Three sesquiterpene lactones (1, 2 and 5) and two lipid glycerols (3 and 4) were isolated from MeOH extract of Ainsliaea acerifolia (Compositae). Based on spectral data, their chemical structures were determined as estafiatone (1), zaluzanin C (2), 3-O-(9Z, 12Z, 15Z-octadecatrienoyl) glycerol (3), 3-O-(9Z, 12Z-octadecadienoyl) glycerol (4) and glucozaluzanin C (5). Compounds 1, 3 and 4 were previously not reported from Ainsliaea species.

The dried roots of Rehmannia glutinosa (RG) have been used in the traditional medicine for treatment of diabetes, fever and dysuria, etc. In order to investigate the quality evaluation of the dried roots of RG, we conducted the physico-chemical and biological evaluation method. The amount of catalpol from commercial samples is very diverse about $0.00{\sim}3.89%$ by using HPLC method, because it is easily decomposed by processing of RG. So, we should try to identify the correlation with the contents of catalpol and biological activities of RG. We chose 3 samples which were a wide difference of catalpol contents between each sample (Sample-I; 3.4%, Sample-II; 2.8%, Sample-III; 0.05%). Sample-I and Sample-II were found to be more effective than Sample-III on the DPPH free radical scavenging effect and inhibitory effect on $H_2O_2-catalyzed$ lipid peroxidation in rat liver in vitro. And, Sample-I and Sample-II exhibited more significant effects than Sample-III on accelerating actions of the small and large intestinal transport, and diuretic action in mice. So, it is suggested that the quantitative determination of catalpol should be required for the tandardization of the dried roots of RG.

The purpose of this research was to investigate effects of Samultang water extract (SMT) on cytokine production from immune cells during the late stage of pregnancy in BALB/c mice. SMT(500 mg/kg) was administered p.o. once a day for 7 days, and then thymocytes and peritoneal macrophages were separated. At the late stage of pregnant mice, the proliferation of thymocytes and the production of ${\gamma}-interferon$ in thymocytes were decreased as compared with normal group, but the production of interleukin-2 and interleukin-4 was increased. The production of tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$, nitric oxide and phagocytic activity in peritoneal macrophage was increased as compared with normal group. At the late stage of pregnant mice administered with SMT, the production of interleukin-2 in thymocytes was decreased as compared with a pregnant group, but the proliferation of thymocytes, the production of ${\gamma}-interferon$ and interleukin-4 was increased. The production of tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ and nitric oxide in peritoneal macrophages were decreased as compared with a pregnant group, but phagocytic activity were increased. These results suggest that SMT has the regulative action on immune function of thymocytes and peritoneal macrophages at the late stage of pregnant mice.

Atherosclerosis is emerging as one of the major causes of death in Korea as well as Western societies. In the present study; hypocholesterolemic and antiatherogenic effects of the ethanol extract of Allium victorialis Makino was investigated using the conventional rabbit and the cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP)-transgenic mouse model. Hypercholesterolemia was induced by feeding high cholesterol diet to the animals for 30 days and they were then fed with high cholesterol diet containing 0.5% of the A. victorialis extract for additional 30 (or 40) days. In the experiment using rabbits, treatment with the A. victorialis extract significantly decreased plasma total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, triglyceride levels and lipid peroxidation compared to those in the control group. Total cholesterol contents in the liver and the heart were also significantly decreased. Lipid staining of the aorta isolated from the rabbits showed that treatment with the A. victorialis extract decreased formation of atheromatous plaques on the intima of the aorta. In the experiment employing CETP transgenic mouse model, treatment with the A. victorialis extract decreased the levels of plasma total cholesterol and the tissue triglyceride levels in the heart. These results demonstrated that the ethanol extract of A. victorialis lowered serum cholesterol levels, tissue lipid contents and accumulation of cholesterol in the artery.

The herb of Melampyrum roseum var. hirsutum Beauv. was extracted with methanol and the extract was fractionated with n-hexane, chloroform, ethylacetate and n-buthanol. Repeated column chromatography of silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 and Lobar-A lichroprep Si 60 led to the isolation of five compounds from n-hexane layer and ethylacetate layer. These compounds were identified as apigenin, linarin, pectolinarin, wogonin and mussaenoside, respectively, by the physicochemical and spectral properties.

