The Korean folk medicine 'Cho Pi Na Mu' has been used orally to tuberculosis, neuralgia, acute and chronic gastritis and arthritis. In order to clarify the botanical origin this crude drug, comparative anatomical studies were made on the branches of Zanthoxylum species growing wild in Korea, i.e. Z. coreanum, Z. piperitum, Z. piperitum var. pubescens, Z. planispinum, Z. schinifolium, Z. schinifolium var. inermis, Z. schinifolium var. microphyllum. As a result, it was clarified that 'Cho Pi Na Mu' was the branch of Z. piperitum.

Three norisoprenoids (2, 4 and 5) were isolated from the aerial parts of Cirsium rhinoceros (Compositae) together with three flavonoids, pectolinarigenin (1), apigenin (3) and cirsimaritin (6). The structures of norisoprenoids were identified as dehydrovomifoliol (2), (+)-loliolide (4) and (-)-epiloliolide (5) on the basis of physico-chemical and spectral evidences. These norisoprenoids were first repoted from Cirsium species.

This study is to establish the quality control method of Codonopsis Radix, the root of Codonopsis lanceolata (S. et Z.) Trautv. $1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-{\beta}-carboline-3-carboxylic\;acid$ (1) isolated from this plant was adequate as an analytical marker. Content of 1 in Codonopsis Radix, determined by HPLC, was $0.0012{\pm}0.0005%$ (n=13). Total ash was $5.0{\pm}2.7%$, and loss on drying was $11.9{\pm}1.3%$.

Liquid-chromatography coupled with electrospray-ion trap mass spectrometry was applied to the analysis of the eleutherosides B and E in the Eleutherococcus senticosus cortexes. The optimum ESI/MS results were obtained in the positive ion mode using extracted ion chromatogram targeting Na-adduct molecular ion of each compound. This method allowed rapid and simple gradient separation of underivatized eleutherosides B and E without pre-purification steps at very low concentration.

Three diene-yn-diene chromophore type compounds were isolated from the flowers of Hemisteptia lyrata Bunge. On the basis of spectral data, isolated compounds were identified as heptadeca-1,7,9,13,15-pentaen-11-yne, 14-acetoxy-2,4,8,10-tetradecatetra-ene-6-yne and 14-hydroxy-2,4,8,10-tetradecatetraene-6-yn. They were first isolated from the genus of Hemisteptia.

20-Hydroxyecdysone was isolated from Melandrii Herba and identified by the spectroscopic methods. In order to evaluate the quality of it, quantitative determination of 20-hydroxyecdysone in Melandrii Herba using HPLC method has been conducted. Content of 20-hydroxyecdysone in Melandrii Herba showed average 0.0138% in 42 samples collected throughout the regions of Korea.

Sanguisorbae Radix has hemostatic, analgesic and astrigent properties and it has been used for the treatment of burns, scalds and internal hemorrhage. Ziyuglycoside I was isolated from Sanguisorbae Radix and identified by the spectroscopic methods. In order to evaluate the quality of it, quantitative determination of Ziyuglycoside I in Sanguisorbae Radix using HPLC method has been conducted. Quantitative analysis of Ziyuglycoside I showed average 3.005% in 30 samples collected throughout the regions of Korea.

Besides chrysophanol and friedelin, mixtures of n-hydrocarbons [pentacosane (72.6%), heptacosane (14.6%), tetracosane (5.8%), nonacosane (4.1 %) and hexacosane (2.9%)], n-hydrocarbon alcohols [octacosanol (70.5%) and hexacosanol (29.5%)], l-monoacyl glycerols [acyl part; behenic acid (43.5%), lignoceric acid (32.4%), cerotic acid (9.3%), tricosanoic acid (8.9%), pentacosanoic acid (2.6%), octacosanoic acid (2.3%), heneicosanoic acid (1.0%)], wax esters [behenic acid (56.3%), lignoceric acid (23.0%), cerotic acid (19.8%), tricosanoic acid (4.6%), octacosanoic acid (4.0%), pentacosanoic acid (1.7%), triacontanoic acid (0.6%)/ octacosanol (33.7%), hexacosanol (21.0%), tetracosanol (15.6%), triacontanol (10.5%), docosanol (6.0%), tricosanol (6.0%), heptacosanol (4.2%), nonacosanol (3.0%)] and sterols [${\beta}-sitosterol$ (73.2%), stigmasterol (14.6%), campesterol (12.2%)] were isolated from the roots of Hemerocallis fulva. The acid : alcohol combinations of the major wax esters were $C_{48}$: 22 : 26, 24 : 24, $C_{46}$: 22 : 24, and $C_{44}$: 22 : 22. This is the first report of l-monoacyl glycerols and friedelin from this plant. All isolates were identified on the basis of spectral data and chemical reactions.

Seven prenylated flavonoids and two pterocarpans together with a saponin were isolated from the roots of Echinosophora koreensis. They were identical with echinoisosophoranone, echinoisoflavanone, isosophoranone, sophoraisoflavanone A, kenusanone C, kenusanone A, sophoraflavanone D, 4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-(6aR,11aR)-8,9-methylenedioxy-pterocarpans, (-)-maackiain, and $3-O-{\alpha}-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1{\rightarrow}2)-{\beta}-D-galactopyranosyl(1{\rightarrow}2)-{\beta}-D-glucuronopyranosyl$ kuzusapogenol A. Among them, a pterocarpan, 4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-(6aR,11aR)-8,9-methylenedioxypterocarpan, and a saponin, $3-O-{\alpha}-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1{\rightarrow}2)-{\beta}- D-galactopyranosyl(l{\rightarrow}2)-{\beta}-D-glucuronopyranosyl$ kuzusapogenol A, were isolated for the first time from this plant.

