This study describes the synthesis and in vitro evaluation of noble 2-[3-(cyclopentyloxy)-4-methoxyphenyl]-1-isoindolinone Derivatives for the inhibition of TNF-$\alpa$ production. Among these compounds, 2- [3- (Cyclopentyloxy)- 4- methoxyphenyll- 3- methyl -1 - isoindolinone (5) was the most potent in inhibitory activity of TNF-$\alpa$ production in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells.

The reaction of various alkyl cinnamyl ethers with CSI afforded the corresponding cinnamylamines with various protecting groups, such as -NHMoc, -NHiPoc, -NHCbz, -NHPnz, -NHTroc and -NHAloc. In the case of cinnamyl t-butyl ether and cinnamyl p-methoxybenzyl ether, the corresponding cinnamyl carbamates were formed via a different reaction pathway from the above.

The reaction of either Digitoxin or Digoxin with cyanoacetic acid hydrazide gave the hydrazone derivatives 3a and 3b respectively. The reactivity of the latter products towards chemical reagents was studied to give heterocyclic derivatives with potential biological activities.

Twelve 4-substituted cyclopenta[c]quinoline derivatives were synthesized and evaluated in vitro cytotoxicity against four human cancer cell lines (HOP62, SK-OV-3, MD-MB-468 and T-47D). The compounds 6c and 6e bearing p-anisidine and pyrrolidine side chain were more active than the others.

Synthesized 6-arylamino-5,8-quinolinediones 4a-4j and 6-chloro-7-arylamino-5,8-isoquinolinediones 5a-5g were evaluated for effects on NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase (NQOl ) activity with the cytosolic fractions derived from cultured human lung cancer cells and their cytotoxicity in cultured several human solid cancer cell lines. The 5,8-quinolinediones 4 and 5,8-isoquinolinediones 5 affected the reduction potential by NQO1 activity and showed a potent cytotoxic activity against human cancer cell lines. The tested compounds 4a, 5c, 5f, and 5g were considered as more potent cytotoxic agents. The compounds 4d, 5b, 5c, 5e and 5g were comparable modulators of NQO1 activity.

In the search for new naturally occurring angiogenic inhibitory we found that culture broths from two unidentified fungal strains exerted potent inhibitory activities on capillary-like tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) in vitro. Two active compounds were isolated by bioassay-guided separation and their structures were identified as gliotoxin (1) and its derivative methylthiogliotoxin (2) by spectroscopic analyses. These compounds significantly inhibited the migration of HUVEC assessed by in vitro wounding migration assay and exhibited at least 10 times more potent inhibition of proliferation of HUVECs as compared with that of cancer cell lines such as HeLa, MCF-7, and KB 3-1 cells. Especially, gliotoxin having disulfide group exerted more potent activities than methylthiogliotoxin, suggesting that gliotoxin could be a useful compound for further study as an anti-angiogenic agent.

Gas chromatographic method was investigated for the chiral separation of several $\beta$-blockeros(atenolol, betaxolol, bisoprolol, metoprolol and pindolol) using (-)-$\alpa$-methoxy-$\alpa$-(trifluoromethyl)phenylacetyl chloride as a chiral derivatizing agent for amino group. Prior to N-acylation, hydroxyl group was converted into O-silyl ethers by react with N-methyl-H-(taimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide. The reaction was selective and rapid and the diasteromeric derivatives were well separated by capillary gas chromatography. (R)-isomers were eluted faster than (S)-isomers when (-)-$\alpa$-methoxy-$\alpa$-(trifluoromethyl)phenylacetyl chloride was used as the chiral derivatizing agent. But in the opposite sequence when (+)-$\alpa$-methoxy-$\alpa$-(trifluoromethyl)phenylacetyl chloride was used. No racemization was found during the reaction.

Reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatographic method was applied for the determination of eleutheroside B and E in the various Acanthopanax species collected In Korea. The stationary phase used was Zorbax 300 SB $C_{18}$ and a mobile phase program was used, which started at 6% acetonitrile for 2 min, and then a linear gradient was operated for the next 18 min to 17% acetonitrile at a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min. The column effluent was monitored at UV 210 nm. Identification was carried out by comparing the retention time and the LC/MS spectrum of each peak corresponding to eleutheroside B and E from sample with those of standards. In general, the contents of eleutheroside B and 1 in stems were higher than those In roots. Acanthopanax species could be classified into two groups based upon the contents of eleutheroside B and E: one group contains no or very little eleutheroside B and another contains both eleutheroside B and E.

