'Cheong Wi Dan (淸胃丹)' is a Chinese patent preparation which has been used for various diseases in Korea. This preparation consists of 19 powder crude drugs. Cheong Wi Dan is used for catarrh of the gastrointestines, indigestion, a pain in the chest and nausea. The microscopic method is ve교 useful to identify individual gradients in powdery mixture because it requires only a small amount of specimens. In this study, it is demonstrated that the microscopic method is very useful for the identification of 19 crude drug ingredients included in Cheong Wi Dan.

‘Maig Moon Dong(麥問冬)’ is one of the chinese crude drugs used mainly to cure a cough and sputum, etc. With regard to the botanical origin of ‘Maig Moon Dong’, it has been considered to be Liriope species of Liliaceae, but there has not been studied pharmacognostically. To clarify the botanical origin of Maig Moon Dong, we studied on the anatomical characteristics of Liriope and Ophiopogon species growing wild in Korea i.e. L. platyphylla, L. spicata, O. jaburan, O. japonicus and Maig Moon Dong from Korea. As a result, the botanical origin of Maig Moon Dong from Korea was proved as Liriope platyphylla and L. spicata.

This study is to establish the quality control method of Adenophorae Radix. (6R,7R)-E,E-tetradeca-4,12-diene-8,10-diyne-1,6,7-triol (1) isolated from this plant was adequate as an analytical marker. Content of 1 in Adenophorae Radix was $0.006\;{\pm}\;0.003%$ (n = 43). In addition, total ash content was $6.5\;{\pm}\;4.0%$, and loss on drying was $12.1\;{\pm}\;2.1%$.

In the course of screening Korean natural plants for acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity, we found that a methanolic extract of the leaves of Securinega suffruticosa showed significant inhibitory effects on AChE. Bioassay-guided fractionation of the methanolic extract resulted in the isolation of dihydrosecurinine, as a active principle. This compound inhibited AChE activity in a dose-dependent manner, and the $IC_{50}$ value of dihydrosecurinine was $18.9\;{\mu}g$.

The repeated column chromatographic separation of the MeOH extract of Laportea bulbifera Weddell resulted in the isolation of five flavonoids. Structures of the isolated compounds have been identified as $isorhamnetin-7-O-{\alpha}-L-rhamnoside$ (1), $isorhamnetin-3-O-{\alpha}-L-rhamnoside$ (2), $isorhamnetin-3,7-O-{\alpha}-L-dirhamnoside$ (3), $isorhamnetin-3-O-{\alpha}-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1{\rightarrow}2)-{\beta}-galactopyranoside$ (4), $isorhamnetin-3-O-{\alpha}-rhamosyl-(1{\rightarrow}2)-rhamnoside$ (5) by spectroscopic means.

In order to clarify the anti-thrombosis activity of rhubarb, we investigated the effect of stilbene derivatives from rhizomes of Rheum undulatun on cyclooxygenase activity. Stilbene derivatives (desoxyrhapontigenin, rhapontigenin, piceatannol) exhibited the inhibitory effects on COX-1, and desoxyrhapontigenin showed inhibitory effect on COX-2. These inhibitory effect may partially contributed to anti-thrombosis activity of rhubarb.

In order to search for the anti-HIV agents from natural products, eighty MeOH extracts of medicinal plants were applied to a syncytia formation inhibition assay which is based on the interaction between the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein gp120/gp41 and the cellular membrane protein CD4 of T lymphocytes. Among them, Ailanthus altissima showed a potent virus-cell fusion inhibitory activity. Repeated column chromatoghaphy of the methylene chloride fraction of A. altissima afforded compounds 1$({\beta}-sitosterol-3-O-{\beta}-D-glucoside)$, 2(tetramethoxycoumarin), and 3(ocotillone). Virus-cell fusion inhibitory activity of compound 3(ocotillone) was $70.76{\pm}4.09%$ at the concentration of $100\;{\mu}g/ml$.

