Korean folk medicine 'Bong Seon Wha Dae' has been used to cure constipation and acute gastritis by meat. The botanical origin of the crude drug has not been studied pharmacogostically. To clarify the botanical origin of 'Bong Seon Wha Dae', the morphological and anatomical characteristics of Impatiens species growing in Korea, I.e. I. Balsamina L., I. Noli-tan-gere L., I. Textori Miq. And I. textori Miq. for. pallenscens Hara were studied. As a result, 'Bong Seon Wha Dae' was proved to be the stem of I. Balsamina L.

'Chong Myung So(聰明素)' is Chinese patent medicine, which is used for nervous prostration and neuritis in Korea. This preparation consists of 18 kinds of powdered crude drugs. For the identification of individual ingredients in such powdery mixtures, microscopic method may advantageously be used as it requires only a small amount of specimens. In this study, it is demonstrated that the microscopic method is very effective for the identification of 18 crude ingredients including in 'Chong Myung So'.

This paper is intended as an investigation of the analysis of high-performance liquid chromatography and the method of extraction of decursin and decursinol angelate in Angelica gigas roots. There are three kinds of extraction methods: distilled water, 50% EtOH and 100% EtOH. The condition of HPLC was obtained on a reversed-phase column $(Polarity\;dC_{18},\;4.6{\times}250 mm,\;5\;{\mu}m)$ using a phosphate buffer-acetonitrile-sodium lauryl sulfate as the mobile phase. Under these chromatographic conditions, UV detector was 230 nm, column temperature $30^{\circ}C$ and the speed of a current 1.0 ml/min, respectively. The results of extraction with distilled water, 50% EtOH and 100% EtOH in Angelica gigas roots were as follows. The concentrations of decursin and decursinol angelate were 182 and 153 ppm (distilled water), 3,142 and 2,547 ppm (50% EtOH) and 3,341 and 2,778 ppm (100% EtOH). There were high positive correlations between the concentrations of decursin and EtOH (r=0.8928, p<0.01) and decursinol angelate and EtOH (r=0.9009, p<0.01).

The fruit of Evodia officinalis (Rutaceae) is known for containing a number of indoloquinazoline and quinoline type alkaloids. Evodiamine, evocarpine and rutaecarpine are the major constituents of Evodiae Fructus. These alkaloids were isolated and determined by forming complex compounds from Evodiea Fructus. For the determination of these alkaloids, a new spectrophotometric method was developed with a simple and selective sample clean-up using thiocyanatocobaltate [II] complex ion. The absorbance of alkaloidal complex in 1.2-dichloroethane solution was measured at 625 nm. A calibration curve for the alkaloids isolated from Evodia Fruit was linear over the concentration range of $1.0{\sim}6.0\;mg/ml$. The method proved to be rapid, simple and reliable for the isolation and the determination of the alkaloids in Evodiae Fructus.

Korean mistletoe (Viscum album) extract has been found to posses immunostimulatory activity. In this study, Korean mistletoe extract, M11C (non-lectin components), was used to know whether this extract might activate mouse splenic macrophages to produce tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}\;(TNF-{\alpha}$) and might play a role in anticancer. To know the effect of M11C on the production of $TNF-{\alpha}$, the splenic macrophages were treated by the M11C, and then collected the supernatant (M11C stimulated splenic macrophage-conditioned media; MSCM). MSCM was analyzed for the $TNF-{\alpha}$ secretion by means of ELISA and immunoblotting, and mRNA expression was analyzed by RT-PCR. The S-180 murine sarcoma model was established to know the effect of M11C on the inhibition of tumor growth. M11C had the effect of $TNF-{\alpha}$ production from splenic macrophages performed by ELISA technique. This ELISA data was reconfirmed by immunoblotting assay. The effects of M11C on the expression of $TNF-{\alpha}$ mRNA from the macrophages was also shown. M11C also had the inhibitory effect of S-180 tumor growth. These data suggest that Korean mistletoe extract M11C may be used for an immunomodulator.

The mistletoe lectins are major active components in the extrct of Viscum album var. coloratum. This study was performed to investigate the anti- skin cancer effect of Korean mistletoe extract intensified with mistletoe lectin (KI 2103S). B16F10 melanoma cells were allografted in C57BL/6 mice and F344 rats. The effect of KI 2103S on melanoma was measured by monitoring tumor index. The KI 2103S was injected intra-tumorally and tumor index was decreased in dose dependent manner.

