A very high content (at least 0.23%) of ergosterol peroxide was isolated from Naematoloma fasciculare Karst. Not only ergosterol peroxide but also ergosterol showed very strong anticomplementary activity on the classical pathway, the $IC_{50}$ values being $5.0 {\mu}M$ and $1.0 {\mu}M$, respectively. The $ ^{1}H $and $^{13}C$ NMR data of ergosterol peroxide were revised and completely assigned by DEPT, $^{1}H-^{1}H$ COSY, HMQC and HMBC correlations.

The optimal conditions for the production and regeneration of the protoplasts from Lentinula edodes were studied. Protoplast formation from the mycelia of L. edodes which were cultured in liquid medium showed a significantly high yield compared with that of the mycelia which were cultured on cellophane covered agar media. A mixture of Novozyme 234 (15 mg/ml) and Cellulase Onozuka R10 (10 mg/ml) in 0.6 M mannitol (pH 4) was optimal lytic enzyme for the protoplast release. The optimal incubation time and mycelia age were 3.5-4 hours at $30^{\circ}C$ and 6-8 days, respectively. Regeneration frequency was 0.18% plated onto a medium containing 0.6 M sucrose, and 0.08% plated onto a medium containing mannitol. But hardly any regeneration was observed in the media containing NaCl, KCl, or $MgSO_{4}$ More than 90% of the protoplasts contained nuclei and the nucleus number per protoplast was 1.1. The DNA content per nucleus was 5.1 pg. The diameter of the protoplast was $3-5{\mu}m$ and it had a well defined cell structure.

Induction of an adaptive response to ionizing radiation in mouse lymphoma (EL4) cells was studied by using cell survival fraction and apoptotic nucleosomal DNA fragmentation as biological end points. Cells in early log phase were pre-exposed to low dose of ${\gamma}$-rays (0.01 Gy) 4 or 20 hrs prior to high dose ${\gamma}$-ray (4, 8 and 12 Gy for cell survival fraction analysis; 8 Gy for DNA fragmentation analysis) irradiation. Then cell survival fractions and the extent of DNA fragmentation were measured. Significant adaptive response, increase in cell survival fraction and decrease in the extent of DNA fragmentation were induced when low and high dose .gamma.-ray irradiation time interval was 4 hr. Addition of protein or RNA synthesis inhibitor, cycloheximide or 5,6-dichloro-1-.betha.-d-ribofuranosylbenzimidazole (DRFB), respectively during adaptation period, the period from low dose ${\gamma}$-ray irradiation to high dose ${\gamma}$-ray irradiation, was able to inhibit the induction of adaptive response, which is the reduction of the extent DNA fragmentation in irradiated EL4 cells. These data suggest that the induction of adaptive response to ionizing radiation in EL4 cells required both protein and RNA synthesis.

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) acetylhydrolase, which removes the acetyl moiety at the sn-2 position, has been found in human amniotic fluid. We purified this enzyme by ammonium sulfate precipitation, and sequential use of DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B, hydroxyapatite, chelating-Sepharose, and Mono Q column chromatographies. This enzyme exhibited broad pH optima and was unaffected by EDTA. Partially purified enzyme had a molecular weight of approximately 34 kDa on SDS-PAGE. In addition, the enzyme activity was inhibited by either diisopropylfluorophosphate(DFP) or p-bromophenacylbromide (p-BPB), suggesting that this enzyme possesses active serine and histidine residues. The enzyme showed similar activity towards PAF and oxidatively modified phosphatidylcholine, but didn't hydrolyze phosphatidylcholine or phosphatidylethanolamine with a long chain fatty acyl group at sn-2 position.

