Korean folk medicine 'JagSalNaMu' has been used orally to cure hypercoagulability, thrombosis and tonsillitis. With regard to the botanical origin of 'JagSalNaMu', it has been considered to be Callicarpa species of Verbenaceae, but there was no pharmacognostical confirmation on it. To clarify the botanical origin of 'JagSalNaMu', the anatomical characteristics of the branch of Callicarpa species growing wild in Korea, Callicarpa japonica and C. dichotoma were studied. As a result, it was clarified that 'JagSalNaMu' was the branch of Callicarpa japonica.

Acanthopanax species are well known medicinal plants in Korea for their adaptogenic efficacy. Regarding to the botanical classification of Acanthopanax koreanum, an indigenous species in Jeju island of Korea, it has been classified as different species of Acanthopanax genus. However, the morphological characteristics of A. koreanum are very similar with other Acanthopanax species, especially with A. gracilistylus. In order to provide further classification information among these botanically related species, microscopic and morphological studies on these Acanthopanax species were performed. In this result, it has been found that A. koreanum is similar to A. gracilistylus in terms of anatomical observation and was distinguished from A. sieboldianus by their morphological and anatomical differences.

As part of ongoing study focused on the discovery of natural antioxidants from Korean plants by measuring the DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging effect and superoxide quenching activity, ethanol extract of the aerial parts of Curcuma longa (Zingiberaceae) was found to show potent antioxidant activities. Subsequent activity-guided fractionation of the ethanol extract led to the isolation of two phenolic compounds, 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-${\beta}$-D-glucopyranoside (1) and gallic acid (2), as antioxidant compounds. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic studies. Compounds 1 and 2 were isolated for the first time from this plant. These compounds showed the significant antioxidative effects during the DPPH free radical scavenging test, and the riboflavin- and xanthine-originated superoxide quenching activity tests.

The Mume Fructus (MF) has been used for relieves cough, arrests arrest chronic diarrhea, treat fluid depletion, and treat ascariasis in Korea. In this study, a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was established for simultaneous determination of six main components of MF. Additionally, we were investigated the anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects of MF extract on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated RAW264.7 cells and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$/interferon (IFN)-${\gamma}$-treated HaCaT cells. The analytical column for separation was used a Gemini $C_{18}$ column maintained at $40^{\circ}C$. The mobile phase consisted of 1.0% (v/v) acetic acid in water (A) and 1.0% (v/v) acetic acid in acetonitrile (B). The flow rate was 1.0 mL/min and the detector was a photodiode array (PDA) set at 280 nm and 320 nm. We evaluated the inhibitory effect of MF extract on the production of inflammatory markers, nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells and thymus- and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC/CCL17) in TNF-${\alpha}$/IFN-${\gamma}$-treated HaCaT cells, respectively. We confirmed the genes expression related with TARC, macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC/CCL22) and regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES/CCL5) in HaCaT keratinocyte cells by MF extract. The contents of the five compounds in MF were 0.22-1.01 mg/g. Also, the MF extract show inhibition of about 78% and 75% on NO and $PGE_2$ production at the concentration 1000 mg/mL in RAW264.7 cells. MF extract suppressed the hTARC level and genes expression such as TARC, MDC, and RANTES on TNF-${\alpha}$/IFN-${\gamma}$-treated HaCaT cells.

Many diterpenoids from Siegesbeckia species (Compositae) and their anti-inflammatory actions have been examined. In this research, high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet spectrophotometer (HPLC-UV) method was used to compare the quantitative level of kirenol (ent-pimarane-type diterpenoid) in the aerial parts of Korean S. glabrescens and S. pubescens and the Chinese Siegesbeckiae Herba. Fingerprints of the two HPLC chromatograms of Korean S. glabrescens and S. pubescens were similar, but considerably different from Chinese Siegesbeckiae Herba. The content of kirenol in S. pubescens ($16.51{\pm}0.10$ mg/ml dry weight as mean${\pm}$RSD) was higher than S. glabrescens ($13.48{\pm}0.12$ mg/g dry weight). These values were considerably higher than the Chinese Siegesbeckiae Herba ($1.55{\pm}0.74$ mg/g dry weight). Thin layer chromatography (TLC) analysis demonstrated the containing of kirenol in the three plant materials, but the presence of siegeskaurolic acid (entkaurane-type diterpenoid) only in the Chinese Siegesbeckiae Herba.

