Four polyketides, tyrosol (1), (3R,4R)-(-)-4-hydroxymellein (2), (3R,4S)-(-)-4-hydroxymellein (3), and 1-phenyl-1,2-ethanediol (4) were isolated from organic extracts of cultures of an endophytic fungus Arthrinium sp. (JS420) isolated from stem of a halophyte Suaeda japonica Makico. Chemical structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated by comparison of their spectral data such as NMR and ESIMS with reported literature values. Among the isolated compounds, 3 and 4 were isolated for the first time from this fungus.

This study was carried out to obtain the basic information that can be used to index Acanthopanax in eleven species of China and Korea. The phytochemical components from the berry of Acanthopanax species, were measured by the HPLC analysis. Protocatechuic acid, eleutheroside B, eleutheroside E, scopolin, rutin, hyperoside, chiisanoside, oleanolic acid were found in ethanol extracts from the berry of Acanthopanax species. Total phenolic compound of Acanthopanax sessiliflorum f. chungbuensis berry (0.682%) was about seven times higher than those of Acanthopanax divaricatus f. distigmatis berry (0.091%). As a result, the order of the eleutheroside E content was 1) Acanthopanax sessiliflorum f. chungbuensis (0.554%), 2) A. divaricatus var. albeofructus (0.501%), 3) A. divaricatus f. flavi-flos (0.452%). And also, the order of the chiisanoside content was 1) Acanthopanax senticosus var. subinermis (8.434%), 2) A. seoulense (0.94%), 3) A. divaricatus f. flavi-flos (0.798%).

Ursi Fel's component ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), a traditional medicine, is used for the treatment of hepatic diseases. UDCA derivatives prepared by conjugation with antioxidant moiety such as maltol, sesamol, eugenol, mesitol and 3,4-(methylenedeoxy)aniline were expected to have various biological activity caused by synergistic effect of UDCA. Therefore, in this study, it was conducted the study of the manufacture of the UDCA derivatives and their biological activity. As a result, UDCA derivatives showed weak antioxidant activity in TBA method in vitro compared to original agents. SJ-505, SJ-502 and SJ-504 showed the effect of reducing ALT, AST, sorbitol dehydrogenase and ${\gamma}-glutamyltransferase$ in $CCl_4-induced$ liver injury experiment in vivo, even if the effects are weaker than UDCA and silymarin of the control group.

This study was conducted to determine the anti-inflammatory effect of essential oil extracted from the wood of Chamaecyparis obtusa Sieb. et Zucc. Endl. (Cupressaceae). The essential oil was extracted from the wood of C. obtusa by hydrodistillation method, and conducted the analysis on the chemical composition of the extracted C. obtusa wood oil through GC-MS. The major constituents of the oil were found to be: ${\alpha}-pinene$ (11.4%), cadinene (5.4%), ${\delta}-cadiene$ (9.0%), ${\tau}-muurolol$ (22.2%), ${\alpha}-cadinol$ (20.8%) etc. We attempted to identify the anti-inflammatory activities of the oil when it is injected in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RBL-2H3 cells, along with its effects on the secretion of interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-13 (IL-13), ${\beta}-hexosaminidase$. According to the cell viability analysis conducted by MTT assay, the oil in $10^{-7}{\sim}10^{-5}%$concentration showed no effect on the cell viability. After RBL-2H3 cells treated by LPS stimulation were exposed to $10^{-7}%$ concentration of C. obtusa wood oil, the expression levels of IL-4, IL-13 within the cell were observed to remarkably decrease. Also, it was attenuated the release of ${\beta}-hexosaminidase$ from mast cells to a significantly meaningful level. These results suggest that C. obtusa wood oil exerts the anti-inflammatory effect, by regulating the expression of inflammatory cytokines, which is a valuable feature to be highly utilized as the functional materials in the future.

This study was performed to evaluate the lifespan extending effects of the dried ginger (Zingiber officnale Roscoe, Zingiberaceae). Ethanol extract of the dried ginger was successively partitioned as methylene chloride, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and $H_2O$ soluble fractions, and lifespan-extending effects of the fractions were investigated using Caenorhabditis elegans model system. Ethyl acetate-soluble fraction showed the most potent longevity property. Furthermore, ethyl acetate-soluble fraction elevated thermal stress tolerance, and increased expression of stress resistance protein. Further studies were performed to investigate several aging-related factors such as reproduction, food intake, growth and movement of C. elegans. The results revealed that there were no significant changes in aging-related factors including reproduction, food intake and growth, however, ethyl acetate-soluble fraction treatment led to an up-regulation of locomotory ability of aged worms, suggesting ethyl acetate-soluble fraction affected healthspan as well as lifespan of nematode.