In the present study, anti-inflammatory activity of amygdalin isolated from persicae Semen have been evaluated on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced release of nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin $E_2\;(PGE_2)$ and tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$) by the macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. Amygdalin significantly inhibited generation of NO and $TNF-{\alpha}$ on LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Consistent with these observations, the expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) enzyme was also inhibited by amygdalin in a concentration-dependent manner. However, amygdalin did not show any influence on the synthesis of $PGE_2$ and the expression of COX-2. Thus, this study suggests that amygdalin-mediated inhibition of iNOS expression, and $TNF-{\alpha}$ release may be one of the mechanisms responsible for the anti-inflammatory effects of Persicae Semen.

For effective management of atopic dermatitis, it is important to introduce a therapeutic agent although having the fewest side effects, has the greatest anti- inflammatory effect. In the course of screening anti-inflammatory agents, we obtained BSASM composed of several plant extracts. This study was designed to investigate anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects of BSASM. As a first step, $NF-{\kappa}B$ luciferase reporter assay was performed to know the involvement of BSASM in the production of proinflammatory cytokines because $NF-{\kappa}B$ element has been known to play a major role in expression of cytokine genes such as interleukin-8 (IL-8) or tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}\;(TNF-{\alpha})$. LPS (lipolysaccharide)-induced $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation was inhibited by BSASM. In addition, we found the fact that BSASM inhibits LPS-induced produced production of IL-8 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ proinflammatory cytokines, indicating BSASM has anti-inflammatory effect. In interleukin-2 (IL-2) luciferase reporter assay in Jurkat T cells, BSASM reduced PHA (Phytohemagglutinin)-induced IL-2 luciferase activity, suggesting the possibility that BSASM might also have an immunomodulatory function in T cell-mediated immune response. Based on these results, we suggest the possibility that BSASM can be introduced to improve symptom of immune-related skin diseases, namely, atopic dermatitis.

An extract of Alnus japonica (Betulaceae) cortex has been traditionally used for purifying blood, and curing feces containing blood, enteritis, diarrhea, alcoholism and cut wounds. Alnus japonica cortex extract significantly inhibited carrageenan-induced paw edema at 1, 2 and 3 hrs after oral administration by 32.8, 24.4, and 46.9%. It also inhibited acetic acid-induced vascular permeability in mice by 15.3 and 28.0% at oral doses of 500 and 1,000 mg/kg, and it significantly reduced the volume of hindpaw of adjuvant-induced arthritis rats at the day 6 and 10 by 22.5 and 18.7% after the sample administration. Alnus japonica cortex extract increased threshold on inflamed paw (Randall-Selitto assay) at 3 hr by 137.5% compared to the control group. It also reduced the number of writhing syndrome dose- dependently.

본 연구는 참깨 종자로부터 추출, 분리된 세사몰린의 백혈병 HL-60 세포의 생장억제에 미치는 영향을 조사하였다. 세사몰린은 농도와 시간 의존적으로 HL-60 세포의 생합성을 억제하였다. $60{\sim}100\;{\mu}g/ml$ 농도의 세사몰린 범위에서 사포증식이 억제적이었다. $200\;{\mu}g/ml$ 이상의 세사몰린 농도에서 HL-60 세포에 세포파괴성으로 나타났다. 그리고 $60\;{\mu}g/ml$에서 HL-60 세포의 DNA, RNA, 단백질의 합성억제 정도는 35.1%, 6.1% 5.3%였다. 반면에 $200\;{\mu}g/ml$에서의 억제 정도는 각각 86.8%, 81.5%, 96.7%였다. DNA 합성에 대한 세사몰린의 억제효과는 비가역적이었다.