The dried roots of Angelica decursiva and Peucedanum praeruptorum are registered as the official sources for the drug 'Junho' in Korean Herbal Pharmacopoeia. In this study the essential oils were extracted from the roots of the two plants by steam distillation. Their compositions and the biological activities were compared. As the results of GC and GC-MS analysis, forty one and thirty five compounds were identified in the essential oils of Angelica decursiva and Peucedanum praeruptorum, respectively. Both of the two essential oils contained ${\alpha}$-pinene as the most abundant component. They showed similar significant antioxidant activities in DPPH scavenging assay, and reducing power test. Their dose dependent inhibitions of the nitrosamine formation were identified in experiment using BHA as control. In MTT test of three cancer cell lines, HeLa, MCF-7 and SK-Hep-1, the essential oil from A. decursiva showed stronger activities than that of P. praeruptorum and their common main component, ${\alpha}$-pinene.

In the course of screening for antioxidant compounds by measuring the radical scavenging effect on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), a total extract of the twigs of Taxillus delavayi (Loranthaceae) was found to show potent radical scavenging activity. Subsequent activity-guided fractionation of the methanolic extract led to the isolation of two phenolic compounds, catechin (1) and galloyl catechin (2), as active principles. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic studies. These two compounds showed the significant antioxidative effects on DPPH, and riboflavin- and xanthin-originated superoxide quenching activities. And these two compounds also showed strong nitric oxide radical scavenging effects. In riboflavin- and xanthin-originated superoxide quenching activities and nitric oxide radical scavenging effect, compound 2 showed better antioxidant activities than vitamin C.

The herb of Artemisia capillaris in Chinese medicine is used to treat hepatic diseases. In this research, qualitative analysis was performed using a UPLC/Q-TOF-ESI-MS/MS method for rapid identification of phenolic substances from A. capillaris: three caffeoylquinic acids (chlorogenic acid, 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid, and 4,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid), three flavonoids (hyperoside, isorhamnetin 3-O-robinobioside and quercetin) and three prenylated coumarins (6,8-diprenylumbelliferone, cedrelopsin and osthol) were identified. The three prenylated coumarins have not been reported from A. capillaris.

Opuntia humifusa known as the Eastern prickly pear have been used as a treatment of burns, diarrhea, asthma, rheumatism, gonorrhea, and diabetes in alternative medicine. O. humifusa is widely cultivated in the middle and southern provinces of Korea and distributed in North America. The aim of this study is to investigate anti-diabetic effect of O. humifusa stem (OHS) water or 80% MeOH extract using 3T3-L1 adipocytes and db/db mice animal models. OHS 80% MeOH extract at a dose of $250{\mu}g/ml$ significantly increased the glucose uptake and lipid accumulation compared with the control in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Blood glucose, plasma total cholesterol and triglyceride levels were significantly reduced by oral treatment of OHS 80% MeOH extract (200 mg/kg BW) for 6 weeks in db/db mice. Also, the oral treatment of OHS 80% MeOH extract slightly changed the plasma insulin and insulin resistance levels in db/db mice, but were no significance in comparison to control. Glucose transporter(GLUT)4 expressions of adipose tissue and muscle were significantly increased more than that in the control. Therefore, these results suggest that OHS 80% MeOH extract inhibits the blood glucose level through regulation of lipid profile, insulin resistance, and GLUT4 expression in db/db mice and its diabetic effect is effective more than water extract.

Siegesbeckia Herba is known to have anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic and anti-tumor. The objective of this study is to explore the neuroprotective effect of Siegesbeckia Herba against glutamate-induced oxidative stress in mouse hippocampal HT22 cells. Siegesbeckia Herba 70% ethanol extract and solvent fractions have the potent neroprotective effects on glutamate-induced nerotoxicity by induced the expression of heme oxygenase (HO)-1 in the mouse hippocampal HT22 cells. Especially, ethyl acetate fraction showed higher protective effect. In HT22 cell, Siegesbeckia Herba ethyl acetate fraction makes the nuclear accumulation of Nrf2. Further, we found that treatment with c-JUN N-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitor (SP600125) reduced Siegesbeckia Herba ethyl acetate fraction induced HO-1 expression and Siegesbeckia Herba ethyl acetate fraction also increased JNK phosphorylation. In conclusion, the ethyl acetate fraction of 70% ethanol extract of Siegesbeckia Herba significantly protect glutamate-induced oxidative damage by induction of HO-1 via Nrf2 and JNK pathway in mouse hippocampal HT22. Taken together these finding suggest that Siegesbeckia Herba ethyl acetate fraction good source for taking active compounds and may be a potential therapeutic for brain disorder by targeting the oxidative stress of neuronal cell.