Along with five known triterpene glycosides, a new triterpene glucosyl ester, named crataegioside, was isolated from the roots of Rubus crataesifolius Bunge. The structure was established as ilexosapogenin A 28-O-$\beta$-D-glucopyranosyl ester by chemical and spectroscopic methods.

A new triterpene lactose named patrinolide A (7) has been isolated from the roots of Patrinia scabiosaefolia (Valerianaceae). Its structure was determined to be 11$\beta$,21$\beta$-dihydroxy-3-oxooleanan-28,13$\beta$-olide on the basis of spectral analysis, including 2D-NMR techniques.

CC-MS analysis on the essential oil (CC-oil) of Cinnamomum cassia stem bark led to the identification of cinnamaldehyde (CNA, 1), 2-hydroxycinnamaldehyde (2-CNA), coumarin (2), and cinnamyl acetate. The major volatile flavor in CC-oil was found to be 2-CNA. Coumarin was first isolated from this plant by photochemical isolation and spectroscopic analysis. CNA and CC-oil showed potent cytotoxicity, which was effectively prevented by N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) treatment. Intraperitoneal administration with CNA considerably decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) formation and glutathione S-transferase activity in rats. These results suggest that CC-oil and CNA can regulate the triggering of hepatic drugmetabolizing enzymes by the formation of a glutathione-conjugate.

In the course of searching for biologically active sesquiterpenoids from Curcuma genus, two sesquiterpenoids were isolated from the rhizome of Curcuma zedoaria (Zingiberaceae). Their structures were identified as ar-turmerone (1) and $\beta$-turmerone (2). The structure elucidation of compounds 1 and 2 was carried out by comparison of their physical and spectral data with previously reported values.

The antioxidant activity of Lactuca scariola (Compositae) was investigated by measuring the radical scavenging effect on DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical. The methanolic extract of the aerial parts of Lactuca scariola showed strong radical scavenging activity. The EtOAc soluble fraction exhibited a stronger activity than the others, and was purified by silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography. Quercetin-3-O-$\beta$-D-glucopyranoside, luteolin-7-O-$\beta$-D-glucopyranoside, luteolin, quercetin and kaempferol, together with 11$\beta$,13-dihydrolactucin were isolated from the EtOAc soluble fraction as active ingredients.

The water extract of Cichorium intybus (WECI) showed a remarkable antioxidative effect on LDL, and inhibitory effects on the production of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance and the Degradation of fatty acids in LDL. Vitamin 1 and unsaturated fatty acids in LDL were protected by adding WECI from the effects of metal catalyzed LDL oxidation. From the results obtained, we conclude that LDL oxidation is inhibited in vitro by the addition of WECI, and that LDL is protected by WECI from oxidative attack, as shown by agarose gel electrohporesis.

It has been reported that Eurycoma longifolia Jack commonly known as Tongkat Ali has gained notoreity as a symbol of man's ego and strength by the Malaysian men because it increases male virility and sexual prowess during sexual activities. As such, the effects of 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg of butanol, methanol, water and chloroform fractions of E. longifolia Jack were studied on the laevator am muscle in both uncastrated and testosterone-stimulated castrated intact male rats after dosing them for 12 consecutive weeks. Results showed that 800 mg/kg of butanol, methanol, water and chloroform fractions of E. longifolia Jack significantly increased (p<0.05) the leavator am muscle to 58.56$\pm$1.22, 58.23 $\pm$0.31, 60.21 $\pm$0.86 and 62.35 $\pm$0.98 mg/100 g body weight, respectively, when compared with the control (untreated) in the uncastrated intact male rats and 49.23 $\pm$0.82, 52.23 $\pm$ 0.36, 50.21 $\pm$ 0.66 and 52.35 $\pm$ 0.58 mg/100 g body weight, respectivety, when compared to control (untreated) in the testosterone-stimulated castrated intact male rats. Hence the proandrogenic effect as shown by this study further supported the traditional use of this plant as an aphrodisiac.

Resveratrol, a trihydroxystilbene found in grapes and several plants, has been shown to be active in inhibiting multistage carcinogenic process. Using resveratrol as the prototype, we synthesized several analogs and evaluated their growth inhibitory effect using cultured human cancer cells. In the present report we show that one of the resveratrol analogs, 3, 5,2',4'-tetramethoxy-trans-stilbene, potentiated the inhibition of cancer cell growth. Prompted by the strong growth Inhibitory activity of the compound ($IC_{50}$; $0.8{\mu}$ g/ml) compared to resveratrol ($IC_{50}$; $18{\mu}$ug/ml) in cultured human colon cancer cells (Col2), we performed an action mechanism study using the compound. The compound induced the accumulation of cellular DNA contents in the sub-CO phase DNA contents of the cell cycle by in a time-dependent manner. The morphological changes were also consistent with an apoptotic process. This result indicated that the compound induced apoptosis of cancer cells, and may be a candidate for use in the development of potential cancer chemotherapeutic or cancer chemopreventive agents.