Cordyceps is reputed for its broad biological activities and as a tonic for replenishing vital function in Chinese traditional medicines. As an attempt to obtain fundamental data for the development of a new type Cordyceps, the effects of the fruiting bodies of cultivated fungus of Paecilomyces japonica grown on silkworm larvae on hyperglycemia induced by streptozotocin(STZ) and by epinephrine in rats and in mice as well as on immunological functions in mice were investigated. The 70% methanol extract of the fungus, when administered orally at 100 and 300 mg/kg in STZ-induced hyperglycemic rats, caused a significant decrease in blood glucose level 3hr after sample treatments. The methanol extract, when administered p.o. at the same dose levels in epinephrine-induced hyperglycemic mice, also caused a significant decrease in serum glucose levels as well as a significant reversal of the liver glycogen contents suggesting its hypoglycemic activity might be due to glycogen breakdown in the liver. Treatment of normoglycaemic mice with the methanol extract of the fungus exhibited a significant glucose tolerance up to 3hr after oral glucose load(2.0 g/kg). The methanol extract also showed immuno-stimulating activity as measured by carbon clearance in mice and a significant antifatigue effect as measured by weight loaded forced swimming performance in mice.

Two diterpenes and one new sucrose isovaleryl ester having inhibitory effects on melanogenesis in B16 mouse melanoma were isolated from Euphorbiae Lathyridis Semen which has been used in traditional medicine for cancer, tumors and warts. New sucrose isovaleryl ester was identified as ${\alpha}-D-glucopyranoside$, $3,4,6-tris-O-(3-methyl-l-oxobutyl)-{\beta}-D-fructofuranosyl$, 2,6-bis(3-methylbutanoate) and two diterpenes were identified as ingenol-20-palmitate and 5,10-diacetyl-3-benzoyllathyrol$(Euphorbia\;factor\;L_3)$ from their spectral data.

From our previous report, the water extract of Pulsatilla koreana root was found to have potent anti-inflammatory and analgesic actions in intravenous administration in animals. Among chloroform, ethyl acetate, butanol and water fractions which were obtained through successive fractionation of the extract, only the water fraction was found to have the antiinflammatory and analgesic actions. The fraction did not affect normal body temperature at the effective doses in mice and showed low acute toxicity of which $LD_{50}$ was less than 500 mg/kg i.v. in mice. It is interesting that its anti-inflammatory action might be attributed in part to inhibition of cyclooxygenase-1 and -2.

This study was carried out to investigate the structure of antioxidative constituents and the free radical scavenging effect of the main ingredients from Galla Rhois(Rhus javanica Linne). Antioxidative activities of n-hexane, EtOAc and BuOH extracts of Galla Rhois were similar or even higher than that of natural (tocopherol) or synthetic antioxidant (BHA). It is suggested that major fractions for the antioxidative activity of Galla Rhois were the n-hexane, EtOAc and BuOH extract compartments. In the subsequently experiment, one active compound from n-hexane extract, three active compounds from EtOAc extract and one active compound from BuOH extract were isolated. Their chemical structures were identified as syringic acid, protocatechuic acid, gallic acid methylester, gallic acid and $1,2,3,4,6- penta-O-galloyl-{\beta}-D-glucose$ on the basis of the speculation of spectral data and chemical reaction. Among the compounds, protocatechuic acid, gallic acid methylester and $1,2,3,4,6- penta-O-galloyl-{\beta}-D-glucose$ showed most potent radical scavenging effect using DPPH method.

In the previous reports, we selected 80% MeOH extract of 7 herbs including Scutellariae Radix(SR), Paeoniae Radix Rubra(PRR), Moutan Cortex(MC), Angelicae Gigantis Radix(AGR), Crataegi Fructus(CF), Bambusae Caulis in Taeniam(BCT) and Cinnamomi Ramulus(CR), which exhibited the inhibitory effect on HMG-CoA reductase and DPPH free radical scavenging effect in vitro, and antihyperlipidemic effects on antihyperlipidemic rats induced by Triton WR 1339 in vivo. Among them, SR, MC, AGR and BCT showed significant suppression of elevated serum LDL-cholesterol level, and AGR and CF showed significant liver weight increase on high cholesterol diet induced hyperlipidemic mice. And, SR, PRR, AGR, BCT and CR significantly suppressed the elevated serum total cholesterol and triglyceride levels on corn oil induced hyperlipidemic rats. Then, in order to research new antihyperlipidemic agents from the oriental medicinal herbs, we chose SR, AGR, CR and BCT which have the antihyperlipidemic effect in vitro and in vivo, and those herbs were systematically fractionated with organic solvent. EtOAc fraction of SR, hexane fraction of BCT, AGR and chloroform fraction of CR exhibited remarkably inhibitory effect on HMG-CoA reductase activity.