A murine leukemia x LM fibroblast hybrid cell line with immune augmenting properties stimulated resistance to Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) in mouse peritoneal macrophages, and in immune deficient beige mice (C57BL/6/bgj/bgj). The proliferation of MAC in mouse peritoneal macrophages was inhibited by medium conditioned by the growth of the hybrid cells (hybrid cell-CM). Under similar circumstances, media conditioned by the growth of LM cells (LM cell-CM), a mouse fibroblast cell line used as one parent in forming the hybrid cell, was exhibited no inhibitory effect. Treatment of mouse peritoneal macrophages with hybrid cell-CM, but not with LM cell-CM, stimulated the expression of each of four previously described macrophage activation antigens, suggesting that the hybrid cells formed immunomodulators in addition to those formed by LM cells. Furthermore, the morphology of the macrophages following treatment with hybrid cell-CM was clearly distinguishable from that following exposure of the cells to LM cell-CM. The therapeutic effects of hybrid cells on the progression of MAC-infection were indicated by the prolonged survival of MAC-infected immune-deficient beige mice. One hundred percent of treated animals survived more than 60 days, while untreated animals died in approximately 22 days.

CINC-1 is a member of chemokine family with chemotactic and activating properties to neutrophils. CINC-1 induction in IL-$1{\beta}$-stimulated rat fibroblast NRK-49F cells was quantitated by a sensitive ELISA. CINC-1 production was increased up to 135 ng/ml from basal 2-6 ng/ml by stimulation with IL-$1{\beta}$.Steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs including dexamethasone and prednisolone exhibited potent suppressive effects on IL-$1{\beta}$-induced CINC-1 production. Among 39 kinds of natural triterpenoids tested, acacigenin B exhibited the highest suppressive effects with about $10{\mu}M$ to be 50% of inhibition on the CINC-1 induction. The suppressive potency of acacigenin B on IL-$1{\beta}$induced CINC-1 production was about 10-fold less than that of the steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

In the present study, liver regeneration rate (%) was increased up to 70% 3 days after partial hepatectomy (PH). Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity in liver tissue as well as serum nitrite/ nitrate content had no timed response, revealing no significant difference between shamoperated and partially hepatectomized rat liver. Contents of free methylarginines in liver tissue were increased biphasically in a time-dependent manner after PH. However, those in serum did not exhibit the same patterns as in liver. Taken together, the results suggest that $N^{G}$-monomethyl-L-arginine (MMA) and $ N^{G}, N^{G}$-dimethylarginine (DMA) play a role in inhibiting nitric oxide (NO) synthesis in regenerating rat liver because the increase of their contents was synchronized with NOS expression.

Perfluorotolyl (PFT)-ether and perfluorotoly-trimethylsilyl (PFT-TMS) ether derivatives of oestrone, $17{\alpha}$- and $17{\beta}$oestradiol were prepared under phase transfer conditons. The former derivatives under negative ion chemical ionization conditions gave significant ions in the mass spectrometer but $17{\alpha}$- and $17{\beta}$ -oestradiol gave poor resolution. However, the PFT-TMS derivatives of 17.${\alpha}$- and$17{\beta}$-oestradiol showed good resolution. These derivatives were used for the analysis of oestrogens in bovine aqueous humour, vitreous humour and retina. The mean $({\pm}SEM)$ concentrations of oestrone in bovine aqueous humour (n=18), vitreous humour (n=18) and bovine retina (n=4) were $0.47{\pm}0.11$, $0.46{\pm}0.14$ and $1.10{\pm}0.24 ng.ml^{-1}$, respectively. $17{\alpha}$-Oestradiol was detected in 16 out of 18 samples of bovine aqueous humour and vitreous humour and the mean $({\pm}SEM)$ concentrations were $0.30{\pm}0.10$ and $0.08{\pm}0.02 ng.ml^{-1}$, respectively. The mean $({\pm}SEM)$ concentration of 17.betha.-oestradiol in aqueous humour (n=7) and vitreous homour (n=11) $0.83{\pm}0.26 ng ml^{-1}$ and $0.39{\pm}0.09 ng ml^-1$, respectively. In retina the concentrations of both steroids were below the detection limit.