Peptide fragments, isolated from proteolytic cleavage of thyroglobulin at specific sites, were examined for the iodination of tyrosine residues. The 50 kDa polypeptide, which was prepared from digestion of bovine thyroglobulin and continuous preparative SDS-PAGE, was subjected to reduction with DTT and alkylation with iodoacetic acid to generate S-car-boxymethylated peptide derivative, which was further hydrohysed by endoproteinase-Asp-N. Peptide products were separated by RP-HPLC, and each fraction was analyzed by LC/ESI-MS and MALDI-MS analyses. Based on the specificity of endoproteinase-Asp-N andthe mass spectra data, a peptide fragment turned out to correspond to a peptide, DALCCVKCPEGSYFQ (1438-1452), characterized by the presence of a thioredoxin box (CVKC) and a tyrosine residue. In addition, another peptide fragment (1453-1465) containing a thioredoxin box (CIPC) and a tyrosine residue was also observed. However, any evidence of iodination of the tyrosine residue present in these peptides was not provided. Meanwhile, tyrosine residues in the peptides, DVEEALAGKYLAGRFA (1366-1381) and DYSGLLLAFQVFLL (1290-1303) were found to be iodinated; mono- or diiodinated tyrosine residues, characteristic of a hormogenic site, existed in both peptides. In addition, the tyrosine residue in the peptide (1218-1252), corresponding to a hormonogenic site was also iodinated. Thus, there was a sharp difference of the susceptibility to oxidative iodination between the tyrosine residue in a hormonogenic site and that in a thioredoxin region. From these results, it is suggested that polypeptide region adjacent to tyrosine residues may govern the susceptibility of tyrosine to oxidative iodination.

The highly potent cytotoxic DNA-DNA cross-linker consists of two cyclopropa[c]pyrrolo[3,4-3]indol-4(5H)-ones insoles [(+)-CPI-I] joined by a bisamido pyrrole (abbreviated to "Pyrrole"). The Pyrrole is a synthetic analog of Bizelesin, which is currently in phase II clinical trials due to its excellent in vivo antitumor activity. The Pyrrole has 10 times more potent cytotoxicity than Bizelesin and mostly form DNA-DNA interstrand cross-links through the N3 of adenines spaced 7 bp apart. The Pyrrole requires a centrally positioned GC base pair for high cross-linking reactivity (i.e., $5^1$-T$AT_2$A*-$3^1$), while Bizelesin prefers purely AT-rich sequences (i.e., $5^1$-T$AT_4$A*-$3^1$, where /(equation omitted) represents the cross-strand adenine alkylation and A* represents an adenine alkylation) (Park et al., 1996). In this study, the high-field $^1$H-NMR and rMD studies are conducted on the 1 1-mer DNA duplex adduct of the Pyrrole where the 5′(equation omitted)TAGTTA*-3′sequence is cross-linked by the drug. A severe structural perturbation is observed in the intervening sequences of cross-linking site, while a normal B-DNA structure is maintained in the region next to the drug-modified adenines. Based upon these observations, we propose that the interplay between the bisamido pyrrole unit of the drug and central C/C base pair (hydrogen-bonding interactions) is involved in the process of cross-linking reaction, and sequence specificity is the outcome of those interactions. This study suggests a mechanism for the sequence specific cross-linking reaction of the Pyrrole, and provides a further insight to develop new DNA sequence selective and distortive cross-linking agents.

Inflammation is a frequent radiation-induced reaction following therapeutic irradiation. Treatment of human umbilical endothelial cells (HUVEC) with $\gamma$-irradiation ($\gamma$IR) induces the expression of adhesion proteins such as intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1 ), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), and E-selectin. Since the upregulation of these proteins on endothelial cell surface has been known to be associated with inflammation, interioring with the expression of adhesion molecules is an important therapeutic target. In the present study, we demonstrate that high mannronic acid-containing alginate (HMA) inhibits $\gamma$IR induced expression of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and E-selectin on HUVEC in a dose dependent manner. HMA also inhibited $\gamma$IR induced production of Nitric oxide (NO). These data suggest that HMA has therapeutic potential for the treatment of various inflammatory disorder associated with an increase of endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecules.