Novel anomeric branched carbocyclic nucleosides were synthesized from 1,3-dihydroxy acetone. 4'-Hydroxymethyl was installed by [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement reaction and 1'-methyl group was introduced by carbonyl addition of methylmagnesium bromide. The coupling of nucleosidic bases and desilylation afforded a series of novel nucleosides. The synthesized compounds $16{\~}19$ were evaluated for their antiviral activity against HIV-1, HSV-1, HSV-2, and EMCV. Compounds 16 and 19 exhibit toxicity non-related to any anti-HIV-1 activity.

5-Aminolevulinic acid and its derivatives, which are known to affect the early diagnosis and treatment of cancer, have been synthesized. Simple methods for the synthesis of 5-aminole-vulinic acid (ALA), a precursor of porphyrins, have been developed in our laboratory for use in studies on the biosynthesis of porphyrins.

Flavonoids are polyphenols composed of two aromatic rings (A, B) and a heterocyclic ring (C). In order to determine the effects of the number of hydroxyl groups in the B-ring of the flavonoids on human cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1 family enzymes, we evaluated the inhibition of CYP1A-dependent 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylation activity by chrysin, apigenin and luteolin, using bacterial membranes that co-express human CYP1A1, CYP1A2, or CYP1B1 with human NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase. Chrysin, which possesses no hydroxyl groups in its B-ring, exhibited the most pronounced inhibitory effects on CYP1A2-dependent EROD activity, followed by apigenin and luteolin. On the contrary, CYP1A1-mediated EROD activity was most potently inhibited by luteolin, which is characterized by two hydroxyl groups in its B-ring, followed by apigenin and chrysin. However, all of the 5,7-dihydroxyflavones were determined to similarly inhibit CYP1B1 activity. Chrysin, apigenin, and luteolin exhibited a mixed-type mode of inhibition with regard to CYP1A2, CYP1B1, and CYP1A1, with apparent Ki values of 2.4, 0.5, and 2.0 ${\mu}M$, respectively. These findings suggested that the number of hydroxyl groups in the B-ring of 5,7-dihydroxyflavone might have some influence on the degree to which CYP1A enzymes were inhibited, but not on the degree to which CYP1B1 enzymes were inhibited.

Tungtungmadic acid (3-caffeoyl-4-dihydrocaffeoyl quinic acid) is a new chlorogenic acid derivative that was isolated from the Salicomia herbacea. The structure of tungtungmadic acid was determined using chemical and spectral analysis. The antioxidant activity of tungtungmadic acid was evaluated using various antioxidant assays, including free radical scavenging, lipid peroxidation and hydroxyl radical-induced DNA strand breaks assays. Tungtungmadic acid ($IC_{50}\;=\;5.1\;{\mu}M\;and\;9.3\;{\mu}M$) was found to have higher antioxidant activity in the DPPH scavenging assay as well as in the iron-induced liver microsomal lipid peroxidation system. In addition, the tungtungmadic acid was also effective in protecting the plasmid DNA against strand breakage induced by hydroxyl radicals.

A new phenolic glucoside (1), pursargentoside, was isolated from the leaves of Prunus serrulata var. spontanea, along with three other known compounds, orobol 7-O-glucoside (2), $1{\beta}$, $2{\alpha}$, $3{\alpha}$, 24-tetrahydroxy-urs-12-en-28-oic acid (3), and chlorogenic acid (4). The structure of pursargentoside (1) was identified by spectroscopic data analysis including 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, as 2-O-${\beta}$-(6'-benzoyl)-glucopyranosyl o-(Z)-coumaric acid. Compounds 1, 2, and 4 exhibited ONOO- scavenging activity, whereas compound 3 was determined to be virtually inactive.