Ten, heretofore unreported, $ 5^I-methyl-5^I-[2-(5-substituted uracil-1-yl)ethyl)]-2^I-oxo-3^I$-methylenetetrahydrofurans (H, F, Cl, Br, I, $ CH_3$,$CF_3$,$CH_2CH_3$,$ CH=CH2$, SePh) (7a-j) were synthesized and evaluated against four cell lines (K-562, FM-3A, P-388 and U-937). For the preparation of ${\alpha}$-methylene-${\gamma}$-butyrolactone-linked to 5-substituted uracils (7a-j), the convenient Reformasky type reaction was employed which involves the treatment of ethyl ${\alpha}$-(bromomethyl)acrylate and zinc with the respective 1-(5-substituted uracil-1-yl)-3-butanone (6a-j). The 5-substituted uracil ketones (6a-j) were directly obtained by the respective Michael type reaction of vinyl methyl ketone with the $K_2CO_3$(or NaH)-treated 5-substituted uracils (5a-j) in the presence of acetic acid in the DMF solvent. The .alpha.-methylene-.gamma.-butyrolactone compounds showing the most significant antitumor activity are 7e, 7f, 7h and 7j (inhibitory concentration $(IC_50)$ ranging from 0.69 to $2.9 {\mu}g/ml$), while 7b, 7g and 7i have shown moderate to significant activity. The compounds 7a, 7c and 7d were found to be inactive. The synthetic intermediate compounds 6a-j were also screened and found marginal to moderate activity where compounds 6b and 6g showed significant activity $(IC_50:0.4~2.8 {\mu}g/ml)$.

In the preparation of acyclic thymidine nucleoside analogues, $K_2CO_3$(or NaH) treated thymine in DMSO was alkylated with .omega.-chloroalkyl nitrite (Cl-(CH_2)n-CN; n=1, 2, 3, 4) to provide an isomeric mixture of 1-(${\omega}$-cyanoalkyl)thymine (2a-d) and 1,3-bis(${\omega}$-cyanoalkyl)thymine in approximately 5:1 ratios. Reduction of the cyano function 2a-d with $NaBH_{4}/CoCl_{2}$ center dot$ 6H_{2}O$gave the corresponding 1-(${\omega}$aminoalkyl)thymine (3a-d). The newly formed primary amino function in 3a-d was directly reacted with 2-chloroethylisocyanate to afford the 1-[.omega.($N^{I}$-2-chloroethylureido) alkyl]thymine (4a-d) in good yields. Nitrosation of 1-[5-($ N^{I}-2$-chloroethylureido)pentyl] thymine (4d) with glacial acetic acid and dry $NaNO_{2}$-powder in anhydrous $CH_{2}Cl_{2}$gave two types of regioisomeric nitrosoureas, 1-[5-($N^{I}$--chloroethyl-$N^{I}$--nitrosoureido)pentylithymine (5d) and 1-[5-($N^{I}-2$-chloroethyl-N-nitrosoureido)pentyllthymine in approximately 5 :1 ratios. The in vitro cytotoxicity of the synthesized compounds (2a-d, 3a-d, 4a-d and 5a-d) against three cell lines (K-562, P-388 and FM-3A) are measured as $IC^{50}$ values. Compounds 3b and 4c showed moderate activities against all three cell lines, and all other compounds were found to be not active.

In order to study the structure-activity relationship of 7, 8-dimethoxy-2-methyl-3-(4, 5-methylenedioxy-2-vinylphenyl)isoquinoline-1(2H) -one (2), which has exhibited significant antitumor activity, chemical modifications of 2 were performed to yield the corresponding products (3-7). Further systematic uses of an efficient procedure for the synthesis of 3-arylisoquinoline derivatives produced the substituted compounds (9a-9g), which were tested for in vitro antitumor activity against five different human cancer cell lines.