Eight compounds were isolated from the roots of Glycyrrhiza glabra by the tyrosinase inhibitory activity guided fractionation, and their structures were identified as liquiritigenin (1), isoliquiritigenin (2), isoliquiritigenin-2'-O-methyl ether (3), liquiritin (4), isoliquiritin (5), ononin (6), glycycoumarin (7), glycyrol (8) by analysis of spectral data. Compound 3 exhibited the most potent inhibitory effect on mushroom tyrosinase activity ($IC_{50}$, 47 M).

Antler has been used as one of the important traditional oriental medicines for many years. It contains many biochemical components including lipids, peptides, carbohydrates, and inorganic substances. The various biological activities of antler are being considered owing to such biochemical components. The purpose of this research is to compare the biochemical components of antlers after treatment of three different kinds of fodder. They are mulberry (group A), Lycii Fructus (group B) and the complex of herbs (group C). The chemical composition of each antler was determined in three sections (top, middle, and bottom) and compared with those of the control. The contents of sialic acid, uronic acid and glycosaminoglycans increased in the top antlers of the group B. Total lipids content increased in the top antlers of all groups (A, B, and C). The concentration of inorganic ions (Ca, Mg, and P) decreased in all groups. Fattyacid composition was also analyzed by GC-MS and expressed as percentage of total fatty acid concentration. The content of palmitic acid decreased in all groups. The content of 2-hydrox-yhexadecanoic acid, which has not been reported in aster, increased in the top antlers of all groups. These results suggest that the treatment of special fodder may affect the composition of the biochemical components of antlers.

We have conducted to characterize the physico-chemical change and pharmacological transformation of traditional herbal medicines by means of processing. Processed Gardeniae Fructus was prepared by heating of fruit of Gardenia jasminoides(GF) for $30{\sim}50\;minute$ in the roster designed for herb processing. The contents of drying loss, water extract, diluted ethanol extract, ether extract and geniposide in non-processed GF and processed GF were examined. The contents of drying loss, water extract and geniposide in processed GF showed a decrease as compared with those of non-processed GF, however the contents of dilute ethanol and ether extract showed a increase as compared with those of non-processed GF. The rate of decrease/increase of those index were in proportion to heating time. And, biological activities of methanol extract of non-processed GF and processed GF were investigated. DPPH scavenging effects and inhibitory effect of xanthine oxidate and hemolysis of processed GF exhibited more effective than those of non-processed GF in vitro. Accelerating effect of large intestinal transport and purgative action of non- processed GF were discriminated by processing of GF. Methanol extracts of non-pro- cessed GF and processed GF showed the protective effects against the hepatotoxicity induced by ${\alpha}-naphthylisothiocyanate$ in rats. These results suggested that the transformation of biological activities of GF by means of processing may be due to the physico-chemical change of the constituents in GF by heating.

The effects of liriodenine, an aporphine isoquinoline alkaloid, on dopamine content in PCl2 cells were investigated. Treatment of PC12 cells with liriodenine decreased dopamine content in a dose-dependent manner (33.6% inhibition at $10\;{\mu}M$ for 12 h). The $IC_{50}$ in value of liriodenine was $8.4\;{\mu}M$. Dopamine content decreased at 3 h and reached a minimal level at 12 h after the exposure to liriodenine. Under these conditions, the activities of tyrosine hydroxylase and aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase were also inhibited at $10\;{\mu}M$ of liriodenine by 10.1% and 20.2% relative to control, respectively. In addition, liriodenine inhibited the increase in dopamine content induced by L-DOPA Treatments $(50-100\;{\mu}M)$ in PC12 cells. These results suggest that liriodenine inhibited dopamine biosynthesis and L-DOPA-induced increase in dopamine content by reducing the activities of tyrosine hydroxylase and aromatic L- amino acid decarboxylase in PC12 cells.