This study was conducted to search for the ${\alpha}-glucosidase$ inhibitor from the natural products. In the previous study, the water extract of Gyrophora esculenta exhibited a potent inhibitory effect on ${\alpha}-glucosidase$ activities. Then, by bioassay-guided fractionation followed by chromatographic separation of the water extract of Gyrophora esculenta, ${\alpha}-glucosidase$ inhibitor was isolated as GE974. GE974 showed significant inhibitory activities on some kinds of ${\alpha}-glucosidase$ in vitro. Its inhibitory mechanism seemed to be competitive for disaccharides. Also, it markedly inhibited ${\alpha}-glucosidases$ of intestine separated from both nondiabetics and diabetics.

The concentrations of 4 kalosaponins from tissues of Kalopanax septemlobus (Thunb.)Koidz grown in 7 provenances in Korea were determined by HPLC. Kalosaponin contents in plant part were much higher in the inner bark(30.59 mg/g on the dry weight basis) than those of young leaves(22.74 mg/g on the dry weight basis) and root bark(18.02 mg/g on the dry weight basis). A considerable range of variation in the contents was observed among population. The kalosaponin contents in inner bark from each population were highest in the Mt. Barwang (30.37 mg/g on the dry weight basis) followed by Mt. Gariwang, Hanra II, Mangun, Paltan, and Hanra I population. A variation of kalosaponin contents among population may be affected by both environmental and genetic factors. Establishment of selection and propagation of high kalosaponin containing trees can be a good source for the development of valuable forest products.

'Ha Go Cho (夏枯草)' is one of the Chinese crude drugs used mainly as a diuretic. With regard to the botanical origin of 'Ha Go Cho', it was reported by Su et al. that those from China were originated from the fruited spica of Prunella vulgaris L. of Labiatae. It was, however, for the herba or spica of Prunella vulgaris L. var. lilacina Nakai from Korea. According to survey of markets in Korea, most of the materials collected in the markets seemed to be originated from Prunella plant, while some seemed to be Thesium plant of Santalaceae. To clarify the botanical origin of 'Ha Go Cho', the anatomical characteristics of Prunella vulgaris L. var. lilacina Nakai and Thesium chinense Turcz. were studied. As a result, it was clarified that some 'Ha Go Cho' from Korea were the herba or spica of Prunella vulgaris var. lilacina, whereas some others were the herba of Thesium chinense.

The anti-inflammatory activity of SEO-KYONG-TANG extract(SKTWE) was examined by using carrageenin- and acetic acid-induced edema, croton oil-induced granuloma pouch, and adjuvant arthritis in rats. In addition, the acute toxicity, analgesic and antipyretic effects of SKTWE were investigated by using general experimental methods in mice. SKTWE did not show acute toxicity at 2400 mg/kg(p.o.) nor 1200 mg/kg(i.p.). After oral administration of the SKTWE to rats, significant anti-inflammatory activity was observed on 1% carrageenin- and 5% acetic acid-induced edema. Also, it significantly inhibited granuloma and exudation in these. In the adjuvant arthritis experiment, the SKTWE decreased the hind paw edema after 3 days of oral administration. In addition, it inhibited the writhing syndromes induced by 0.7% acetic acid in mice. The antipyretic activity of SKTWE was also observed through the typhoid vaccine experiment. These results suggest that SKTWE has analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic action.

As part of study of the constituents of bamboo grasses, the leaves of Sasa borealis (Hackel) Makino (Gramineae) were examined. Friedelin, glutinol, isoorientin and isovitexin have been reported as constituents of bamboo grasses. In this study, tricin and two flavone glycosides, tricin $7-O-{\beta}-D-glucopyranoside$ and luteolin $6-C-{\alpha}-L-arabinopyranoside$ have been isolated from EtOAc extract of S. borealis, by consecutive silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography and a repetitive HPLC. The structures of these compounds were determined by IR, $^1H-NMR,\;^{13}C-NMR,\;^{13}C-^1H\;COSY,\;^1H-^1H\;COSY,\;HMBC$ and Mass spectral data.

