The leaves of Acanthopanax sessiliflorus Seem. (Araliaceae), which is native plant to Korea, have not been studied yet on triterpene constituents. Three 3,4-seco-lupane triterpenoids (Compound I-III) were isolated from the MeOH extract of this plant using Diaion HP-20P, silica gel and ODS column chromatographes. Based on physicochemical and spectroscopic data, the chemical structures of these compounds were identified as follows ; chiisanogenin (Compound I), chiisanoside (Compound II), $22{\alpha}-hydroxychiisanoside$ (Compound III).

Agastachis Herba has been used for the treatment of poor appetite, nausea diarrhea and distension of chest. Pogostemonis Herba has been used for the treatment of fever caused by heart stroke, poor appetite, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Pattern recognition for the analysis of Agastachis Herba and Pogostemonis Herba was conducted using PHLC method. Rosmarinic acid from Agastachis Herba was detected at retention time of 14.996 min and quantitative analysis of rosmarinic acid showed average range of $0.183{\pm}0.183%$ (n=4). Rosmarinic acid was not detected from Pogostemonis Herba and we distinguished two medicinal plants by HPLC method.

Cynanchi Wilfordii Radix has been used for the treatment of prematurely grey hair, bald and constipation and Polygoni Multiflori Radix has been used for the treatment of weakness, knee pain, premature greying, elevated serum cholesterol, coronary heart disease, naurasthenia and insominia. Pattern recognition for the analysis of Cynanchi Wilfordii Radix and Polygoni Multiflori Radix was conducted using HPLC method. Pattern of Cynanchi Wilfordii Radix and Polygoni Multiflori Radix was different and we distinguished two medicinal plants by HPLC.

We reported that neurotoxicity may contribute to cyanide-induced neuronal injury. Cyanide stimulates the release of glutamate which can activate glutamate receptors to propagate excitotoxic processes. We examined the role of plant extracts in mediating the cyanide-induced cytotoxicity and report here that the cytotoxicity assessed in SK- N-SH cell cultures by measuring lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the culture media was significantly blocked by Evodia officinalis MeOH extract (OMU). Also, when OMU was treated in NaCN level cultures, the neurite outgrowth was regenerated as much as in the treatment of NaCN only. These results indicate that OMU treatment were not only protected the neurons against NaCN-induced damage but also regenerated the neurite outgrowth of neuroblastoma cells.

We compared the antitumor activity between hollow fiber assay and xenographic animal assay on thirty herbal plants. It is evaluated that the antitumor activity of above 30% is regarded as 'positive response', and its of below 30% is regarded as 'negative response'. The two herbal plants extracts (Ulmus davidiana Hedyotis diffusa) among thirty herbal plants show to be positive in xenographic animal assay and they were also correctly identified as positive by the hollow fiber assay. The correlation of the hollow fiber assay data with xenographic animal assay would suggest that hollow fiber assay presents a potentially unique tool to develop the herbal medicine for cancer.

This study was carried out to evaluate cytotoxic effects of Salvia miltiorrhiza extracts on NIH 3T3 fibroblasts and KB cell lines. Disruptions in cell organelles were determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The comparison of $IC_{50}$ of values of Salvia miltiorrhiza extracts in KB cell lines showed that their susceptibility to these extracts decreased in the following order: hexane extract > chloroform extract > methanol extract> dichloromethane extract > ethyl acetate extract>ethanol extract by the MTT method. The dried roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza was extracted several solvents, and then antimicrobial activity was investigated. The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC's) of the extract against microorganisms were also examined. Amtimicrobial activity of ketoconazol as reference was compared to those of extracts of hexane, chloroform, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, ethanol and methanol. The antimicrobial activity of all extracts from the sample had growth inhibition activity against gram-negative bacteria, gram-positive bacteria and fungi. These results suggest that the hexane and chloroform soluble extracts of Salvia miltiorrhiza may be a valuable choice for the studies on the tumor cell lines and growth inhibition activity.