Solanum lyratum(Solanaceae) has been used as a traditional analgesic, antipyretic and hepatoprotective agents in Korea. In this study, we investigated the hepatoprotective effect of ethylacetate extract of Solanum lyratum (SL) on the dimethylnitrosamine (DMN)-induced liver damage in rats. Oral administration of SL (150, 300 mg/kg daily for 4 weeks) into the DMN-treated rats remarkably prevented the elevation of serum alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase and alkaline phosphatase levels. SL also increased serum protein level and reduced the hepatic level of malondialdehyde in DMN-treated rats. Furthermore, DMN-induced elevation of hydroxyproline content was reduced by the treatment of SL. In conclusion, these results demonstrated that SL exhibited in vivo hepatoprotective effect against DMN-induced liver injury, and suggest that SL may be useful in the prevention of liver damage.

This study was performed to examine the effects of Liriopis Tuber extracts to high cholesterol diet on lipid metabolism in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats of $90{\pm}10\;g$ were divided into six groups; basal diet (normal group), 1% high cholesterol diet (control group), high cholesterol diet supplemented with 3%, 5% water extracts (C3W, C5W group) and high cholesterol diet supplemented with 3%, 5% MeOH extracts (C3M, C5M group). These experimental diets were fed for 4 weeks. The lipid contents on serum, liver, feces were lower Lriopis Tuber extracts groups than control group. Especially, the effects of water extract was better than MeOH extract.

Cornis fructus has been traditionally used for treating allergy, asthma, hepatitis, and chronic nephritis. It major chemical constituents have been saponins, phenolic acids and loganin. The main aim of the present study was to examine the effect of methanol extract from Cornis fructus on melanogenesis. Cell were cultured in the presence of methanol extracts from Cornis fructus for 48 h, and there were estimated total melanin content as a final product and activity of tyrosinase, a key enzyme, in melanogenesis. Methanol extract from Cornis fructus increased the melanin content and tyrosinase activity in a dose-dependent manner. Particularly, it was observed that only methanol extract $200\;{\mu}g/ml$ stimulated the melanin secretion in B16/F10 melanoma cells by 152% at 48 h treatment and the activity of tyrosinase was increased by 261% in the presence of same concentration.

Alloxan 및 streptozotocin 유도 당뇨모델 동물에서 손바닥 선인장 (Opuntia ficus-indica fructus)의 혈당강하효과를 조사하였다. 손바닥 선인장의 열매와 잎은 in vitro에서 흰쥐의 소장 ${\alpha}-glucosidase$를 농도의존적으로 저해하였다. 손바닥 선인장의 열매와 잎으로 정상 생쥐와 streptozotocin으로 유도한 당뇨 모델 생쥐에서 Opuntia ficus-indica의 혈당강하 효과를 조사한 결과 maltose, sucrose 부하에 의한 혈당 상승을 농도 의존적으로 유의하게 억제하였다. 그러나 alloxan 유도 당뇨모델 동물에서는 혈당강하효과가 약하였다. 아울러 이 손바닥 선인장 잎과 열매는 정상 생쥐에서도 혈당강하효과를 나타냈다. 이러한 결과로 볼 때 손바닥 선인장은 인슐린 의존형인 제 1형 당뇨에 효과가 있을 것으로 사료된다.

Water extract from Astragali Radix (AR) was tested for the safety using Ames, Bacillus subtilis Rec, and umu gene expression mutagenicity tests. Mutagenic activity in any assays we tested was not found. In Ames test, Salmonella typhimurium TA98 and TA 100 were used to identify mutagenic property, and the number of histidine revertants was measured. In the Recassay, Bacillus subtilis ${H-17(Rec^+)\;and\;M-45(Rec^-)}$ strains were used to test DNA damage activity. In the SOS umu test, Salmonella typhimurium TA1535 containing plasmid pSK1002 was used as a test strain, and we monitored the levels of umu operon expression by measuring the ${\beta}-galactosidase$ activity. From the results, there was no DNA damage and mutagenicity of AR. Hepatotoxicity of AR to female ICR mice was also monitored by the measurements of s-GOT, s-GPT, LDH activities after oral feeding for 15 days. AR was not shown any significant changes of s-GOT, s-GPT and LDH activities in mice sera.