Glutamate-induced oxidative stress results in neuro-degenerative disorders in many central nervous system (CNS) such as Alzheimer's disease, ischemia, Huntington's disease, and Parkinson's disease. Our study was performed to investigate neuroprotective effects of Allium hookeri extracts (leaf, root, and whole) on glutamate-induced HT22 cells. In this study, ethanol extract of A. hookeri showed the outstanding neuroprotective effect in HT22 cells. In addition, we found that ethanol extract of A. hookeri root increased heme oxygenase (HO)-1 in HT22 cells. Moreover, ethanol extract of A. hookeri root also upregulated nuclear accumulation of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) in HT22 cells. These results demonstrate that ethanol extract of A. hookeri root contributes neuroprotective effects against glutamate-induced oxidative stress in HT22 cells, via Nrf2-mediated HO-1 expression. Our study suggests that ethanol extract of A. hookeri root could be the potential agent for the treatment of many neuro-degenerative diseases.

Black-red ginseng (BRGP) exhibits more potent biological activities than white and red ginseng. However, the effect of BRGP on allergic inflammation has not been studied extensively. In this study, we attempted to evaluate the effects of BRGP on allergic inflammation in vitro and in vivo. The effects of BRGP on pro-inflammatory mediators in phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) and A23187-stimulated human mast cells (HMC-1) and on trimellitic anhydride (TMA)-induced atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions in BALB/c mice were evaluated. BRGP suppressed the expression of $TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-6 and IL-8 from HMC-1 stimulated with PMA and A23187. Furthermore, the oral administration of BRGP markedly significantly reduced apparent severity of atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions, ear swelling, lymph node weight gains and serum IgE levels induced by TMA in mice. BRGP treatment also ameliorated epidermal hyperplasia and infiltration of inflammatory cells including mast cells. Taken together, BRGP possesses significant anti-atopic efficacy, suggesting that it could be used as a potential therapeutic agent for allergic inflammatory diseases, including atopic dermatitis.

This study was conducted to investigate the antioxidative activities and tyrosinase inhibition effects of fractions from the distilled water extract of Inonotus obliquus. Moreover, GC-MS based analysis with trimethylsilyl (TMS) derivatization was carried out for active compound in the extract of I. obliquus. In DPPH radical scavenging ability, $SC_{50}$ values of the ethyl acetate fraction was 0.393 mg/ml as a result of the most effective than other fractions. Meanwhile, aqueous fraction showed higher effect in tyrosinase inhibitoty activity. In GC-MS based analysis with TMS derivatization, 7 compounds including syringic acid, vanillic acid and protocatechuic acid were observed in ethyl acetate fraction, and oxalic acid is the main compound in aqueous fraction. As a result, it was confirmed that oxalic acid in aqueous fraction from the distilled water extract of I. obliquus was a compound showing tyrosinase inhibition effect.

Aralia continentalis Kitagawa (Araliaceae), known as "Dokwhal" in Korea, has been widely used in traditional Korean medicine for analgesia, neuralgia, sweating, and rheumatism. The biological activity was estimated with methanol extracts of from cultivated roots and adventitious roots of A. continentalis. DPPH and ABTS activities showed the highest activity in methanol extract of adventitious roots at 175.6 and $279.7{\mu}g/mL$ ($RC_{50}$), respectively. Antioxidant activity of methanol extract of the adventitious roots was higher than other samples. In the antibacterial activity assay (paper disc method), the methanol extract of adventitious roots showed activity against S. aureus, S. epidermidis, B. subtilis, and S. enterica. This study demonstrated that adventitious roots of A. continentalis, which was produced for the first time in the roots of A. continentalis, can be used as a natural antioxidant and antibacterial agents.

The aim of this study was to screen the contamination by ochratoxin A of mycotoxins in various medicinal herbs. We conducted a survey of ochratoxin A in medicinal herb on the retail market in Incheon in 2016. 116 medicinal herb samples were evaluated for the ochratoxin A contamination. They were analyzed for ochratoxin A using immunoaffinity column and high-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC)-fluorescence detection and the positive samples were confirmed using HPLC-tandem mass spectrometry. Ochratoxin A was detected in 4 medicinal herb samples; the concentrations of ochratoxin A were containing between 20.11 and $372.90{\mu}g/kg$. This study shows that in general, this kind of commodity may be contaminated by mycotoxins. Also this contamination is not limited to only aflatoxin of mycotoxins.

Saururus chinensis (Lour.) Baill. (Saururaceae) has been used as a traditional medicine for the treatment of dysuria, leukorrhea, eczema, jaundice and ascites in Korea, China and Japan. Ethanol extract of S. chinensis was successively partitioned as methylene chloride, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and $H_2O$ soluble fractions. Among those fractions the ethyl acetate soluble fraction showed the most potent DPPH radical scavenging and superoxide quenching activities. To verify antioxidant activities of ethyl acetate fraction, we checked the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase, and intracellular ROS level and oxidative stress tolerance in Caenorhabditis elegans. Furthermore, to see if increased stress tolerance of worms by treating of ethyl acetate fraction was due to regulation of stress-response gene, we quantified SOD-3 expression using transgenic strain. Consequently, ethyl acetate fraction elevated SOD and catalase activities of C. elegans, and reduced intracellular ROS accumulation in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, ethyl acetate fraction-treated CF1553 worms exhibited significantly higher SOD-3::GFP intensity.