Solubilities of oleanolic acid and ursolic acid in aqueous surfactant solutions, liquid polyethylene glycols (PEG), and solvents of various polarity were measured. The results showed that the solutes were slightly or moderately solubilized in the surfactant solutions and the liquid PEGS. It was also revealed that the solutes were slightly soluble in the solvent of either extreme polarity or nonpolarity, but moderately soluble in solvents of intermediate polarity of which solubility parameters are around 10. The solubility parameters of these solutes were calculated from the group contribution to be 10.2 for both of them. Of the solvents tested, tetramethylurea was exceptionally effective in solubilizing the solutes. The solutes were also moderately soluble in the aqueous cosolvents containing tetramethylurea. This suggests that the mixed systems of tetramethylurea could be employed for the solubilization in the formulation of these compounds as an aqueous system.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylorl) infection is now established as the major pathogenic factor in chronic gastritis and peptic ulcer disease. in addition, there is accumulating evidence that H. pylori plays an important role in the process of gastric carcinogenesis. On the other hand, oriental traditional medicines have been used for stomach disease for thousands of years. In the present study, methanol extract from the stem bark of Magnolia sieboldii (M. sieboldii) and its components were investigated on their inhibitory effects against urease activity and growth of H. pylori in vitro. The methanol extract of M. sieboldii significantly inhibited the growth of H. pylori ATCC 43504 at 5 mg/ml. From the further fractionation, the chloroform fraction inhibited the bacterial growth dose-dependently. Among four fractions separated from the chloroform fraction by silica gel column chromatography, MS-C-2 was the most potent. Costunolide was isolated from the MS-C-2 subtraction by preparative TLC and recrystallization using n-hexane. Anti-H. pylori effect of costunolide was investigated using one commercial strain (H. pylori ATCC 43504) and three clinical strains (H. pylon 4, 43, 82548). Costunolide exhibited potent anti-H. pylori activity, and the MIC was around $100-200{\mu}g/ml$. However, costunolide had no inhibitory effect of H. pylori urease activity at the concentration used for the growth inhibition assay. From these results, we conclude that costunolide inhibits the, growth of H. pylori by the independent manner of H. pylori urease inhibition.

A genuine dammarane-glycoside, named as ginsenoside $ Rs_3$, was isolated from the MeOH extracts of Korean red ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) through repeated silica gel column chromatographies and its chemical structure was determined as (20S)-protopanaxadiol $3-O-[6^{11}-O-acetyl-{\beta}-D-glucopyranosyl (1{\rightarrow2)-{\beta}-D-$glucopyranoside on the basis of several spectral and physical evidences including HMBC and FAB-MS.

In order to identify the structural requirement at 4-position of 1-arylsulfonyl-4-phenyl-4,5-dihydro-2-limidazolones 3 for their cytotoxicity, the corresponding 1-arylsulfonyl-4-cyclohexyl-4,5-dihydro-2-imidazolones 4 were synthesized and their in vitro cytotoxicity against human solid tumor cell lines were measured. Unlike compounds 3a-c, cyclohexyl analogues 4a-c do not show the cytotoxicity. This dramatic loss of activity of these analogues on the volume change with the bulkier cyclohexyl group indicates that the planar structure at 4-position of 1-arylsulfonyl-4-pheny-4,5-dihydro-2-limidazolones 3 is required for their activity as an important pharmacophoric moiety.

An efficient synthesis of 3-(E)-hydroxy- and 3-(E)-acetoxypropenylcephem derivatives, key intermediates for the synthesis of 3-(E)-propenylcephalosporins was achieved via Stille coupling reaction of 3-trifloxycephem with 3-(E)-tributylstannylallylic alcohol.

The studies were carried out to evaluate the constituents in the aerial part of Isodon excisus var. coreanus (Labiatae). From the aqueous fraction of methanol extract, compound I (${\alpha}$-[[3-(3, 4-dihydroxyphenyl)-1-oxo-2-propenyl]oxy]-3,4-dihydroxy-benzenepropanoic acid), compound II (9-methyl-dihydroferulic acid-4-O-.betha.-D-glucopyranosyl $(1{\rightarrow}2)$-${\alpha}$-L- rhamnopyranosyl (1.rarw.4)-.betha.-D-glucopyranoside), compound III (ent-7.alpha., 11${\alpha}$,15.betha.-trihydroxy-kaur-16-en-1-O-.betha.-D-glucopyranoside) and compound IV ($2{\alpha}$,3${\beta}$,$7{\alpha}$,23-tetrahydroxy-olean-12 -en-28-oic acid 28-O-${\beta}$-D-glucopyranoside) were isolated and identified on the basis of their physicochemical and spectroscopic evidences[IR, FAB(-)MS,$^{1}H-NMR,$$^{13}C-NMR,$$ HMQC$$^{1}H-^{1}H $COSY and HMBC (Heteronuclear Multiple Bond Connectivity)]. Especially, New compounds II and III were named Isodonin A and Isodonin B respectively.