Analgesic and antiinflammatory activities of several herbal medicines were investigated in order to develop the antiinflammatory drugs from oriental herbal medicines. 80% Ethanol extracts of Ephedra sinica, Chaenoleles sinensis, Asiasarum siboldi, Nelumbo nucifera, Scolopendra subspinipes mutians, Evodia officinalis, Aremarrhenae asphodeloides, Bufo bufo gargarizans, Gardenia jasminoides, Piper longum, Carthamus tinctorius, Piperus nigrum, Magnolia officinalis and Siegesbeckia glabrescens showed significant inhibitory effects on hyaluronidase, trypsin, and albumin denaturation in vitro. They also decreased the acetic acid-induced pain and vascular permeability induced by histamine in mice.

Ethanol extracts from Xanthii Fructus (XFE) and Prunellae Spica (PSE) were investigated for the effects on the induction of cancer chemoprevention-associated enzymes. The following effects were measured: (a) induction of quinone reductase (QR) (b) induction of glutathione S-transferase (GST) (c) reduced glutathione (GSH) level. XFE and PSE were potent inducers of quinone reductase activity in Hepa1c1c7 murine hepatoma cells. Glutathione levels were increased with XFE and PSE. In addition, glutathione S-transferase activity was increased with XFE. However, GST activity was not increased with PSE. These results suggest that XFE and PSE have chemopreventive potentials by inducing quinone reductase and increasing GSH levels.

Ailanthus altissima belonging to the family Simaroubaceae has been used to settle an upset stomach, to combat a fever, and as an insecticide. Apoptosis is an active process, which is a critical feature of the regulated development of multicellular organisms. We investigated whether the extract of A. altissima induced apoptotic cell death in Jurkat T-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cells. Upon treatments with the extract, the dose-dependent inhibitions of cell viability were observed. It also caused apoptosis as measured by cell morphology and DNA fragmentation. The capability of the extract to induce apoptosis was associated with proteolytic cleavage of specific target protein such as poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase (PARP) protein, suggesting the possible involvement of the activations of caspases. Further study showed that Bcl-2 protein levels were not changed in all treated groups compared to control group. These results suggest that A. altissima induces Bcl- 2-independent apoptosis in Jurkat T cells.

Epigallocathechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the main polyphenol component in green tea, inhibits angiogenesis, urokinase, and matalloproteinases, and EGCG also has the antioxidative property. Recent reports proposed that EGCG may modulate the immune response on allergy or asthma. Human nasal mucosal fibroblasts are a rich source of cytokines, inflammatory mediators, and chemokines. Chemokines are important for the recruitment of leukocytes to sites of infection, which is essential in host defense. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of EGCG on the expression of the chemokines such as RANTES (regulated upon activation, normal T cell expressed and presumably secreted), eotaxin, and interleukin-8 (IL-8) in human nasal mucosal fibroblasts after stimulation with cytokines like IL-4, tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}\;(TNF-{\alpha})$, and $interferon-{\gamma}\;(IFN-{\gamma})$. To detect the expression of chemokine genes, RT-PCR was performed. Expressions of RANTES, eotaxin, and IL-8 mRNA stimulated with IL-4 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ were increased, respectively, while the expression of those genes incubated with $IFN-{\gamma}$ was similar pattern compared to control group. Analyses of chemokine genes of cells pretreated with EGCG showed that the expressions of eotaxin, and IL-8 genes stimulated $IFN-{\gamma}$ were higher compared with those not pretreated with EGCG.

The Radix of Gentiana macrophylla (Gentianaceae) has been used for dispelling wind-damp, relaxing the sinews, and clearing heat from deficiency. In order to evaluate its quality, the method for the quantitative determination of gentiopicroside as standard compound has been developed. Gentiopicroside was a major compound of Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix. It was analyzed by HPLC using 30% MeOH as a solvent system. The amount of gentiopicroside from Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix was in the range of $2.22{\pm}1.22%\;(n=18)$.

The Radix of Peucedanum japonicum (Umbelliferae) has been used for dispelling wind-damp, headache, chills and wind cold. In order to evaluate to quality of it, the method for the quantitative determination of peujaponiside $(peucedanol\;7-O-{\beta}-D-apiofuranosyl(1{\rightarrow}6)-{\beta}-D-glucopyranoside)$ as standard compound has been developed. Peujaponiside is a major compound of Peucedani Radix. It was analyzed by HPLC using the solvent system of 15% $CH_3CN$. The amount of peujaponiside from Peucedani Radix are in the range 0.14% (n=20).

We studied the inhibitory effect of the aqueous extract of Salvia plebeia (SPAE) on immediate hypersensitivity reactions. SPAE inhibited immediate hypersensitivity reaction induced by compound 48/80 in mice. When SPAE was employed in an immediate hypersensitivity reaction test, the plasma histamine levels were reduced in a dose-dependent manner. SPAE also inhibited the histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells (RPMC) by compound 48/80. The level of cAMP in RPMC, when SPAE was added, significantly increased compared with that of a normal control. These results indicate that SPAE may be beneficial in the treatment of immediate hypersensitivity reactions.

