids, ursolic acid (1), $2{\alpha},3{\alpha}$-dihydro xyurs-12-ene-28-oic acid (2) and euscaphic acid (3), and ${\beta}$-amyrin triterpenoid, $3{\beta}$-hydroxyolean-5,12-diene (4), and ${\alpha}$-spinasterol (5) have been isolated from the fractionated n-butanol extracts of the spikes of Prunella vulgaris var. lilacina, guided by DNA topoisomerases I and II inhibitory activities and cytotoxic activity against human cancer cells. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic and chemical methods. Compound 4 exhibited significant cytotoxic activity against human colon adenoblastoma (HT-29), and 5 showed DNA topoisomerase I and II inhibitions.

Bioactivity-guided fractionation of MeOH extract of an association of two sponges, Jaspis sp. and Poecillastra sp. resulted in isolation of four apocarotenoids (1 - 4). Their structures were determined on the basis of MS and NMR spectroscopic analyses and by direct comparison with those of reported. This is the first report on isolation of these compounds from any sponge. Isolated metabolites were evaluated for cytotoxicity against a small panel of solid human tumor cell lines.

Oxidative stress induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been suggested to be the cause of various degenerative diseases as well as aging. To evaluate the antioxidant potential of stilbenes, we have investigated the cytoprotective effect of 10 stilbenes derived from plants on the oxidative stress induced by tertiary butyl hydroperoxide (t-BuOOH). Of the stilbenes tested, piceatannol (3) showed the most potent activity, which was further investigated using an animal model. When 3 (30 or 10 mg/kg) was topically administered prior to UVB irradiation, the amount of the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) was significantly reduced compared to that of the control (vehicle). Our findings suggest that piceatannol is capable of protecting cells and tissues from oxidative stress.

Antiscratching behavioral effects of the water extract of two black colored rice (BCR) varieties [Oryza sativa L. cv. Heugjinjubyeo (HJ) and Josaengheugchalbyeo (JH)], major pigment of which is cyanindin 3-glucoside, were investigated. Orally administered BCRs' extracts exhibited potent inhibitory activity against scratching behaviors which were induced by compound 48/80 and histamine. The inhibitory effect of Josaengheugchalbyeo in vivo and in vitro were more potent than those of Heugjinjubyeo. These finding suggest that black colored rice, especially Josaengheugchalbyeo, may inhibit scratching behaviors and anaphylaxis reaction by stabilizing membrane.

Phenathrene derivatives, such as batatasins, are well-known constituents in Dioscorea Rhizoma. Although phenanthrenes have been reported as representative compounds in this plant, standard markers for quality control have been focused on the polar constituents (saponins and purine derivatives). Herein, simple, rapid and reliable HPLC method was developed to determine 3,5-dimethoxyphenanthrene-2,7-diol (DMP) and batatasin-I (BA-I) as non-polar standard maker compounds of Dioscorea Rhizoma. DMP and BA-I were analyzed under optimized HPLC conditions [column: Columbus $5{\mu}$ C18 100A ($30{\times}4.6mm$ i.d., $5{\mu}m$; mobile phase: $H_2O$ with 0.025% $CH_3COOH$ (v/v) for solvent A and $CH_3CN$ with 0.025% $CH_3COOH$ (v/v) for solvent B, gradient elution; flow rate: 2 mL/min; detection: 260 nm), and each experiment was finished within 13 min. Good linearity was achieved in the range from 0.5 to $10.0{\mu}g/mL$ for each compound, and intra- and inter-day precision were in the acceptable levels. The recovery test were performed with three different Dioscorea Rhizoma samples (D. opposita, D. batatas and D. japonica), and showed its accuracy values in the range of 97.2 - 102.8% for three different concentrations of DMP and BA-I. The content levels of DMP and BA-I were ranged under 0.0020%. These results demonstrated that amounts of DMP and BA-I are easily determined with conventional HPLC-UV-DAD method although the content levels were lower than those of saponins and allantoin in Dioscorea Rhizoma. This HPLC method could be used for quality control of various Dioscorea preparations.

Treatment of mice with Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) changed glutamic acid and GABA content in the mouse brain tissue with pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced convulsion. KRG were orally administered at a dose of 50, 100 mg/kg for two weeks. The electroconvulsions (MES) and PTZ-induced convulsion were reduced but those induced by strychnine, bicuculine and picrotoxin were not. PTZ-induced convulsion decreased the $\~{a}$-aminobutyric acid (GABA) content in brain compared to control group while the content was increased in KRG-treated group compared to PTZ group. In the PTZ-treated group, the GABA-transaminase (GABA-T) activity was increased by 59.6%, while no effect was observed on glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) activity. These results support that the KRG decreased the GABA contents and modulated the glutamic acid contents in the brain.

Auricularia auricula (Heterobasidiae) called 'tree ear' or 'ear mushroom' was investigated to know its antidiabetic effect. Administration of dried powder of Auricularia auricula mycelia (AAM) (0.5 g/kg bw and 1.0 g/kg bw) caused a statistically significant reduction of plasma glucose (35% and 39%, respectively), total cholesterol (18% and 22%, respectively), triglyceride (12% and 13%, respectively), GOT (53% and 56%, respectively) GPT (26% and 37%, respectively), levels and the rate of liver weight against final total body weight (6% and 7%, respectively) compared with diabetic control group. These results support the antidiabetic effect of AAM.

Investigation of the chemical constituents of the dichloromethane extract from the moss Hylocomium splendens has led to the isolation of $5{\alpha},8{\alpha}$-epidioxy-24(S)-ethylcholesta-6,22-dien-$3{\beta}$-ol (1), diploptene (2), ${\beta}-sitosterol$ (3), and 1-hexacosanol (4). The chemical structures of 1 - 4 were established by spectroscopic methods including extensive 1D and 2D NMR analysis. This is the first isolation of compound 1 from the mosses, although it has been isolated from marine sponge.