Acne, also known as Acne vulgaris, is a common disorder of human skin involving the sebaceous gland and Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes). The purpose of this study was to demonstrate whether anti-acne herbal complex (AAHC), a functional extract from herbal complex can be used for acne treatment as a natural product. We first demonstrated anti-acne activity of AAHC in mouse acne model. Acne was induced by injecting P. acnes on the backside $2{\times}10^7$ CFUs in ICR mice and then the mice were treated with AAHC by dermal application once daily. ACFREE$^{(R)}$ (clindamicin phosphate) was used as a positive control. Treatment with AAHC decreased the P. acnes-induced skin swelling and inflammation. AAHC treatment significantly decreased serum DHT concentration in acne-induced mice. Especially, treatment of 20% AACH in mice was more effected than 40%. We next evaluated the antimicrobial property of AAHC against P. acnes, Staphylcococcus aureus (S.aureus), and Escherichia coli (E. coli). Incubation of P. acnes, S. aureus, and E. coli with AAHC showed minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values against the bacterial growth lower. Alamar blue method was also carried for the antibacterial activity. It was effectively MIC level at 6.25% of P. acnes. AAHC effectively inhibited the growth of S. aureus and E. coli at 0.097% on MIC level, respectively. Our results showed the potential of using AAHC as an alternative treatment for antibiotic therapy of acne and the application of AAHC as a herbal medicine for acne treatment.

In order to investigate anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic and anti-obesity activities of Samchulkunbi-tang (SCT; Shen zhu jian pi-tang) water and 70% ethanol (EtOH) extracts, in vitro inhibitory activities against nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin $E_2$ $PGE_2$), interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ production in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells, and macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC/CCL22) and regulated on activation of normal T-cell-expressed and -secreted (RANTES/CCL5) production in TNF-${\alpha}$/interferon-${\gamma}$-stimulated HaCaT and BEAS-2B cells as well as glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) activity and leptin production in 3T3-L1 cells were determined. A HPLC was used for quantification of the seven marker components (albiflorin, paeoniflorin, liquiritin, naringin, hesperidin, poncirin and glycyrrhizin) of SCT water and 70% EtOH extracts. SCT showed inhibitory effects against MDC and RANTES production in HaCaT cells, as well as RANTES production in BEAS-2B cells. In addition, SCT reduced not only NO, $PGE_2$, IL-6 and TNF-${\alpha}$ production in RAW 264.7 cells, but also GPDH activity and leptin production in 3T3-L1 cells. Furthermore, the biological activities and the contents of six compounds (except paeoniflorin) were higher in 70% EtOH extract than water extract. These results suggest that SCT has anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic and anti-obesity activities. These efficacies of 70% EtOH extract are relatively higher than that of water extract.

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) have been postulated to play a central role in the development of diabetic complications. A variety of different agents that inhibit AGEs have been under investigation. In this study, 62 herbal medicines from China and Vietnam have been investigated with an in vitro evaluation system using AGEs formation inhibitory activity. Of these, 5 herbal medicines ($IC_{50}$ < $5{\mu}g/ml$) were found to have significant AGEs formation inhibitory activity. Particularly, herbal medicines Albizia odoratissima (twigs and leaves), Rhododendron spinuliferum (twigs and leaves), Dioscorea cirrhosa (stems and leaves), Illicium verum (stems and leaves) and Aglaia perviridis (stems and leaves), showed more potent inhibitory activity (approximately 16-26 fold) than the positive control aminoguanidine ($IC_{50}=76.47{\mu}g/ml$).

In this study, 49 Korean herbal medicines have been investigated with an in vitro evaluation system using glycation end products (AGEs) formation inhibitory activity. Of these, 18 herbal medicines ($IC_{50}$ < $50{\mu}g/ml$) were found to have significant AGEs formation inhibitory activity. Of these, five herbal medicines ($IC_{50}$ < $50{\mu}g/ml$) were found to have significant AGEs formation inhibitory activity. Particularly, Mallotus japonicus (twigs and leaves), Rhus javanica (twigs and leaves), Boehmeria nivea (whole plants), Quercus acuta (stems), and Eurya japonica (stems) showed more potent inhibitory activity (approximately 9-37 fold) than the positive control aminoguanidine ($IC_{50}=76.47{\mu}g/ml$).