Aconites distribute widely in northern hemispere of the earth reaching to arctic zone from warm and temperate one. Chinese crude drug 'Cho O'(草烏) has been used as a remedy for apoplexy, dyspepsia, neuralgia, chronic rheumatis etc. Though the botanical origin of the crude drug has been considered to be Aconitum species of Ranunculaceae, there has been no confirmation on it. To clarify the botanical origin of Cho O, the morphological and anatomical characteristics of the roots of Aconitum species growing in Korea, i.e. A. chiisanense, A. ciliare, A. jaluense, A. napiforme, A. proliferum, A. pseudoproliferum and A. triphyllum were studied. As the result, Cho O was proved to be the roots of Aconitum triphyllum, A. jaluense, A. chiisanense and A. napiforme.

Chinese crude drug 'To Bog Ryung' has been to cure chronic aperient, syphilis cough and diabetes. The botanical origin of the crude drug has never been studied pharmacognostically. To clarify the botanical origin of To Bog Ryung, the morphological and anatomical characteristics of the rhizomes of Smilax species growing in Korea, i.e. S. china, S. riparia var. ussuriensis, S. nipponica, S. sieboldii were compared. As a result, it was determined that To Bog Ryung was the rhizome of Smilax china and Smilax sieboldii.

In search for the plant-derived antioxidant compound, it was found that the EtOAc, BuOH extracts obtained from the leaves parts of Oryza sativa L. which exhibited a significant antioxidant activity from 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical cleavage. Activity-guided fractionation on the basis of the inhibitory activity upon the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical cleavage. and repeated column chromatography afforded several antioxidant compounds from Oryza sativa L. The structures and stereochemistry of these compounds were established on the basis of analysis of spectra and some chemical transformations as follows: 5,7-dihydroxy- 8-methoxyflavone, $acacetin-7-O-{\beta}-rutinoside$, $pectolinarigenin-7-O-{\beta}-rutinoside$. At antioxidant activity test for isolated three compounds, antioxidant activity was showed too.

This study was carried out to investigate the antioxidative activities of Rosa davurica Pall for the purpose of development of novel antioxidant from natural products. Antioxidant activities of four different parts of Rosa davurica Pall such as fruit, leaf, stem and root were examined by measuring the radical scavenging effect on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical. The methanol extract from the root of Rosa davurica Pall showed the highest antioxidative activity among 16 samples tested. And, we also tested radical scavenging effects of 5 different extract compartments(Hexane, $CHCl_3$, EtOAc, BuOH and $H_2O$ fraction). EtOAc and BuOH fractions from the root of Rosa davurica Pall exhibited antioxidative activities higher to those of natural, ${\alpha}-tocopherol$ or synthetic antioxidants, BHT. The antioxidative substance of EtOAc fraction from the root of Rosa davurica Pall was successively purified with silica gel adsorption column chromatography and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography. The purified active substance was isolated as crystal and identified as (+)-catechin by $^{l}H-NMR$ and $^{13}C-NMR$. This compound exhibited DPPH radical scavenging activity with the $IC_50$ value of $1.7\;{\mu}g/ml$. In the analysis of catechin content, the leaf extracts contained the highest catechin, and fruit extracts contained the lowest catechin. Considering antioxidative activity on DPPH assay, the extracts of Rosa davurica Pall showed a possibility to be used as a new material for natural antioxidant and functional food.

The Coptidis rhizoma is known for containing protoberberine alkaloids. Berberine, coptisine and palmatine are the major constituents of protoberberine alkaloids. The alkaloids were isolated and determined by forming complex compounds from Coptidis rhizoma in preparation I(Sam-Hwang-Sa-Sim-Tang) and II(Hwang-Ryen-Tang). For the determination of these alkaloids, a new spectrophotometric method was developed with a simple and selective sample clean-up using thiocyanatocobaltate[II] complex compound ion. The absorbance of alkaloidal complex compounds in l.2-dichloroethane solution was measured at 625 nm. Calibration curve for the alkaloids isolated from Coptidis rhizoma was linear over the concentration range of 0.2-0.3 mg/ml. The method was proved to be rapid, simple and reliable for the isolation and the determination of the alkaloids in Coptidis rhizoma preparation I and II.

