Korean folk medicine 'GulGeoRiIp' has been used to gastroentric trouble and indigestion from drinking. The botanical origin of the crude drug has never been studied pharmacognostically. To clarify the botanical origin of GulGeoRiIp, the morphological and anatomical characteristics of Daphniphyllum species growing in Korea, i.e. Daphniphyllum macropodum Miq. and D. glaucescens Blume were studied. As a result, GulGeoRiIp was proved to be the leaf of Daphniphyllum macropodum Miq.(Euphorbiaceae).

Chinese crude drug 'JeonHo (前胡)' has been used mainly cough and dyspnea in respiratory infections. To clarify the botanical origin of 'JeonHo' in Korean market, the anatomical characterization of Anthriscus sylvestris, Angelica decursiva and Peucedanum praeruptorum were studied. As a result, it was clarified that 'JeonHo' in Korean market was the root of Peucedanum praeruptorum.

A study was performed to assess the quality equivalence of commercially available Hwang-Ryun-Hae-Dok-Tang granules from various vendors in terms of the contents of characterizing compounds. 'Hwang-Ryun-Hae-Dok-Tang'(or 'Huanglian Jiedu Tang') is the complex medicinal herbal product which is composed of four different herbal drugs; Scutellariae Radix, Coptidis Rhizoma, Phellodendri Cortex and Gardeniae Fructus. Using a high performance liquid chromatography and direct analysis in real time mass spectrometer (DART-MS), five characterizing compounds such as baicalin, baicalein, berberine, palmatine, and geniposide were analyzed to compare the variance of the contents between the products from four different vendors. Although five characterizing compounds were all successfully detected from all the products, the contents of each compound were shown to have significant difference among vendors. For real time monitoring of characterizing compounds in medicinal herbal products, DART-MS can be successfully adopted as a powerful analytical tool.

Oxidative stress to proteins, lipids, or DNA is higher in human autopsy tissue and in rodent models of a number of neurodegenerative conditions, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. On the basis of this information, we established a screening system using N18-RE-105 cells to identify therapeutic agents that can protect cells from glutamate toxicity. During the course of our screening program, we recently isolated the active compound 9-hydroxy-$\alpha$-tocopherone ($\alpha$-TP), which prevents glutamate-induced cell death, from Viola mandshurica. The chemical structure of $\alpha$-TP was identified using spectroscopic methods and by comparison with literature values. Antioxidant activity and protective effects of $\alpha$-TP were evaluated by DPPH radical-scavenging assay, morphological assay, MTT reduction assay, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assay. These results suggest that $\alpha$-TP could be a new potential chemotherapeutic agent against neuronal diseases.

Activity guided isolation of 80% acetone extract from the barks of Acer ginnala Maxim. yielded five gallotannins [6-galloyl-1,5-anhydroglucitol (ginnalin B) (1), acertannin (3,6-digalloyl-1,5-anhydroglucitol) (2), methyl gallate (3), acertannin (2,6-digalloyl-1,5-anhydroglucitol) (4) and gallic acid (5)]. All of these isolated compounds from Acer ginnala(1-5) were firstly isolated from Acer ginnala Maxim. And contents of compounds from barks of Acer ginnala (Comp. 1: 0.73$\pm$0.002%, Comp. 2: 0.48$\pm$0.001%, Comp. 3: 0.66$\pm$0.002%, Comp. 4: 1.05$\pm$0.002% and Comp. 5: 0.29$\pm$0.001%) were evaluated by HPLC analysis. And, in order to evaluate anti-oxidative activities on Comp. 1-5 isolated from Acer ginnala, DPPH radical scavenging activity was measured in vitro. All of these isolated compounds from Acer ginnala exhibited potent DPPH radical scavenging activities.

