Glycosidase activities in the grape flesh (Marguerite) were assayed, and the order of activity was marked as follows: ${\alpha}$-D-galactosidase>${\alpha}$-D-mannosidase>${\alpha}$-D-glucosidase>${\beta}$-D-galactosidase>${\beta}$-D-glucosidase. Of these glycosidases, ${\alpha}$- and ${\beta}$-D-galactosidases were prominently expressed by the treatment of gibberellic acid, resulting in 56 and 238% increase of activity, respectively. Most of ${\alpha}$-D-galactosidase was found in the flesh texture, and the activity increase by gibberellic acid occurred mostly in this tissue. The increase in ${\alpha}$-D-galactosidase activity was dependent on the concentration of gibberellic acid treated, showing a positive correlation. Gibberellic acid affected the content of total protein in the grape flesh, 49% increase by 75 ppm treatment. Above this concentration, higher gibberellic acid level did not influence the protein expression. Specific activity of the ${\alpha}$-D-galactosidase still increased, showing 24% increase in activity. Grape flesh subjected by gibberellic acid (100 ppm) resulted in the increased activity against a natural substrate, stachyose, showing 55% increase in activity from the grapes treated with 100 ppm of gibberellic acid. Other natural substrates, such as melibiose and raffinose, were also considerably hydrolyzed, and the extent was similar to that of stachyose hydrolysis. During postharvest storage, ${\alpha}$-D-galactosidase activity in the grape flesh increased by 51% after 20 days and then declined slowly.

Pepper plants (Nogkwang, 60-day old) were inoculated with Phytophthora capsici to induce sesquiterpene cyclase associated with the biosynthesis of phytoalexin (capsidiol), a substance related to the defense against pathogens in plants. One day after inoculation, mRNA was isolated from the root, cDNA synthesized, and a library constructed in a ZAP express XR vector. The efficiency was $2{\times}10^6pfu/{\mu}g$. Sesquiterpene cyclase cDNA from Hyoscyamus muticus was labeled with $^{32}P$ and used as a probe for screening the cDNA library. After the third screening, 25 positive clones were selected. Through restrictive digestion and DNA gel-blot analysis, six different cyclase gene expressions were identified. PSC1B sequences of the six clones were determined, which were 1966 base pairs encoded 556 amino acids with an expected molecular weight of 63.8 kDa. Response against the pathogen was different between the resistant and susceptible peppers. After the infection of the pathogen, the expression of PSC genes continued in the resistant peppers while the plants were alive. The expression in the susceptible peppers lasted for only 4 days.

Ethanol extracts of 38 vegetables were subjected to an in vitro screening for their growth-inhibitory activities towards Bifidobacterium bifidum, B. longum, Clostridium perfringens, Lactobacillus acidophilus, L. casei, and Escherichia coli using paper disc agar diffusion methods under anaerobic conditions. The responses varied with both bacterial strain and vegetable species. In a test with 20 mg/disc, Zingiber officinale extracts showed significant growth-inhibitory responses against B. bifidum, and strong inhibitions against L. casei were detected in the extracts of Chrysanthemum coronarium var. spatiosum and Lactuca sativa. The extracts of Allium sativum, Capsicum annuum, L. esculentum, L. esculentum var. cerasiforme, and Z. officinale showed strong inhibitory activities against C. perfringens, while moderate growth-inhibitory responses were observed in the extracts of C. ffutescens, Cucurbita moschata, Daucus carota var. sativa, and Rubus coreanus. However, all vegetable extracts showed no inhibitions against B. longum, L. acidophilus, and E. coli. In tests with 5 mg/disc, moderate inhibitions were observed in the extracts of C. coronarium var. spatiosum and L. sativa against L. casei and Z. officinale against B. bifidum. Vegetables extracts, except for C. coronarium var. spatiosum, L. sativa, and Z. officinale, did not affect the growth of beneficial bacteria. Strong inhibitory responses against C. perfringens were detected in the extracts of C. annuum and L. esculentum var. cerasiforme. Daily intake of vegetables may be important in the prevention of human diseases caused by the intestinal bacteria.