Three diterpene alkaloids, songorine (1), neoline (2), N-deethylneoline (3), were isolated from Kyong-Po Buja (Processed Aconitium carmichaeli, Ranunculaceae) which was used as Chinese traditional medicine with analgesic, anti-inflammatory and cardiotonic activity. Their structures were established by chemical and spectroscopic methods.

The fruit of Euphoria longana Lamarck (Sapindaceae) is a sweet food which is available in China and South Asia. Its pulp or flesh (Longan Arillus) is used as a tonic, and for the treatment of amnesia, insomnia, various palpitations due to fright, etc. It is traditionally said to fortify the heart and stabilize the spirit. Four compounds were isolated from the pulp of E. longana. The structures of these compounds were determinded as ${\beta}-sitosterol$, daucosterol, uracil and adenosine by means of spectroscopic methods.

The radix and folium of Eucommia ulmoides(Eucommiaceae) has been used for backache, atrophy of the leg and knee, enuresis, hypertension. In order to evaluate to quality of folium, we have been isolated a main compound as a standard compound, which was elucidated $quercetin-3-O-{\beta}-D-xylopyranosyl(l{\rightarrow}2)-{\beta}-D-glucopyranoside$ through it's physicochemical data and IR, FAB-Mass, $^{13}C-NMR$ and $^{1}H-NMR$ analysis. It was analyzed by HPLC system using 17% $CH_3CN$ as a solvent system. The amount of $quercetin-3-O-{\beta}-D-xylopyranosyl(l{\rightarrow}2)-{\beta}-D-glucopyranoside$ from Eucommiae folium was in the range of $0.056{\pm}0.022$ mg(n=7) and also from the results of analysis through seasonal variation$(June{\sim}October)$ September and October have been evaluated to be very high in it's content.

The rhizoma of Polygonatum odoratum (Liliaceae) has been used as the treatment of body fluid deficiency, dryness symptoms and hyper glycemia. To study effects on acute renal failure of P. odorati rhizoma, urinary volume, urinary electrolytes and serum factors associated with renal dysfunction were measured in $HgCl_2-induced$ acute renal failure rats. It was revealed that its ether ex. had significant diuretic effects, regulated hypoelectrolytes$(Na^+,\;K^+,\;Cl^-)$ and inhibited the increase of creatinine, BUN in acute renal failure rats. From the ether ex. which was more effective than MeOH ex., three lipophilic compounds were isolated and elucidated hydrocarbon(l), ${\beta}-sitosteryl$ stearate(2), ${\beta}-sitosterol$(3). The ${\beta}-sitosteryl$ stearate(2) were isolated from Polygonatum sp. at first.

베트남산 Croton cascarilloides 뿌리의 메탄올 추출물을 인체 폐암세포인 A549에 대한 세포독성을 실시한 결과 유효함을 발견하였다$(ED_{50},\;5.98\;{\mu}g/ml)$. 세포독성을 측정하면서 유효들 물질을 분리하고 그들의 분광학적 데이터와 문헌치를 비교한 결과 이들은 각각 3-acetyl aleuritolic acid, rubiadin-1-methyl ether 및 julocrotine로 확인되었다.

The methanol extracts of 340 kinds of Korean medicinal herbs were examined in vitro for the inhibitory effect on the acetylcholinesterase (AChE, E.C. 3.1.1.7) from electric eel using acetylthiocholine as a substrate. Among tested, the extracts of Coptidis Rhizoma, Phellodendri Cortex, Evodiae Fructus, Myrrha, Arecae Semen and Piperis nigri Fructus were found to exhibit a significant inhibition upon the acetylcholinesterase in a dose dependent manner, respectively.

In order to screen new radical scavenging principle which is expected to be antiaging drug lead, we have isolated 160 strains of the marine-derived fungi and investigated 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity for their acetone extracts. The significant activities (>50% Inhibition) were observed in 8 strains of fungi (MFA006, MFA0l4, MFA040, MFA133, MFA139, MFA143, MFA148, MFA153), and among them, MFA153 (Aspergillus parasiticus) showed the most significant radical scavenging activity. The active components were purified by assay-guided isolation to yield two known benzyl alcohols, l53B3 (1) and l53B4 (2), and their structures were determined by physicochemical evidence. Two compounds (1,2) showed the significant radical scavenging activity with $IC_{50}$ values of 0.6 and $1.4{\mu}M$ against DPPH, respectively.

