From the ethanol extract of the leaves of Artemisia selengensis a new sesquiterpene endoperoxide, bisabolene-2,5-endoperoxide, has been isolated. The structure of the peroxide was established on the basis of spectroscopic evidence.

Essential oil of the root of Angelica koreana Max. (Umbelliferae) was investigated. Essential oil was obtained from the dried roots by steam distillation and fractionated by column chromatography. Each isolate or fraction was identified by GC, GC-MS and spectral analysis. It was found to contain nine monoterpenes such as ${\alpha}-pinene$(7.0%), camphene, ${\beta}-pinene$, myrcene, ${\alpha}-phellandrene$, ${\Delta}-3-carene$, p-cymene, limonene(2.8%), terpinolene and also found to contain m-cresol(11.6%), citronellol, citral b, methylcinnamate, eudesmol and osthol. 2-Hydroxy-5-methylacetophenone and twelve compounds were tentatively identified.

The genus Ganoderma is typical wood-rotting fungi and its fruiting body has been used as an important herb in oriental medicine. Recent research discovered antitumor components from Ganoderma lncidum. Various Ganoderma species are being cultivated in Korea. However, taxonomic system of the genus Ganoderma has been based mainly on the macromorphology of fruiting bodies and the ultrastructural characteristics of basidiospores. Since there are similar characteristics in Ganoderma mycelia grown on the same artificial media, it is suggested that the compatibility of the fungi by di-mon mating be used as an aid to determine the identity of species in addition to the conventional characterization. In this study, we examined physiological and genetical properties such as growth temperature, pH, compatibility and enzyme or protein patterns of laccase, esterase and cellular proteins of G. lucidum RZ, G. tsugae and Ganoderma species cultivated in Korea by electrophoresis for characterization of the isolates. We found that compatibility test and isozyme patterns of laccase and esterase of the mycelia could be used for the differentiation of the isolates. These results showed that Ganoderma species cultivated in Korea is genetically similar to G. lucidum but physiologically closer to G. tsugae than to G. lucidum.

Polysaccharide from Sanguisorba officinalis was separated and fractionated using DEAE-Sephadex ion-exchange chromatography and Sephacry HR-200 gel filtration chromatography. One of the fraction(Fr. II) was sulfated and its anticoagulant activity was tested in vitro. Sulfation could increase the clotting time 50 times compared to unsulfated one. Fr. II was hydrolyzed and its composition was analyzed by conjugation with 7-amino-1, 3-naphthalene disulfonic acid using HPLC and electrophoresis. Arabinose and galactose were mainly composed at the ratio of 4 : 1. In addition, xylose and rhamnose were also found.

These studies were conducted to investigate the effects of the extracts from Hoelen alba, Alismatis Rhizoma and Atractylodes Rhizoma on the proliferation and differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells. The results were summerized as follows: Hoelen alba and Alismatis Rhizoma extracts inhibited the proliferation of preadipose 3T3-L1 cells. In inductive differentiation, all three extracts inhibited the adipose conversion in 2 days of initial-culture, Atractylodes Rhizoma extract inhibited the adipose conversion in 5 days of final-culture and Hoelen alba and Alismatis Rhizoma inhibited adipose conversion in treatment of whole term of culture. In spontaneous differentiation, Atractylodes Rhizoma extract increased the adipose conversion in 2 days of initial-culture, Hoelen alba and Alismatis Rhizoma increased the adipose conversion in 5 days of final-culture, all three extracts increased adipose conversion in treatment of whole term of culture. The 10% serum of mice treated with each sample did not affect, but the 5% serum of them inhibited the proliferation of 3T3-L1 cells. In inductive differentiation, the 10% serum of them inhibited the adipose conversion in treatment of whole term of culture.

This study was attempted to investigate the effect of Ganoderma lucidum extract on digestive system in experimental animals. Ganoderma lucidum water extract (GWE) was found to be promoted the charcol transport rate in the small intestine of mice. GWE exhibited the augmentation of spontaneus movement(motility) and contractile response(tension) in the ileum and colon strips of rabbit, and these action were inhibited by atropine. GWE given intraduodenaly(i.d.) exhibited the significant increase of gastric acid secretion in pylorus-ligated rats. GWE inhibited the formation of some experimental gastric ulcers(pylorus ligation ulcer i.d., indomethacin-induced ulcer p.o., i.d. and aspirin-induced ulcer p.o.) in rats, which are considered to relate to a protective action. GWE and EtOH extract(water soluble phase) were remarkably increase of bile excretion, when administration of i.d., intravenation(i.v.) and per os (p.o.) compared with normal-control group. GWE was observed antibacterial activity aginst several intestinal microoganisms and others bacteria in vitro test.

As a part of pharmacological studies of saikosaponins, which were reported to exhibit diverse biological activities especially concerning with liver function, effects of saikosaponin on metabolizing enzymes and lipid peroxide contents in liver were examined. As the result, UDP-glucose dehydrogenase activity and lipid peroxidation which were due to acetaminophen were inhibited by saikosaponin treatment. But other metabolizing enzyme activities were not modified.

The studies were conducted to investigate the effect of Sinhyo-Taklee-San(STS), which is composed of Astragali Radix(AR), Lonicerae Flos(LF), Angelicae gigantis Radix(AGR) and Glycyrrhizae Radix(GR), on the proliferation of fibroblast cell(Balb/c 3T3). STS, GR and glycyrrhizin increased the proliferation of 3T3 cells. The 10% serum obtained from STS, AR, LF, AGR and GR treated mice also increased the proliferation of 3T3 cells markedly. GR, glycyrrhizin and glycyrrhetinic acid inhibited protein synthesis, but did not affect on DNA synthesis.

This study was attempted to investigate the acute toxicity in mice, the subacute toxicity in rats of Cynanchi wilfordii Radix extract, the effect on transaminase activities, hematological parameters, leukocyte parameters in serum of subacute-toxicated rats. In acute toxicity test, the death rate was not observed in 50, 100, 200, 300 mg/kg(i.p.), one tenths to two tenths in 300, 500, 1000, 1500 mg/kg(p.o.) for two weeks. In subacute test, rats were all died in 300 mg/kg(p.o.) during 4 weeks, in 500, 1000 mg/kg(p.o.) during three weeks. The cause of death believed to be stomach ulcer. The activities of S-GOT and S-GPT were significantly increased in all sample-treated groups, when compared with the normal groups. A number of WBC and neutrophil belong to hematological parameter were significantly increased, lymphocyte was decreased in all sample-treated group, when compared with normal group. The hemolytic action on water extract, saponin and alcohol extract showed very low activities.

The pericarp of Cornus officinalis is well known famous medicinal drug in oriental countries. In this work, we have tried to evaluate the toxicity and also to find the lectin components from this seed. The lyophilized seed extract was lethal to experimental mouse at $250{\sim}300mg/kg$ and this toxic components were related to proteins. The lectins components were partially purified from the extract by ion exchange column chromatography. These lectins were relatively stable at temperature variations and also stable at pH $4{\sim}7$. The activity of these lectins did not inhibit by common carbohydrates molecules.

‘Ansin Whan(安神丸)’ is a Chinese patent medicine, which is used for insomnia, nervous breakdown, amnesia and hypertension in Korea. In the future, the demand for the drug is likely to increase, as the number of aged people increases. This medicine is the large of pills consisting 13 kinds of powdered crude drugs. For the identification of individual ingredients in such powdery mixtures, microscopic method may advantageously be used as it requires only a small amount of specimens. In this paper, the effectiveness of this method is exemplified by the identification of the ingredients in ‘Ansin Whan’ which contains 13 powdered crude drug ingredients.