A functional divergency oriented synthetic approach to the azoninone (9-membered lactams), key intermediate for the indolizidine alkaloids library, using amide enolate induced aza-Claisen rearrangement has been achieved.

5,8-Quinazolinediones modified at positions 6 and 7 were synthesized and tested for in vitro antifungal activities against Candida species and Aspergillus niger. Most of 5,8-quinazolinediones 3-5 generally exhibited potent antifungal activity. 6-Arylamino-7-chloro-5,8-quinazolinediones (3) generally showed more potent antifungal activity than 7-arylthio-5,8-quinzolinediones (4) and 6,7-bis-(arylthio)-5,8-quinazolinediones (5).

A series of 1,3-dioxoindan-2-carboxylic acid arylamides were synthesized and evaluated for in vitro cytotoxicity against four human cancer cell lines (HOP62, SK-OV-3, MD-MB-468 and T- 47D). The most active was compound 3e (1.2 ${\mu}M$ against SK-OV-3 cell line) bearing a 4- methyl substituent.

Three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship (3D-QSAR) studies on 59 cinnamaldehyde analogues as Farnesyl Protein Transferase (FPTase) inhibitors were investigated using comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) with the PLS region-focusing method. Forty-nine training set inhibitors were used for CoMFA with two different grid spacings, $2{\AA}\;and\;1{\AA}$ Ten compounds, which were not used in model generation, were used to validate the CoMFA models. After the PLS analysis, the best predictive CoMFA model showed that the cross-validated value $(r^2_{cv})$ and the non-cross validated conventional value$(r^2_{ncv})$ are 0.557 and 0.950, respectively. From the CoMFA contour maps, the steric and electrostatic properties of cinnamaldehyde analogues can be identified and verified.

Quantitative Structure-Resolution Relationship (QSRR) using the Comparative Molecular Field Analysis (CoMFA) software was applied to predict the chromatographic behaviors of chiral drugs with an amine moiety on the chiral cellobiohydrolase (CBH) columns. As a result of the Quantitative CoMFA-Resolution Relationship study, using the partial least square method, prediction of the behavior of drugs with amine moiety upon chiral separation became possible from their three dimensional molecular structures. When a mixed mobile phase of 10 mM aqueous phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) - isopropanol (95 : 5) was employed, the best Quantitative CoMFA-Resolution Relationship, derived from the study, provided a cross-validated $q^2$ = 0.933, a normal $r^2$ = 0.995, while the best Quantitative CoMFA-Separation Factor Relationship, also derived from the study, yielded a cross-validated $q^2$ = 0.939, a normal $r^2$ = 0.991. When all of these results are considered, this QSRR-CoMFA analysis appears to be a very useful tool for the preliminary prediction on the chromatographic behaviors of drugs with an amine moiety inside chiral CBH columns.

The chromatographic separation of a methylene chloride extract of Artemisia rubripes led to the isolation of a new sesquiterpene lactone (3), together with four known compounds, a coumarin (2) and three terpenes (1, 4, and 5). Their structures were characterized to be $1{\beta},6{\alpha}$- dihydroxy-4(15)-eudesmene (1), scopoletin (2), $1{\alpha},4{\beta}-dihydroxy-8{\alpha}$-acetoxy-guaia-2,10(14), 11(13)-triene-6,12-olide (3), $1{\alpha},4{\beta}$ -dihydroxy-8${\alpha}$-acetoxy-guaia-2,9,11(13)-triene-6,12-olide (4), and $\beta$ -sitosterol-3-O-${\beta}$-D-glycoside (5) by spectroscopic means.

A new ceramide alomacrorrhiza A was isolated from the ethanolic extract of the plant Alocasia macrorrhiza (L.) Schott. Its chemical structure was elucidated as (2S,3S,4R)-2N-[(2'R)-2'- hydroxy-hexacosanoyl]-tetradecane-1,3,4-triol based on extensive 1D, 2D NMR, EI-MS, FABMS, HR-FAB-MS spectroscopic data and chemical degradation studies.

A new 12a-dehydrorotenoid 1, 11-dihydroxy-9, 10-methylenedioxy-12a-dehydrorotenoid (1), together with a new isoflavonoid glycoside tectorigenin-7-O-${\beta}$-glucosyl-4'-O-${\beta}$-glucoside (3), were isolated and identified from the rhizomes of I. spuria (Zeal). In addition, 4 known compounds, tectorigenin (2) tectorigenin-7-O-${\beta}$-glucosyl $(1{\leftrightarrow}6)$ glucoside (4), tectoridin (a tectorigenin- 7-O-${\beta}$-glucoside) (5) and tectorigenin-4'-O-${\beta}$-glucoside (6) were isolated and identified for the first time from this plant. The structures of the isolated compounds were determined by spectroscopic methods (UV, IR, $^1H,\;^{13}C$NMR, DEPT, HMQC, NOESY, and HMBC experiments and MS spectrometry) and by comparison with literature data of known compounds. Compounds 2, 4, 5, and 6 are reported for the first time from this plant through the present study.