Sarcodon aspratus (Thelephoraceae), a native mushroom distributed in Korea and Japan has been widely used as a traditional food and folk medicines. Two proteoglycan polysaccharides, named SAP-A and SAP-B were isolated from the fruitbody of S. aspratus. Their molecular weight were determined as 6184.9 D, and 25749.2 D, respectively, by maldi-tof ms. The composition of sugar and amino acid of these compounds was also determined. The SAP-A showed potent antitumor activity. The $ID_{50}$ value of SAP-A was 8.2 mg/kg/day for ICR mice transplanted with solid sarcoma-180, and the elongation of lifespan effect was 167.4% for ICR mice transplanted with ascitic sarcoma-180. Moreover, the elongation life-span effect of SAP-A increased dose-dependently.

Prickly pear(Opuntia ficus-indica var saboten Makino, Cactaceae) is widely used as folk medicine for burned wound, edema and indigestion. To confirm the hypolipidemic action of the extract from Cactus stem and fruit in dietary hyperlipidemic rats, variations of the lipid- or cholesterol-related components were investigated. As results these changes were significantly prevented by treatments with Cactus extracts. The effects of the extract of fruit was better than those of stem.

The extracts from stem and fruit of Cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica var. saboten Makino) were applied to confirm the antiatherosclerotic effects in subacute alcoholic hyperlipidemic rats. It was observed that several indications of hyperlipidemia were prevented or changed by the treatments of the extracts but activities of hepatic HMG-CoA reductase and alcohol dehydrogenase were not affected, which suggest that the extracts may promote the fecal excretion and delay the absorption of alcohol in hyperlipidemic rats.

Flavonoid seems to have various biological effects. Quercetin is a kind of natural plant flavonoids and has multiple biological effects such as antioxidant, antimutagenic and anticarcinogenec agent. Melanogenesis is a physiological process resulting in the synthesis of melanin pigments, which play a crucial protective role against skin photocarcinogenesis. This present study was designed to investigate effect of quercetin on proliferation and melanogenesis in Melan-a melanocyte cells. After 48h treatment of cells with quercetin, the cells exhibited a dose-dependent inhibition in their proliferation without apoptosis. Therefore, thε growth retardation by the extract may be due to the cell arrest or cell differentiation. We also investigated the effect of quercetin on melanogenesis of this cells. Melan-a melanocyte cells were grown for 48h in the presence of $0.01-60\;{\mu}g/ml$ quercetin and the total melanin content and activity of tyrosinase were measured. Quercetin stimulated melanization of the cells in low concentrations $(0.01-1.0\;{\mu}g/ml)$, whereas it inhibited melanization in high concentrations $(5.0-30\;{\mu}g/ml)$. It was observed that quercetin differently regulates melanogenesis of Melan-a melanocyte cells dependent on Its concentrations.

In the previous study, we demonstrated that ginsenoside $Rb_1$ isolated from the butanol fraction of the head of Panax ginseng had significant gastroprotective activity on gastritis and gastric ulcer models in rats. It has been well established that drugs to have capacity of scavenging or inhibiting the generation of reactive oxygen radicals prevent the gastric mucosal injury. Ginsenoside $Rb_1$ was tested on HCl ethanol-induced gastritis in rats, DPPH-induced free radical scavenging effect, MDA assay, GSH activity, and SOD activity in gastric tissue. It showed significant inhibition in HCl ethanol-induced gastritis, and al~o significantly increase of GSH activated SOD. We speculate that the protective effect of ginsenoside $Rb_1$ against HCl ethanol-induced gastric mucosal damage is originated from the increase of GSH and the activation of SOD.

Each ferritin molecule consists of light subunit 19,000 dalton and heavy subunit 22,000 dalton. Twenty-four protein subunit about $440,000{\sim}500,000$ dalton apoferritin which contained $20{\sim}30%$ Fe as ferric hydroxyphosphate polymer form. Horse spleen-derived ferritin consists of 90% light subunit. These genetic characteristics of ferritin preparations were able to determine by cellulose acetate electrophoresis, but these ferritin preparations contained other components to be disturbed during refining, extraction and making finish products and have difficulties in deciding to be just. So, this study was performed to establish the scientific method for determine the quality of ferritin preparations with immunodiffusion methods which has high specificity between heterogeneous proteins.