Dendranthema spp are distributed in various regions in Korea. This report is the quantitative results of phenolic compounds on the 5 resources collected from all over the country. It was known that it has phenolic compounds, as an anticoagulant activities and immunoadjuvant activity of contribute to the cardiovascular effects. This was used for quantitative analysis of chlorogenic acid(CA), 3,5-Dicaffeoylquinic acid(3,5-DCA), 4,5-Dicaffeoylquinic acid(4,5-DCA) and linarin, with UPLC-PDA and LC-IT-TOF-MS. Extraction efficiency of compounds was compared by using ultrasonic extraction and reflux extraction with different extraction conditions (methods and time). In 50% MeOH extracs (30 mins) of Dendranthema zawadskii (Herb.) Tzvelev (SDZ), Dendranthema zawadskii var. yezoense (Maek.) Y.M.Lee & H.J.Choi (NDZ), Dendranthema zawadskii (Herb.) Tzvelev var. teuisectum (Kitag.) J. H. Pak (GDZ), Dendranthema careanum (H. $L{\acute{e}}v$. & Vaniot) Vorosch. (HDC) and Dendranthema zawadskii var. tenuisectum Kitag (PDZ), chlorogenic acid contents were 1.14‰, 6.95‰, 7.27‰, 1.47‰ and 2.64‰, 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid contents were 3.30‰, 5.60‰, 10.81‰, 2.67‰ and 1.50‰, 4,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid contents were 0.74‰, 1.93‰, 3.36‰, 0.61‰ and 0.43‰ and linarin contents were 3.90‰, 10.15‰, 0.15‰, 0.73‰ and 0.21‰, respectively.

The aim of this study was to investigate a validation method for determination of tricin in Phragmites communis ears. Tricin was isolated with chromatographic methods and used as the standard substances for quantitative analysis. The structural determination was characterized by comparing their NMR spectral data with values reported in the literature. For validation, the specificity, linearity, precision, accuracy, detection limits, and quantification limits of tricin was measured by HPLC. The results show that the specificity was satisfied with retention time and diode array detector (DAD) spectrum by analysis of tricin using HPLC. The limits of detection (LOD) for tricin was 0.84 mg/ml. Recovery of tricin was 98.80~108.22% with R.S.D values less than 2%. Intra-day and inter-day precisions of tricin in P. communis ears were 99.96~100.96% and 99.01~100.40%, respectively. Therefore, application of tricin was validated by an analytical method as major compound in P. communis ears.

Malonyl ginsenoside content of the Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer is known to account for 35% to 60% of total ginsenosides content. However, its distribution by ginseng part has not been studied. In this study, four kinds of malonyl ginsenosides were compared in Korean white ginseng part using the purified malonyl ginsenoside standards in our laboratory. White ginseng was prepared by the freeze drying ($-70^{\circ}C$, 48 h) or air drying ($50^{\circ}C$, 48 h) methods form 4-year-old ginseng. Malonyl ginsenoside content of main, lateral, and fine root, and of the main root without skin and its skin was compared. Malonyl ginsenosides (m-Rb1, m-Rb2, m-Rc and m-Rd) content (58%, 19.17 mg/g) in total ginsenosides of air dried white ginseng was decreased about 4% compared to its content of freeze dried white ginseng (62%, 20.40 mg/g). Malonyl ginsenoside content was the highest in fine root, compared to the main or lateral root. Malonyl ginsenosides content in skin of main root was 20.08 mg/g, while its content of the main root without skin was 2.58 mg/g. These results are expected to help establishment of quality specification and processing process in Korean white ginseng.

In the present study, we carried out quantitative analysis of chrysin and pinocembrin in Korean propolis by ultra performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) equipped with diode array detector. The separation was done using BEH C18 ($2.1{\times}50mm$, $1.7{\mu}m$) column with a mobile phase consisting of MeCN and 0.1% $H_3PO_4$ at 280 nm. The chromatographic method was validated for specificity, limit of detection, limit of quantification, linearity, precision, and accuracy. A quantitative analysis exhibited that the contents of the two compounds in Korean propolis collected from 8 inland areas except Jeju-do ranged from 3.1-46.0 mg/g. These results will be valuable as basic data for standardization of Korean propolis.

Ephedra alkaloids, (-)-ephedrine, (+)-pseudoephedrine, (-)-N-methylephedrine, (+)-N-methylpseudoephedrine, (-)-norephedrine and (+)-norpseudoephedrine, from ephedra herb are sympathomimetic agonists causing an increase of metabolism, blood pressure and perspiration. In this study, we developed the validation method of (+)-pseudoephedrine and (-)-ephedrine, two major ephedra alkaloids in Ephedra spp., by high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet spectrometer (HPLC-UV). HPLC analysis was performed using a HECTOR-M C18 column operating at $35^{\circ}C$, and UV detection at 215nm. The mobile phase used a gradient flow with 25 mM SDS in water (A) and acetonitrile (B).