The stem barks of Kalopanax septemlobus were extracted with MeOH, and successively partitioned with $CH_2Cl_2$, EtOAc, BuOH and water. Repeated column chromatographic separation of the $CH_2Cl_2$ fraction resulted in the isolation of four compounds. Their structures were identified as ${\beta}-sitosterol$ (1), oleanolic acid (2), 3,3'-bis(3,4-dihydro-4-hydroxy-6-methoxy-2H-1-benzopyran) (3) and (-)-balanophonin (4). This is the first report on the isolation of 3,3'-bis(3,4-dihydro-4-hydroxy-6-methoxy-2H-1-benzopyran) (3) and (-)-balanophonin (4) from Kalopanax spp.

In order to investigate alkaloid contents in different Fritillaria species, we analyzed 17 Fritillaria species by HPLC using prederivatization method. The contents of alkaloid $fr.5(11-deoxo-6-oxo-5{\alpha},6-dihydrojervine)$, delavinone and delavine were analyzed and compared.

The root of Astragalus membranaceus Bunge (Leguminosae), which has been used for the treatment of hypertension, chronic hepatitis, duodenal ulcers, chronic nephritis and promotion of immunity in folk remedies. Cyclooxygenase (COX-2) is responsible for the production of large amounts of proinflammatory prostaglandins (PGs) at the inflammatory site. Thus, a logical approach to the treatment of inflammatory disease should involve the inhibitors of COX-2. To develop new COX-2 inhibitors from natural products, Astragali Radix was screened by inhibiting prostaglandin $E_2(PGE_2)$ generation in the culture medium using enzyme immunometric assay. Two isoflavone glycosides, $7,2'-dihydroxy-3',4'-dimethoxyisoflavan-7-O-{\beta}-D-glucoside$ and $calycosin-7-O-{\beta}-D-glucoside$ isolated from Astragali Radix inhibited COX-2 activity.

The Acanthopanax genus belonging to the Araliaceae family is widely used as a traditional medicine having tonic and sedative effects. For the quality control of Acanthopanacis Cortex, lignan compound, acanthoside D, was isolated from the MeOH extract of Acanthopanax sessiliforum Seeman. (Araliaceae) and identified by the spectroscopic analysis. A quantitative analysis of acanthoside D using HPLC method showed that the average contents were $0.081{\pm}0.058%$ in 39 samples collected throughout the regions of Korea.

For the quality control of Leonuri Herba, alkaloid compound, leonurine, was isolated from the MeOH extract of Leonurus sibiricus L. (Labiatae) and identified by the spectroscopic analysis. A quantitative analysis of leonurine using HPLC method showed that the average contents were $0.124{\pm}0.065%$ in 34 samples collected throughout the regions of Korea.

Cordyceps militaris (CM) has been used as a tonics in the traditional medicine. To investigate the anti-diabetic principle of CM, activity guided fractionation was conducted. Hot water extract of CM was fractionated into 3 parts: above 100,000(A), $100,000{\sim}20,000(B)$, below 20,000(C) in molecular weight using in membrane filter system. All fractions showed mild hypoglycemic activity in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats by oral administration (300 mg/kg). The fraction C which was most active among them was fractionated again into two parts, C-1 and C-2 by Sephadex LH 20 column chromatography. The fraction C-1 showed hypoglycemic activity but C-2 did not show activity compared with control in STZ mice. In glucose-fed hyperglycemic mice, fraction C, C-1 and C-2 also showed significant glucose lowering activity. Their decreasing rates of plasma glucose level after 1 hours administrations of fraction C, C-1 and C-2 were 24.5%, 29.3% and 22.0%, respectively (Tolbutamide: 48.4%). These results suggested that CM has both insulin like and insulin release promoting activity and could be developed as an antidiabetic agent.

Prickly pear(Opuntia ficus-indica var. saboten Makino, Cactaceae) is a tropical or subtropical plant, which is widely used as folk medicine for burned wound, edema and indigestion. Screening on the biological properties of the fruits(OFS-Fr) and stems(OFS-St) of the plant was carried out to prove the pharmacological significance. By hot plate and acetic acid-inducing writhing methods, significant analgesic effects of OFS-Fr and OFS-St were found in mice and anti-edemic effect was observed in carrageenin-induced inflammatory rats. However, the extracts showed no significant actions on central and autonomic nervous system and blood circulatory system, which imply no toxic effects to animal.

The extract and fractions of Rumex acetosa (Polygonaceae), a Korean medicinal plant, were examined for their cytotoxicities against five cultured human tumor cell lines, i.e. A549 (non-small cell lung), SK-OV-3 (ovary), SK-MEL-2 (melanoma), XF498 (central nerve system) and HCY15 (colon), using the SRB (sulforhodamine-B) method in vitro and antimutagenic activities by Ames test with Salmonella typhimurium TA98 and TA100 and SOS chromotest with E. coli PQ37. Among the tested samples, the methylene chloride fraction strongly inhibited the proliferation of each examined tumor cell line with $IC_{50}$ values ranged from 13.2 to $18.7\;{\mu}g/ml$ and showed potent antimutagenic activities with 96.1% and 96.7% at the concentration of 1 mg/plate against the mutagens, NPD and sodium azide, respectively. Its antigenotoxic activity was also very effective at the final concentration of $10\;{\mu}g/reaction$ tube against the mutagens, MNNG and NQO by SOS chromotest.