From the methanol extract of the whole plants of Carpesium macrocephalum $F_R$. et $S_{AV}$., five sesquiterpene lactones (1: carabron, 2: tomentosin, 3: ivalin, 4: 4H-tomentosin, 5: carabrol) and three terpenoids (6: loliolide, 7: vomifoliol, 8: citrusin C) were isolated. The structures and stereochemistry of compounds 1-8 were established on the basis of chemical analysis as well as 1D- and 2D-NMR spectroscopy. Among them, compounds 2, 4, and 6-8 were isolated for the first time from Carpesium species.

Four compounds were isolated from Salicornia herbacea by repeated column chromatography. Their structures were identified as ${\beta}$-sitosterol (1), stigmasterol (2), uracil (3), and isorhamnetin-3-O-${\beta}$-D-glucopyranoside (4) by spectral analysis and comparison with the published data.

Study of the effects of the methanolic extract of Tagetes patula roots on blood pressure led to the isolation of well known citric (1) and malic acid (7) as hypotensive, and pyridine hydrochloride (4) as hypertensive constituents of the plant along with a new constituent, 2-hydroxy, 5- hydroxymethyl furan (9). Citric acid and malic acid caused 71% and 43% fall in Mean Arterial Blood Pressure (MABP) of rats at the doses of 15 mg/kg and 30mg/kg respectively while pyridine hydrochloride produced 34% rise in the MABP of rats at the dose of 30mg/kg. $LD_{50}\;and\;LD_{100}$ of citric acid in mice have been determined as 545 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg, respectively.

Thirteen compounds were isolated from the $CH_2Cl_2$ fraction of Machilus thunbergii as phospholipase $C{\Upsilon}1\;(PLC{\Upsilon}1)$ inhibitors. These compounds were identified as nine lignans, two neolignans, and two flavans by spectroscopic analysis. Of these, 5,7-di-O-methyl-3',4'-methylenated (-)-epicatechin (12) and 5,7,3'-tri-O-methyl (-)-epicatechin (13) have not been reported previously in this plant. In addition, seven compounds, machilin A (1), (-)-sesamin (3), machilin G (5), (+)-galbacin (9), licarin A (10), (-)-acuminatin (11) and compound 12 showed dose-dependent potent inhibitory activities against $PLC{\Upsilon}1$ in vitro with $IC_{50}$ values ranging from 8.8 to 26.0 ${\mu}M$. These lignans, neolignans, and flavans are presented as a new class of $PLC{\Upsilon}1$ inhibitors. The brief study of the structure activity relationship of these compounds suggested that the benzene ring with the methylene dioxy group is responsible for the expression of inhibitory activities against $PLC{\Upsilon}1$. Moreover, it is suggested that inhibition of $PLC{\Upsilon}1$ may be an important mechanism for an antiproliferative effect on the human cancer cells. Therefore, these inhibitors may be utilized as cancer chemotherapeutic and chemopreventive agents.

A 1, 2-diglyceride-based multi-step colorimetric assay to measure the pancreatic lipase activity was applied for the determination of the kinetic profiles of the lipase inhibition with a slight modification and the validity verification. With this assay method, our study revealed that platycodin D, one of major constituents of Platycodi Radix, inhibits the pancreatic lipase activity in a competitive type, with the value of $K_I$ being 0.18${\pm}$0.02 mM. In addition, PD has affected the values of $K_{m,app}\;and\;K_{cat}/K_m$ in a dose- dependent manner. The results shed a meaningful light on how PD mediates lipid metabolism in the intestinal tracts. On the other hand, since the revised assay is sensitive, rapid, and does not affect the accuracy to the kinetic properties, it is applicable not only to evaluation of the kinetic properties of the pancreatic lipase, but also to highthroughput screening of pancreatic lipase activity.