Chemical investigation of the roots of Rhodiola sachalinensis A. Bor. (Crassulaceae) has led to the isolation of four flavonoids. Structures of these compounds were identified as $kaempferol-3-O-{\beta}-D-glucopyranoside$ (1), $kaempferol-3-O-{\beta}-D-sophoroside$ (2), $herbacetin-3-O-{\beta}-D-glucopyranoside$ (3) and $herbacetin-7-O-{\beta}-D-glucopyranosyl(1{\rightarrow}3)-{\alpha}-L-rhamnopyranoside$ (4) by the analysis of spectroscopic evidences and comparision with the data of authentic samples.

The possibility of Galla Rhois(GR) water extract as an antithrombotic agent was investigated. The effect of GR on platelet aggregation in human platelet-rich plasma(PRP) induced by collagen and ADP in vitro and coagulation parameters in a pathological model induced by endotoxin and hydrocortisone acetate(HA) in vivo were examined. In platelet aggregation assay, GR extract significantly inhibited platelet aggregation induced by collagen and ADP in a dose-dependent manner. GR extract significantly increased the number of platelet and shortened prothrombin time(PT) and activated thromboplastin time(APTT) as compared with the control in pathological model induced by endotoxin and HA. Also, GR extract significantly increased fibrinogen level as compared with the control in a pathological model induced HA. These results suggest that GR may be a promising antithrombotic agent.

The effects of Helicobacter pylori and medicinal plants extract (Leweifang) on the viability and interleukin(IL)-8 production of gastric epithelial cell were investigated. Cells viability was significantly decreased when they incubated with H. pylori or H. pylori toxin. Co-incubation with Leweifang increased H. pylori or H. pylori toxin-inhibited cell growth in a concentration-dependent manner. The production of IL-8 was greatly increased in H. pylori-infected KATO III gastric epithelial cells in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. The increased production of IL-8 was significantly inhibited by Leweifang $(1,000{\sim}5,000{\mu}g/ml)$. These results indicate that Leweifang has protective effect on H. pylori-inhibited cell growth and H. pylori-induced gastric mucosal cell inflammation by suppressing the production of inflammatory cytokine (IL-8) from gastric epithelial cells.

Melanogenesis is a physiological process resulting in the synthesis of melanin pigments, which play a crucial protective role against skin photocarcinogenesis. The heart wood of Caesalpinia sappan L.(C. sappan) has long been commonly used in Oriental folk medicines to promote blood circulation, and as an emmenagogue, analgesic or anti-inflammatory agent as well as a remedy for thrombosis. From the heartwood, many constituents have been purified and among them, brazilin and hematoxylin are two of the most abundant. This present study was designed to investigate the inhibitory effect of butanol extract from C. sappan on proliferation and melanogenesis in Melan-a cells. After 48 h treatment of these cells with various concentrations of butanol extract, the cells showed a dose-dependent inhibition in their proliferation without apoptotic cell death. Therefore, the growth retardation by the extract may be due to the cell arrest or cell differentiation. We also estimated total melanin content as a final product and activity of tyrosinase, a key enzyme, of melanogenesis in Melan-a cells. The melanin content and tyrosinase activity were deσeased in extract-treated cells in a dose dependent manner compared to control group. The butanol extract also resulted in a decrease of melanin content in ${\alpha}-melanocyte-stimulating$ hormone (MSH)-induced melanogenesis, indicating that butanol extract of C. sappan could be developed as skin whitening components of cosmetics.

The inhibitory effects of methanol extracts of 165 medicinal herbs on matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) activity were investigated. Amongst the herbal extracts, Youngia denticulate, Platycarya strobilacea, Sedum kamtschaticum, Euscaphis japonica, and Comus controversa showed a significant inhibitory effect with above 80% at $1\;{\mu}g/ml$. Above mentioned five kind extracts, which exclude polyphenols and/or tannin by techniques for their removal, showed a mild inhibitory effect on MMP-2 activity except for Y. denticulate at the same concentration.

The methanol extracts of 132 herbal medicines were screened for the inhibitory activity against heparinase enzyme from Flavobacterium heparinum. Eleven medicinal plants, Amomum xanthiodides, Agrimonia pilosa, Paeonia lactiflora, Rubia cordifolia, Sanguisorba officinalis, Torrega grandis, Morus alba, Gleditsia sinensis, Crataegus pinnatifida, Cornus officinalis, Paeonia japonica showed potent inhibition on heparinase activity. The active substituents of those herbal medicine could be extracted into butanol fraction and the inhibitory compounds of Morus alba are now isolating.

Previously, we have reported that the butanol fraction of the head of Panax ginseng had significant gastroprotective activity on gastritis and gastric ulcer models of rats. Considering the safety of the fraction for development of new anti-ulcerative agent or food supplement, general pharmacological study was carried on. The fraction was revealed that have no influence on spontaneous activity, phenobarbital-induced sleeping time, rotarod test, body temperature, gastro-intestinal motility, respiration and blood pressure. The fraction showed weak analgesic action in writhing syndrome and did not show any sign of acute toxicity in mice.