Effects of Houttuynia cordata on the level of lipid peroxide and the enzyme activities of the liver were investigated in bromobenzene-induced rats. Lipid peroxide content in liver was increased by bromobenzene. It was decreased when the methanol extract from the aerial parts of H. cordata was treated to the rat. The methanol extract reduced the activities of aminopyrine N-demethylase and aniline hydroxylase that increased by bromobenzene, however did not affect glutathione S-transferase activity. The methanol extract recovered the activity of epoxide hydrolase activity that decreased significantly by bromobenzene. We suggest that under our experimental conditions the extract might play an important play in the prevention of hepatotoxicity by reduction of aminopyrine N-demethylase and aniline hydroxylase activities as well as enhancement of epoxide hydrolase activity. Six phenolic compounds have been isolated from H. cordata and identified by means of spectral analysis as protocatechuic acid, quercetin, apigenin, afzelin, hyperoside and quercitrin.

The effects of several compounds related to signal transduction cascade were determined to induce the production of alizarin and purpurin in the hairy root culture system of Rubia cordifolia var. pratensis. It was found that out of five tested compounds jasmonic acid(1 mg/l) and methyl jasmonate(1 mg/l) stimulated strongly the biosynthesis of the pigments while linolenic acid(1 mg/l) induced no significant increase of the product. Yeast extract(600 mg/l) and arachidonic acid(1 mg/l) showed relatively mild inducing effects on production of alizarin. The effects of jasmonic acid and methyl jasmonate were reduced by treatment with cycloheximide(2.8 mg/l).

Antimutagenicity profiles of the enzymatic browning reaction products(EBRP) were investigated. The rec-assay with Bacillus subtilis strains $H17(rec^+)$ and $M45(rec^-)$ was carried out using their spores. The biological activities were evaluated for seven different enzymatic browning reaction products, which resulted from the reactions of seven polyphenols with polyphenol oxidase isolated from Ginkgo biloba leaves. In the spore $rec^-$ assay, most of the polyphenolic compounds tested were positive, whereas their enzymatic browning reaction products were tested negative. The mutagenicity of enzymic browning mixtures of the polyphenols and the enzymes obtained from Ginkgo biloba leaves showed negative results in the mutagenicity test using Bacillus subtilis strains $H17(rec^+)$ and $M45(rec^-)$. In the case where polyphenol oxidase inhibitors were added in the enzymatic reaction mixtures with polyphenols, the polyphenols showed mutagenic effect in the spore $rec^-$ assay. This suggests that the activity of polyphenol oxidase is decreased.

As a series of the studies on cultivated Korean rhubarb rhizomes (Rheum undulatum), five stilbene derivatives were screened for inhibitory activity against $5{\alpha}-reductase$. Of these, desoxyrhapontigenin, rhapontigenin, and piceatannol exhibited inhibition, whereas, two other stilbene glycosides, rhaponticin and $piceatannol-3'-O-{\beta}-D-glucopyranoside$ did not show the inhibition.

From the whole plants of Amaranthus mangostanus L., rutin was isolated and identified by means of chemical and spectroscopic methods. This is the first isolation of rutin from this plant.

In order to screen new radical scavenging principle which is expected to be antiaging drug lead, we have investigated 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity of the marine microalgae, greenalgae(10 speices), diatom (10 speices) and blue-green algae (10 speices). The significant activities$(IC_{50}:\;<100\;{mu}g/ml)$ were observed in 4 species of green algae (MA002, 006, 009, 010), 1 species of diatom (MA015) and 5 species of blue-green algae (MA017, 018, 019, 024, 025). Within the scope of family tested, MA009 $(IC_{50}:\;=78\;{mu}g/ml)$, MA015 $(IC_{50}:\;=38\;{mu}g/ml)$ and MA019 $(IC_{50}:\;=41\;{mu}g/ml)$ displayed the most significant activity. Among the marine microalgae tested at family level, cyanophycean blue-green algae was shown to be the most active family on screening of new bioactive compounds.

'Jeol Chung Yum' is a Chinese patent medicine, which is used for a disease of women peculiarity by extravasated blood, a kind of stagnation state of blood and of menstrual irregularity in Korea; This medicine consists of 10 kinds of powdery mixtures, and microscopic method can advantageously be used for identification as it requires only a small amount of specimens. In this paper, the effectiveness of this methods will be exemplified by the identification of the ingredients in 'Jeol Chung Yum' which contains 10 powdered crude drug ingredients.