$N^1$-Benzyl-4-methylbenzene-1,2-diamine (JSH-21) and its analogs were chemically synthesized and their anti-inflammatory potentials investigated. JSH-21 inhibited nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages RAW 264.7 in a dose-dependent manner, with an $IC_{50}$ value of 9.2 ${\mu}M$, where pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate and parthenolide as positive controls exhibited $IC_{50}$ values of 29.3 and 3.6 ${\mu}M$, respectively. The inhibitory effect of JSH-21 on the NO production was attributable to its down-regulatory action on LPS-inducible NO synthase (iNOS), which was documented by iNOS promoter activity. In the mechanism of the anti-inflammatory action, JSH-21 exhibited inhibitory effects on LPS-induced DNA binding activity and transcriptional activity of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-$_KB$). Structural analogs of JSH-21 also inhibited both the LPS-induced NO production and NF-$_KB$). transcriptional activity, where diamine substitution at positions 1 and 2 of JSH-21 seems to play an important role in the anti-inflammatory activity.

Although many studies have been performed to elucidate the molecular consequences of ultraviolet irradiation, little is known about the effect of natural products. Ultraviolet irradiation is widely considered to be an environmental stress. Here we investigated the effect of 3,23-dihydroxy- 20(29)-lupen-27-oic acid on the regulation of MMP-1 and type 1 procollagen in Ultraviolet irradiation of cultured old age human dermal fibroblasts. 3, 23-dihydroxy-20(29)-lupen-27- oic acid was isolated from Tiarella polyphylla D. Don (Saxifragaceae). Among them, 3, 23- dihydroxy-20(29)-lupen-27-oic acid induced the regulation of Type 1- procollagen and reduced the regulation of MMP-1 at the protein levels in a dose-dependent manner by ultraviolet irradiation. Taken together, our results suggest that 3, 23-dihydroxy-20(29)-lupen-27-oic acid plays an important role in the induction of Type 1-procollagen and reduction of MMP-1 by ultraviolet irradiation in old age human dermal fibroblasts.

Depression is associated with a dysfunctional serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) system. More recently, several lines of evidence suggest that an important factor in the development of depression may be a deficit in the function and expression of $5-HT_{1A}$ receptors. The present study assessed if Nelumbinis Semen (N. s.) had an anti-depression effect through reversing a decrease in $5-HT_{1A}$receptor binding in rats with depression-like symptoms induced by chronic mild stress. Using a $5-HT_{1A}$ receptor binding assay, with a specific $5-HT_{1A}$receptor agonist, 8- OH-DPAT (8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino) tetralin), the mechanism of the anti-depression effect of N. s. on rats was investigated, and the effects compared with two well-known antidepressants, Hyperium Perforatum (St. Johns Wort) and fluoxetine (Prozac). Animals were divided into five groups: the normal (N) group without chronic mild stress (CMS), the control (C) group under CMS for 8 weeks, the Nelumbinis Semen (N. s.) treatment group under CMS for 8 weeks, the Hyperium Perforatum (H. p.) treatment group under CMS for 8 weeks and finally, the fluoxetine (F) treatment group under CMS for 8 weeks. Each treatment was administered to rats during the last 4 weeks of the 8-week CMS. A sucrose intake test was performed to test the anti-depression effect of N. s. The N. s. treatment significantly reversed the decreased sucrose intake under CMS (P<0.05 compared to control group under CMS). In the CA2 and CA3 regions of the hippocampus, both N. s. and H. p. reversed the CMS-induced decrease in $5-HT_{1A}$receptor binding. In the I to II regions of the frontal cortex, N. s. and H. p. also reversed the CMS-induced decrease in$5-HT_{1A}$receptor binding, and even showed a significant increase in $5-HT_{1A}$receptor binding compared to the F treatment group (N. s. vs. P, p<0.05, H. p. vs. P, p<0.05). However, in the hypothalamus, all treatments reversed the CMSinduced decrease in $5-HT_{1A}$receptor binding. This reversal effect of N. s. on the decrease in $5-HT_{1A}$receptor binding in the frontal cortex, hippocampus and hypothalamus of rat brains was very similar to that of H. p, but different from that of F. It is concluded that N. s. presents an anti-depression effect through enhancing $5-HT_{1A}$receptor binding.

Interactions of the cell adhesion molecules are known to play important roles in mediating inflammation. The proinflammatory cytokine, tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$(TNF-${\alpha}$), activates the NF-kB signaling pathway, which induces the expression of various genes, such as intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). In this study, the effect of vitamin C on the ICAM-1 expression induced by TNF-${\alpha}$ in a human neuroblastoma cell line, SK-N-SH was investigated. Treatment with vitamin C resulted in the downregulation of the TNF-${\alpha}$-induced surface expression and ICAM-1 mRNA levels in a concentration-dependent manner. Moreover, a gel shift analysis indicated that vitamin C dose-dependently inhibited the NF-kB activation and IkB${\alpha}$ degradation induced by TNF-${\alpha}$. Taken together, these results suggest that vitamin C downregulates TNF-${\alpha}$- induced ICAM-1 expression via the inhibition of NF-kB activation.