Methanol extract and solvent fractions of Aster scaber Thunb. were tested to elucidate antioxidative characteristics in vitro. Methanol extract showed strong inhibition on linoleic acid autoxidation and conjugated diene production. Hexane and diethyl ether fractions showed stronger chelating effect on $10^{-4}M\;FeCl_3$ than the other fractions. Butanol fraction had the strongest capacity on $10^{-3}M\;CuSO_4$ similar to ${\alpha}$-tocopherol. Synergistic effect of butanol fraction with histidine, methionine, and lysine on linoleic acid autoxidation had been observed. Contents of total phenol, vitamin E, vitamin C, and carotenoid were evaluated. From the results, Aster scaber Thunb. could be expected to play a role as an antioxidant in vivo.

For defining the possibilities of the commercial mass liquid culture of Cordyceps sinensis, the pharmacological activities of mycelia were analyzed. The mycelium of C. sinensis consists of carbohydrate (5.1%) and fat (1.3%), and contains a low content of protein (0.7%) and ash (0.5%), and 92.4% moisture. The molecular sugar ratio of carbohydrate was composed mainly of glucose, mannose (1.0 : 0.9), in addition a small amount of galactose and arabinose (0.2 : 0.1). The cellular materials of mycelia were fractionated into ethylacetate (EA), MeOH (M) and hot-water extract fraction (HW). HW fraction showed the most potent intestinal immune system modulating activity, anti-coagulant activity, and anti-complementary activity, and M fraction had the inhibition activity of radical generation as effective as genistine. These results reveal that the mycelium of liquid cultured C. sinensis showed pharmacological activities and could be used for commercial purpose.

Capsaicin synthesis by suspension cultured cells of Jalapeno pepper (Capcicum annuum L.) was assessed in vitro under various conditions including temperature (23 and $30^{\circ}C$), light intensity (with light and without light), and shaking speed (110 and 200 rpm). Capsaicin production increased, while the cell biomass growth decreased possibly due to the production of a secondary metabolite. Capsaicin synthesis was primarily affected by light condition. Cells cultivated at 110 rpm and $23^{\circ}C$ under light condition yielded the highest fresh weight, while those cultivated under the same condition, but without light resulted in the lowest cell mass. Capsaicin content in cells of 18-day-old pepper grown at 110 rpm and $23^{\circ}C$ under light was 0.125% of the cell mass. However, without light treatment, the capsaicin content in cells at the same shaking speed and temperature increased up to 169%, indicating no light is favored in the capsaicin synthesis by Jalapeno pepper. Increasing the shaking speed from 110 to 200 rpm without light enhanced the capsaicin synthesis. Results of this study demonstrate that light condition is the limiting factor in the synthesis of capsaicin in tissue-cultured Jalapeno pepper cells.

Extracts from Geum japonicum (Bammu in Korean) were analyzed for their antioxidative activities and scavenging effects on free radicals. The ethyl acetate fraction of G. japonicum methanol extract (EFGJ) showed a remarkable scavenging activity on the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical. EFGJ also showed excellent antioxidative activity on linoleic acid during long-period storage and on rat liver microsome peroxidation system, and good anti-peroxidation effect on lipid in Rancimat system using lard, palm oil, and perilla oil, as compared with BHT and ${\alpha}$-tocopherol. Varying effects of antioxidative activity of the EFGJ on various fatty acids were observed. The prevention of linoleic acid and linolenic acid peroxidation was superior to ${\alpha}$-tocopherol, but inferior to BHT. The methanol extract of G. japonicum did not show mutagenicity as revealed through SOS chromotest. Based on the results, the extracts of G. japonicum may be useful source as natural antioxidants.

A simple protocol for the detection of opines, cucumopines and mikimopines using a general horizontal or vertical get electrophoresis system for protein or DNA separation in the laboratory are demonstrated. This electrophoresis method can also be applied to other opines as long as correct detection reagent and buffer system are used.