Two new benzopyrans 6-[1'-oxo-3'(R)-hydroxy-butyl]-5,7 -dimethoxy-2,2-dimethyl-2H-1-ben-zopyran (1) and 6-[1'-oxo-3'(R)-methoxy-butyl]-5,7 -dimethoxy-2,2-dimethyl-2H-1-benzopyran (2) were isolated from the leaves of Mallotus apelta Muell.-Arg., (Euphorbiaceae). Their chemical structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analyses, especially by 1D-, 2D-NMR and MS spectra. Compound 1 was found to have strong cytotoxic effect against two human cancer cell lines as human hepatocellular carcinoma (Hep-2, $IC_{50}\;:\;0.49\;{\mu}g/mL$) and rhabdosarcoma (RD, $IC_{50}\;:\;0.54\;{\mu}g/mL$), while compound 2 showed moderate activity against Hep-2 cell line ($IC_{50}\;:\;4.22\;{\mu}g/mL$) by in vitro assay.

Twelve compounds were isolated from the MeOH extract of the leaf and stem of the Korean endemic plant Weigela subsessilis L. H. Bailey. Their chemical structures were elucidated on the basis of physicochemical and spectroscopic data and by comparison with those of published literatures. These compounds were identified as three sterols, ${\beta}$-sitosterol acetate (2), ${\beta}$-sitosterol (3), daucosterol (11), eight triterpenoids, squalene (1), ursolic acid (4), ilekudinol A (5), corosolic acid (6), ilekudinol B (7), esculentic acid (8), pomolic acid (9), asiatic acid (10), and one iridoid glycoside, alboside I (12). This is the first report pertaining to the isolation of these compounds from Weigela subsessilis L. H. Bailey. In addition, three compounds 7, 9, and 12 were found to display a strong inhibitory effect on the production of IL-8 in the HT29 cells stimulated by TNF-${\alpha}$.

Seven sesquiterpene lactones were isolated by the chromatographic separation of the MeOH extract of the aerial parts of Saussurea calcicola (Compositae). Their structures were determined spectroscopically to be cynaropicrin (1), arguerin B (2), cebellin F (3), 8${\alpha}$-hydroxy-11${\alpha}$, 13-dihydrozaluzanin C (4), desacylcynaropicrin (5), 3${\beta}$-hydroxy-8${\alpha}$-epoxymethylacriloiloxy-4(15), 10(14), 11(13)-trien-guaian-6, 12-olide (6), and kandavanolide (7). Compounds 1 and 2 showed significant cytotoxicity against five cultured human tumor cell lines with $ED_{50}$ values ranging from $0.23{\~}1.72\;{\mu}g/mL$.

A new naturally occurring sterol, compound 5, and six known stigmasterols were isolated from fruits of Ailanthus altissima Swingle by repeated column chromatography and RP-HPLC. Their structures were identified as, 5${\alpha}$-stigmastane-3,6-dione (1), 3${\beta}$-hydroxystigmast-5-en-7-one (2), stigmast-5-ene-3${\beta}$, 7${\alpha}$-diol (3), 6${\alpha}$-hydroxystigmast-4-en-3-one (4), 5${\alpha}$-stigmastane-3${\beta}$, 6${\beta}$-diol (5), stigmast-4-ene-3${\beta}$, 6${\alpha}$-diol (6), stigmast-5-ene-3${\beta}$, 7${\alpha}$, 20$\xi$-triol (7) by spectral analysis and comparison with the published data. These compounds have not been reported from genus Ailanthus, whereas compound 7 was identified by NMR for the first time. In addition, the $95\%$ ethanol extract and compounds from the fruits of Ailanthus altissima SWINGLE were assayed for in vitro antimicrobial activity. The extract was potent active against the assayed bacteria while compounds 3 and 7 exhibited moderate activity.

We examined the inhibitory activities of various flavonoids, including the flavanones, flavones/isoflavones and flavonols, on collagenase from Clostridium histolyticum to establish their therapeutic potential against skin inflammation and photoaging. In general, the flavonols were stronger inhibitors than the flavones/isoflavones, and this indicated the importance of the C-3 hydroxyl substitution. Quercetin was the most active flavonoid among those tested, and it showed an $IC_{50}$ of 286 ${\mu}M$. These novel results suggest that certain flavonoids, particularly the flavonols, may prevent collagen breakdown by inhibiting collagenase in inflamed skin as well as photoaged skin.