The effects of chelidonine, a benzophenanthridine isoquinoline alkaloid, on L-DOPA-induced cytotoxicity in PC12 cells were investigated. The treatment of PC12 cells with chelidonine $(1-4\;{\mu}M)$ decreased dopamine content in a dose-dependent manner (30.2% inhibition at $4\;{\mu}M)$. Chelidonine was not cytotoxic up to $4\;{\mu}M)$. However, chelidonine at concentrations higher than $5\;{\mu}M$ caused a cytotoxicity in PC12 cells. L-DOPA at concentrations higher than $50\;{\mu}M$ led to cell damage by oxidative stress in PC12 cells. Chelidonine at non-cytotoxic concentration ranges of $1-4{\mu}M$ aggravated L- DOPA $(20-50\;{\mu}M)$-induced cytotoxicity in PC12 cells. The L-DOPA-induced cytotocxicity was synergistically stimulated by chelidonine at concentrations grader than $5\;{\mu}M$. These data demonstrate that chelidonine exacerbates L-DOPA-induced cytotoxicity. Therefore, it is proposed that the long-term L-DOPA therapeutic patients with chelidonine may need to be checked for the adverse symptoms.

The major polysaccharide, named EAP, was purified from the aerial parts of Eclipta alba by Sepharose CL-2B ion exchange chromatography and recycling HPLC. The molecular weight of EAP was estimated to be 20911.9 D by MALDI-TOF MS. In addition, the sugar composition was determined to be arabinose (23.6%), mannose (24.8%), galactose (12.3%), and glucose (41.3%), respectively, by GC analysis. The EAP decreased the blood sugar level, which was induced by alloxan in rats, dose dependently.

To develop Allium victorialis var. platyphyllum (Liliaceae) for an available functional food, pharmacological experiments on the extracts of this plant were undertaken in the rat treated with streptozotocin, poloxamer-407 and $CCl_4$. The two MeOH extracts were obtained from the leaves and the bulbs, respectively. The three agents, streptozotocin, poloxamer-407 and $CCl_4$, were treated to induce diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia and hepatic injury, respectively. Treatment with the leaf extract lowered blood glucose by 24.9% at 200 mg/kg (p.o.) in the STZ-treated rat and prohibited the increase of body weight, water consumption and food intake. This exσact also significantly decreased not only thε plasma cholesterol and triglyceride in the poloxamer-407-treated rat by 35.3% but also serum ALT by 49.0%. The potency was found by overall estimation on the experimental results as followings: 200 mg/kg leaf extract> 200 mg/kg bulb extract> 100 mg/kg leaf exσact> 100 mg/kg bulb extract. These results suggested that this plant might have the availability for a functional food. It was also suggested that the leaves are more effective than the bulbs for the functional vegetable, especially in hyperlipidemia and hepatic injury.

Lonicerae Flos (LF) has been used as an anticancer, anti-viral, and anti-inflammatory agent in traditional herbal medicine. In this study, induction of rat growth hormone (rGH) by addition of methanol (MeOH) extract of LF of Lonicerae (L.) Folium or several constituents of L. Folium were carried out in the pituitary cell culture system. Induced rGH level by addition of 70% MeOH extract of LF was increased to $732.65{\pm}105.64%$ of control (n=18, p<0.01), however, the other sequential fractions were not significantly different from the control. Ochnaflavone, a constituent of L. Folium, induced rGH level in the cell culture to $329.73{\pm}160.00%$ of control (n=6, p<0.01). An I..v. injection of the MeOH extract of LF did not increase plasma rGH level in anesthetized rats. Unfortunately, the MeOH extract of LF induced prolactin and LH release about 7 and 5 fold of the control, respectively (p<0.05, each). In conclusions, 70% MeOH extract of LF exerted induction of rGH release in rat pituitary cell culture. Further studies to investigate mechanisms of the inducded rGH by LF are in progress.

This study was carried out to evaluate the change of blood constituents during the growth of antlers in Korean spotted deer (Cervus nippon). Samples of blood, obtained from the jugular vein of twenty five deer (3 to 6 year-old males) were taken in 10 days interval from casting to cutting of antler and were analyzed the blood parameters. Total-protein concentration in blood serum showed significantly differences during growth period of velvet antler (p<0.01), and it had similar tendency for total protein and albumin concentration, but albumin concentration was about 40-45% of total protein concentration. Urea and creatinine concentration was tended to inverse proportion, and it was almost 30:1 for ratio of urea and creatinine concentration. The concentration of total protein, creatinine, and uric acid concentration in blood during growth period of velvet antler was similarly increased and decreased but urea concentration was opposed. The concentration of total-bilirubin and direct-bilirubin at casting was higher than those at other period(P<0.05).