Cnidii Rhizoma water extract (CRW) was tested for liver cancer chemopreventive potential by measuring the inhibition of phase I enzyme and benzo[a]pyrene-DNA adduct formation and induction of phase II detoxification enzymes. There was 17.0% inhibition in the activity of cytochrome P450 1A1 enzyme with the treatment of 150 mg/ml CRW. At concentration of 30 mg/ml CRW, the binding of $[^3H]B[a]P$ metablites to DNA of NCTC-clone 1469 cell was inhibited by 33.3%. CRW was potent inducer of quinone reductase (QR) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities in cultured murine hepatoma Hepalc1c7 cells. However, hepatic glutathione (GSH) level was not influenced by CRW. These findings suggest that CRW has chemopreventive potential of liver cancer by inhibiting cytochrome P450 1A1 activity and benzo[a]pyrene-DNA adduct formation and inducing QR and GST activities.

For the purpose of searching for the new antifungal agent from the plant origin, we have examined twenty seven species of medicinal plants for the antifungal activity against Candida albicans and Pityrosporum ovale. The whole MeOH extract of each plant material and the n-hexane and EtOAc fractions were evaluated individually for the antifungal activity. Among the test materials, the fractions from the root bark of Zanthoxylum schinifolium, Zanthoxylum piperitum and Citrus unshiu showed significant antifungal activities in a dose dependent manner against Pityrosporum ovale and Candida albicans, respectively.

A bioassay-guided fractionation of the stem bark extract of Eucommia ulmoides Oliver (Eucommiaceae) led to the isolation of three iridoid constituents, genipin (1), geniposide (3), geniposidic acid (4) as well as $({\pm})-guaiacylglycerol$ (2) and fatty acid mixtures as active ingredients of the extract responsible for the antitumoral property. The EtOAc soluble part and BuOH soluble part of the extract demonstrated a potent inhibition on the proliferation of cultured human tumor cells such as A549 (non small cell lung), SK-OV-3 (ovary), SK-MEL-2 (melanoma), XF498 (central nerve system) and HCT-15 (colon) in vitro, whereas the remaining water soluble part exhibited a poor inhibition. The intensive investigation of the EtOAc soluble part and BuOH soluble part of the extract yielded genipin, guaiacylglycerol, geniposide, geniposidic acid and large amounts of fatty acid mixtures as active components.

Inhibitory effects of the whole extract and isolated compounds from the leaves of Vaccinium koreanum (Ericaceae) on rat lens aldose reductase (RLAR) and on platelet aggregation were investigated for the prevention or the treatment of chronic diabetic complications. Arbutin, isolated from n-butanol fraction of methanol extract, exhibited a potent inhibitory effects on rat platelet aggregation induced by ADP $(IC_{50}=0.12\;{\mu}M)$ and collagen $(IC_{50}=0.039\;{\mu}M)$ and showed same inhibitory activities with positive control, tetramethylene glutaric acid, on RLAR.

Extracts of Black cohosh (Cimicifugae rhizoma) have been used for the treatment of climacteric complaints for decades. A significant number of woman entering menopause exhibit the following symptoms: getting hot flushes, night sweats, irritability, depression, and anxiety, A reduction of the frequency of hot flushes equivalents and hints on the antidepressant activity of Cimcifuga extracts. In the present work, we have screened several 80% ethanol extracts from medicinal plants and found that the extracts from Cimicifugae Rhizoma(Black cohosh:승마) have inhibitory effect on catecholamine secretion in bovine chromaffin cell. Since this extract inhibited 1,1-dimethyl-4-phenylpiperazinium iodide (DMPP)-induced catecholamine secretion, but did not inhibit KCl, bradykinin, and veratridine-evoked case, this inhibitory effect is mediated by nicotinic acetylcholine receptors with noncompetitive manner.

The methanol (MeOH) extract and ist fractions of Taraxacum mongolicum (Compositae) were examined for their scavenging effects on 1,1-diphenyl-2- phenylhydrazyl (DPPH) and superoxide radicals, and hepatoprotective effects on tacrine-induced cytotoxicity in human hepatoma cell line, Hep G2 cells. Both methylene chloride $(CH_2Cl_2)$ and butanol (n-BuOH) soluble fractions of the MeOH extract showed the free radicals scavenging and hepatoprotective effects. From these results, it is suggested that hepatoprotective effect of these fractions partly relies on their free radical scavenging activity.