An iridoid glycoside, oldenlandoside III (5) was isolated from the n-butanol fraction of methanol extracts of the aerial parts of Oldenlandia diffusa Roxb. along with six others previously characterized iridoid glycosides; geniposidic acid (1), scandoside (2), feretoside (3), 10-O-ben-zoylscandoside methyl ester (4), asperulosidic acid (6) and deacetylasperulosidic acid (7). Compounds 1, 2, and 7 inhibited LDL-oxidation, and showed $63.3{\pm}2.0,\;62.2{\pm}1.6,\;and\;63.8{\pm}1.5\%$ inhibition, respectively, at a concentration of 20 ${\mu}g/mL$.

Five compounds of iridoids, lignan and phenylpropanoid glycosides were isolated from the roots of Valeriana jatamansi by column chromatography. Their structures were elucidated as 11-methoxyviburtinal (1), baldrinal (2), prinsepiol-4-O-${\beta}$-D-glucoside (3), coniferin (4), and hexacosanic acid (5) by spectroscopic analysis. 11-Methoxyviburtinal was a new compound, and others were isolated from the plant for the first time.

Brain microglia are phagocytic cells that are the major inflammatory response cells of the central nervous system and widely held to play important pathophysiologic roles in Alzheimer's disease (AD) in both potentially neurotoxic responses and potentially beneficial phagocytic responses. In the study, we examined whether ginsonoside Rg3, a by-product of red ginseng, enhances the microglial phagocytosis of $A{\beta}$. We found that Rg3 promoted $A{\beta}$ uptake, internalization, and digestion. Increased maximal $A{\beta}$ uptake was observed at 4 and 8 h after Rg3 pretreatment (25 ${\mu}g/mL$), and the internalized $A{\beta}$ was almost completely digested from cells within 36 h when pretreated with Rg3 comparing with single non-Rg3-treated groups. The expression of MSRA (type A MSR) was also up-regulated by Rg3 treatment in a dose- and time-dependent manner which was coincidently identified in western blots for MSRA proteins in cytosol. These results indicate that microglial phagocytosis of $A{\beta}$ may be enhanced by Rg3 and the effect of Rg3 on promoting clearance of $A{\beta}$ may be related to the MSRA-associated action of Rg3. Thus, stimulation of the MSRA might contribute to the therapeutic potentials of Rg3 in microglial phagocytosis and digestion in the treatment of AD.

2-Methyl-2-(2-methylpropenyl)-2,3-dihydronaphthoquinone[2,3-b]furan-4,9-dione (N FD-37) is a synthetic furonaphthoquinone compound. In this study, we determined that NFD-37 could inhibit the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced production of inflammatory mediators in macrophages RAW 264.7. This compound inhibited LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) or prostaglandin (PG) $E_{2}$ production in dose-dependent manners, with $IC_{50}$ values of 7.2 ${\mu}M$ and 5.3 ${\mu}m$, respectively. As the positive controls, pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (30 ${\mu}M$) exhibited a $57{\%}$ inhibition of NO production, and NS-398 ($1{\mu}M$) manifested a $48{\%}$ inhibition of $PGE_2$ production. The inhibitory effects of NFD-37 on NO and $PGE_2$ production were determined to occur in conjunction with the suppression of inducible NO synthase or cyclooxygenase-2 expression. NFD-37 also inhibited the production of LPS-inducible tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$, interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$ and IL-6, at $IC_{50}$ values of 4.8-8.9 ${\mu}M$. We also determined the anti-inflammatory efficacy of NFD-37 using carrageenin-induced paw edema in experimental mice.

The hepatotoxic effects of 1-bromopropane (1-BP) and its conjugation with glutathione were investigated in male ICR mice. A single dose (1000 mg/kg, po) of 1-BP in corn oil to mice significantly increased serum activities of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase. Glutathione (GSH) content was dose-dependently reduced in liver homogenates 12 h after 1-BP treatment. In addition, 1-BP treatment dose-dependently increased levels of S-pro-pyl GSH conjugate at 12 h after treatment, as measured by liquid chromatography-electro-spray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. The GSH conjugate was maximally increased in liver at 6 h after 1-BP treatment (1000 mg/kg), with a parallel depletion of hepatic GSH content. Finally, 1-BP induced the production of malondialdehyde in liver. The present results suggest that 1-BP might cause hepatotoxicity, including lipid peroxidation via the depletion of GSH, due to the formation of GSH conjugates in male ICR mice.