The antioxidant activity of Desmodium oldhami (Leguminosae) was determined by measuring the radical scavenging effect on DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl). The methanolic extract of D. oldhami showed the strong antioxidant activity. Five compounds, kaempferol-3-O-rhamnopyranoside (afzeline) (1), quercetin-3-O-[$\alpha$-L-rhamnopyranosyl($1{\rightarrow}6$)-$\beta$-Dglucopyranoside] (rutin) (2), kaempferol-3-O-glucopyranoside (astragalin) (3), genistein-7-O-$\beta$-D-glucopyranoside (genistin) (4), kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside (5) were isolated from the active ethyl acetate soluble fraction of D. oldhami through repeated silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography. Among them, compound 2 showed the most significant antioxidative effect on DPPH free radical scavenging test. Compounds 1-5 are reported for the first time from this plant.

In this study, we analyzed and quantified the amounts of bioactive phenolic constituents, xanthotoxin (1), oxypeucedanin (2), and imperatorin (3) in each part of the root of Angelica dahurica by HPLC, which validated by ICH guide lines comparing the linearity, intra day precision, inter-day precision. As a result, the amount of imperatorin 2.96% in the rootlet was two fold higher than that of the main root 1.32%. On the other hand, the amounts of xanthotoxin and oxypeucedanin in the rootlet showed similar to those of main root. In addition, the cortex of root is more plentiful of three consitituents (0.66%, 0.53%, and 1.85%) than those of xylem (0.29%, 0.05%, and 0.07%). These results show that the rootlet and cortex contain a large amount of bioactive phenolic constituent including xanthotoxin, oxypeucedanin, and imperatorin than other parts of the root.

Glutamate-induced oxidative injury contributes to neuronal degeneration in many central nervous system (CNS) diseases, such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy and ischemia. Inducible heme oxygenase (HO)-1 acts against oxidants that are thought to play a role in the pathogenesis of these diseases. NNMBS098, a composition comprising the water insoluble of the 70% EtOH extract of Zingiberis Rhizoma, showed the potent neuroprotective effects on glutamateinduced neurotoxicity by induced the expression of heme oxygenase (HO)-1 and increased HO activity in the mouse hippocampal HT22 cells. Furthermore, NNMBS098 caused the nuclear accumulation of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) in mouse hippocampal HT22 cells. In addition, we found that treatment with c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitor (SP600125) reduced NNMBS098-induced HO-1 expression and NNMBS098 also increased JNK phosphorylation. Therefore, these results suggest that NNMBS098 increases cellular resistance to glutamate-induced oxidative injury in mouse hippocampal HT22 cells, presumably through JNK pathway-Nrf2-dependent HO-1 expression.

Black sesame (Sesami semen nigrum) has been used to treat dizziness, earnoise, constipation in the traditional Chinese medicine. In the present study, we assessed memory enhancing properties of 70% ethanolic extract of black sesame (EBS70) and its ameliorating activities on learning and memory impairments induced by scopolamine. Drug-induced amnesia was made by scopolamine treatment (1 mg/kg, i.p.). Single EBS70 (200 mg/kg, p.o.) administration significantly enhanced cognitive function and attenuated scopolamine-induced cognitive impairments as determined by the passive avoidance and Y-maze tasks (P<0.05) and also reduced escape-latency on the Morris water maze task (P<0.05). In addition, EBS70 increased BDNF expression in hippocampus 4 h after its administration (P<0.05). These results suggest that EBS70 enhances learning and memory in normal state and attenuates amnesic state caused by cholinergic dysfunction.

Osteoporosis is a metabolic bone disease associated with an imbalance of bone remodeling. Osteoporosis is characterized by decreased bone mass and increased bone fractures. In this study, we investigated the effects of horse bone extracts (HBEs) in vivo. Horse bone was extracted with 80% alcohol (HBE-A) at $100^{\circ}C$ or water (HBE-W) at $120^{\circ}C$. Animal model of postmenopausal osteoporosis was used, in which osteoporosis was induced by ovariectomy of female S.D. rats (female rats were divided into 5 groups), and HBEs were administered to ovariectomized rats every day for 8 weeks. After 8 weeks, the rats were sacrificed and the following osteoporotic factors were measured: body weight, bone mineral density (BMD), uterine/body weight ratio, serum estradiol (E2), and serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP). The results showed that the administration of HBE-W decreased the changes of body weight in ovariectomized rats. HBE-W increased the uterine/body weight ratio and BMD. In addition, HBEs decreased the ALP. Therefore, HBEs may be used for the prevention or treatment of bone disease.