We evaluated the anti-arthritic effect of a new diet-supplement product containing red ginseng, glucosamine, shark cartilage, ascorbic acid and manganese chloride for the relieving arthritic symptoms. Anti-inflammatory activities of the aqueous extract of red ginseng (250 and 500 mg/kg), glucosamine (240 mg/kg) and shark cartilage (240 mg/kg) were tested individually on vascular permeability and carrageenan-induced paw edema. Glucosamine and shark cartilage showed the inhibition of vascular permeability by 29.6 and 32.9%, respectively. Red ginseng (500 mg/kg) and shark cartilage showed the inhibition of carrageenan-induced paw edema at 0.5, 1, 2 and 3 hr. The supplement (red ginseng mixture: RGM) composed of red ginseng (43.5%), glucosamine (25.0%), shark cartilage (25.0%), ascorbic acid (5.0%) and manganese chloride (1.5%) was prepared and its inhibitory activities including vascular permeability and carrageenan-induced paw edema were comparable to anti-inflammatory drugs such as diclofenac and ibuprofen. It was also tested on adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats as one of chronic arthritic tests and Randall-Selitto assay as an analgesic test. RGM showed the inhibition against the swelling of rat paws induced by Mycobacterium tuberculosis at a dose of 1,500 mg/kg. Determination of cytokines of the sera sampled from arthritis-induced animals indicated that RGM increased the levels of $interferon-{\gamma}$ and interleukin-6, representing the immunostimulatory effect by red ginseng. RGM treatment moderately reduced the production of NO in RAW 264.7 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Taken together, these results support that RGM can be applicable for the improvement of arthritic as a new diet-supplement.

It is thought that highly reactive oxygen species generated after strokes plays a key role in damaging the brain. We examined free radical scavenging activity and neuroprotective effects of several medicinal herbs in a rat model of transient ischemia. Free radical scavenging property of medicinal herbs was examined in vitro using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl stable free radical. Transient ischemia was induced by intraluminal occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery for 120 min, followed by reperfusion for 22 hr in rats. Aqueous extracts of 8 medicinal herbs (200 mg/kg) were orally administered twice to transient ischemic rat prior to reperfusion and 2 hr after reperfusion. Total infarction volume in the hemisphere ipsilateral to the ischemia-reperfusion was significantly decreased in 7 groups treated with Sophora flavescens, Lycopus lucidus, Sanguisorba officinalis, Caesalpinia sappan, Albizia julibrissin, Rubia akane, Psoralea corylifolia, or Prunella vulgaris. However, neuroprotective effects of these medicinal herbs were not correlated with their antioxidative activities. These results suggest that these medicinal herbs exert neuroprotection via antioxidative as well as unknown mechanism.

We investigated the effects of Rhus verniciflua Stokes (RVS) on high fat diet- induced obesity in C57BL/6 that received ad libitum exposure to a high fat diet for 8 weeks. Male C57BL/6 mice weighing $20.1{\pm}0.95\;g$ were divided into four groups and the body weight and food intake were weighed for 8 weeks. After the administration of RVS extract, the liver, subcutaneous and retroperitoneal adipose tissue in the mice were weighed and common blood count in whole blood and biochemical parameters in plasma were measured. It was founded that body weight increase was significantly suppressed by the oral administration of RVS extract in group with high fat diet. Weight of subcutaneous adipose tissue and concentration of triglyceride in plasma from mice which were administrated RVS extract were lower than obesity control group. These results suggest that RVS extract may effect on inhibition of diet-induced obesity.

Phytochemical examination of seeds of Astragalus sinicus has led to the isolation and characterization of kaempferol $3-O-{\beta}-D-apiofuranosyl-(1{\rightarrow}2)-{\alpha}-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1{\rightarrow}6)-{\beta}-D-glucopyranoside$ (1), quercetin $3-O-{\beta}-D-xylopyranosyl-(1{\rightarrow}2)-{\beta}-D-glucopyranoside$ (2), ampelopsin (3), ampelopsin $3'-O-{\beta}-D-xylopyranoside$ (4), ampelopsin $3'-O-{\beta}-Dxylopyranoside$ (5), myricetin (6), myricetin $3'-O-{\beta}-D-glucopyranoside$ (7), myricetin $3'-O-{\beta}-D-xylopyranoside$ (8). Antioxidative activity of these compounds was determined by measuring the radical scavenging effect on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals. Flavanonols(3,4, and 5) showed potent antioxidative activity.