Although plant-derived phenolic acids have been reported to have anti-cancer activity, the exact mechanism is not completely understood. In this study, we investigated the role for reactive oxygen species (ROS) as a mediator of the apoptosis induced by caffeic acid (CA) and ferulic acid (FA), common phenolic acids in plants in HepG2 human hepatoma cells. CA and FA reduced cell viability, and induced apoptotic cell death in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, they evoked a dose-related elevation of intracellular ROS. Treatment with various inhibitors of NADPH oxidase (diphenylene iodonium, apocynin, neopterine) significantly blunted both the generation of ROS and the induction of apoptosis induced CA and FA. These results suggest that ROS generated through activation of NADPH oxidase may play an essential role in the apoptosis induced by CA and FA in HepG2 cells. These results further suggest that CA and FA may be valuable for the therapeutic management of human hepatomas.

The objective of this study was to develop an assay for mequitazine (MQZ) for the study of the bioavailability of the drug in human subjects. Using one mL of human plasma, the pH of the sample was adjusted and MQZ in the aqueous phase extracted with hexane; the organic layer was then evaporated to dryness, reconstituted and an aliquot introduced to a gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer (GC/MS) system with ion-trap detector. Inter- and intra-day precision of the assay were less than 15.1 and $17.7{\%}$, respectively; Inter- and intra-day accuracy were less than 8.91 and $18.6{\%}$, respectively. The limit of quantification for the current assay was set at 1 ng/mL. To determine whether the current assay is applicable in a pharmacokinetic study for MQZ in human, oral formulation containing 10 mg MQZ was administered to healthy male subjects and blood samples collected. The current assay was able to quantify MQZ levels in most of the samples. The maximum concentration ($C_{max}$ was 8.5 ng/mL, which was obtained at 10.1 h, with mean half-life of approximately 45.5 h. Under the current sampling protocol, the ratio of $AUC_{t{\rightarrow}last}$ to $AUC_{t{\rightarrow}{\infty}}$ was $934{\%}$, indicating that the blood collection time of 216 h is reasonable for MQZ. Therefore, these observations indicate that an assay for MQZ in human plasma is developed by using GC/MS with ion-trap detector and validated for the study of pharmacokinetics of single oral dose of 10 mg MQZ, and that the current study design for the bioavailability study is adequate for the drug.

Omeprazole (OMP) is a proton pump inhibitor used as an oral treatment for acid-related gastrointestinal disorders. In the liver, it is primarily metabolized by cytochrome P-450 (CYP450) isoenzymes such as CYP2C19 and CYP3A4. 5-Hyroxyomeprazole (5-OHOMP) and omeprazole sulfone (OMP-SFN) are the two major metabolites of OMP in human. Cimetidine (CMT) inhibits the breakdown of drugs metabolized by CYP450 and reduces, the clearance of coad-ministered drug resulted from both the CMT binding to CYP450 and the decreased hepatic blood flow due to CMT. Phenobarbital (PB) induces drug metabolism in laboratory animals and human. PB induction mainly involves mammalian CYP forms in gene families 2B and 3A. PB has been widely used as a prototype inducer for biochemical investigations of drug metabolism and the enzymes catalyzing this metabolism, as well as for genetic, pharmacological, and toxicological investigations. In order to investigate the influence of CMT and PB on the metabolite kinetics of OMP, we intravenously administered OMP (30 mg/kg) to rats intraperitoneally pretreated with normal saline (5 mL/kg), CMT (100 mg/kg) or PB (75 mg/kg) once a day for four days, and compared the pharmacokinetic parameters of OMP. The systemic clearance ($CL_{t}$) of OMP was significantly (p<0.05) decreased in CMT-pretreated rats and significantly (p<0.05) increased in PB-pretreated rats. These results indicate that CMT inhibits the OMP metabolism due to both decreased hepatic blood flow and inhibited enzyme activity of CYP2C19 and 3A4 and that PB increases the OMP metabolism due to stimulation of the liver blood flow and/or bile flow, due not to induction of the enzyme activity of CYP3A4.