Acute toxicity on the polysaccharide fraction of Pueraria lobata was examined using male and female Sprague-Dawley rats. The polysaccharide fraction of Pueraria lobata was orally administered at a dose of 5 mg/kg, 50 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg, 2,000 mg/kg and 5,000 mg/kg and observed for two weeks. No mortality and abnormal clinical signs were observed at the doses used. There were not any significant differences in parameters of blood biochemical values and urinalysis by the treatment of test material. All rats were appeared to be healthy and normal throughout the observation period. Also there was no difference in net body weight gain and gross pathological findings among the groups rats treated with different doses of the polysaccharide fraction with Pueraria lobata.

Obesity is an important risk factor that significantly increases mortality and disease rates in the cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and various diseases. So far, the most powerful way to inhibit fat absorption is pancreatic lipase inhibitors. In this study, we investigated the anti-obesity effect of the extract of Juniperus rigida. Juniperus rigida extract (JRE) had a inhibitory effect on pancreatic lipase activity ($IC_{50}$=8.63 ${\mu}g$/ml). In in vivo oil-emulsion loading test, this extract also inhibited the intestinal fat absorption. In addition, we measured inhibitory effects of JRE on activity of phosphodiesterase (PDE) and hormone sensitive lipase (HSL) among the important enzymes associated with lipolysis. JRE strongly inhibited PDE activity ($IC_{50}$=4.56 ${\mu}g$/ml), whereas inhibitory effect on HSL activity was very weak compared with orlistat. As a result, JRE inhibited the absorption of fat by inhibiting the activity of pancreatic lipase and induced lipolysis through inhibition of PDE activity. Therefore, we suggest that Juniperus rigida may be a potential therapeutic agent improving obesity.

The effects of sesamin on dopamine biosynthesis in PC12 cells were investigated. Sesamin at concentration ranges of 20-75 ${\mu}M$ significantly increased intracellular dopamine levels and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) activities at 24 h: 50 ${\mu}M$ sesamin increased dopamine levels to 132% and TH activities to 128% of control levels. Sesamin (50 ${\mu}M$) induced the phosphorylation of TH, cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) and cyclic AMP-response element binding protein (CREB) for 0.5-24 h. Sesamin (50 ${\mu}M$) also increased the mRNA levels of TH and CREB for 3-24 h. In addition, sesamin (50 ${\mu}M$) associated with L-DOPA (50 and 100 ${\mu}M$) further increased the intracellular levels of dopamine for 24 h compared to L-DOPA alone. These results suggest that sesamin enhances dopamine biosynthesis and L-DOPA-induced increase in dopamine levels by inducing TH activity and TH gene expression, which is mediated by PKA-CREB systems in PC12 cells. Therefore, sesamin could serve as an adjuvant phytonutrient for neurodegenerative diseases.

Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) is predicted to be therapeutic target in treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity. Thus, in order to search for PTP1B inhibitors, we screened the inhibitory activity of PTP1B in the water extracts of 84 medicinal herbs. Among them, the extracts of Pini Folium, Magnoliae Cortex, Artemisiae asiaticae Herba, Schizonepetae Herba, Menthae Herba, Mume Fructus, Cimicifugae Rhizoma, and Amomi Cardamomi Fructus showed relatively significant (58-68%) inhibitory activity against PTP1B. Especially, the methylene chloride fraction of the methanol extract of Menthae Herba (81% inhibition at 30 ${\mu}g$/ml) showed more potent inhibitory activity against PTP1B than others.