For the determination of inhibiting cytochrome P450(CYP)3A4 activity, an improvement HPLC method was established by using a new internal standard and solvent system. Moreover, CYP3A4 amount for a optimum reaction of enzyme was determined by a comparative study with a variety concentration of enzyme. Using a established method, inhibitory effect of CYP3A4 that is drug metabolizing enzyme Investigated on EtOAc extracts of 5-class spices. As a result of experiment, EtOAc extract of white pepper (Piper nigrum L.) showed strong inhibitory activity. On a continuous experiment, the fraction 2, 4 and 5 of while pepper extract showed remarkable inhibitory activity. Pipeline, a main constituent of pepper was not included in these fraction. It is suggested that major compounds for the inhibitory activity of white pepper may be other ingredient that is not piperine.

Ras proteins play an important role in intracellular signal transduction pathways involved in cell growth and the mutated twas genes have been found in thirty percent of human cancers. Ras proteins (H-, K- and N-Ras) are small guanine nucleotide binding proteins that undergo a series of posttranslational modifications including the farnesylation onto cysteine 186 at C-terminal of Ras by farnesyl protein transferase (FPTase). This is a mandatory process for retention of transforming ability. Therefore, inhibitors of FPTase have a promising to be effective antitumor agents. In our screening program for FPTase inhibitors, the methanol extracts of 193 plants were screened for the inhibitory activity against FPTase partially purified from the rat brain. Extracts of 7species plants including Areca catechu, Saururus chinensis, Curcuma longa, Artemisa princeps, Paeonia suffruticosa, Spatholobus suberectus, Cinnamomum cassia, Cinnamomum japonicum inhibited more than 60% of FPTase activity at a concentration of $100\;{\mu}g/ml$.

The regulation of plasma lipid level, particularly LDL cholesterol, represents the focus of current therapy for atherosclerosis. And $Lp-PLA_2$ is able to hydrolyse oxidized phosphatidylcholine within LDL into lyso-PC and oxidized fatty acids. $Lp-PLA_2$ is a potential biomarker of coronary heart disease and plays an important proinflammatory role in the progression of atherosclerosis. We investigated the inhibitory effects of methanol extracts of 224 natural plants on $Lp-PLA_2$ activity. Seven kinds of methanol extracts of tested plants showed above 50% inhibitory effect with the concentration of $100\;{\mu}g/ml$. The concentrated aqueous suspensions of each methanol extract were partitioned with n-hexane, $CHCl_3$, and EtOAc. Among them, EtOAc extracts of Astilbe chinensis var. davidii (root) and Pourthiaea villosa var. brunnea (leaf) significantly inhibited $Lp-PLA_2$ activity at the same concentration.

Arachidonic acid(AA), which is stored in membrane glycerophospholipids, is liberated by phospholipase $A_2(PLA_2)$ enzymes and is sequentially converted to cyclooxygenase (COX) and lipoxygenase (LOX) then to various bioactive prostaglandins (PGs,) and leukotrienes (LTs). In order to find the specific inhibitors of AA metabolism enzymes such as $PLA_2$, COX-2, 5-LO and lyso PAF acetyltransferase. 195 Korean indigenous plant extracts were evaluated for their inhibitory activity on $PGD_2,\;LTC_4$ production from cytokine-induced mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMC) and arachidonic acid released from phospholipid and PAF production from lyso PAF. From this screening procedure, methanol extract of eight plants such as Saururus chinensis, Aster tataricus, Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium, Reynoutria japonica, Disocorea nipponica, Epimedium koreanum, impatiens textori, Veronica rotunda var. subintegra were found to inhibit production of inflammatory mediators in vitro assay system.