We have conducted a comprehensive literature review regarding the chemical constituents and biological activities of Korean black ginseng(Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer), three to nine times-steamed and dried ginseng, which shows strong black color through Maillared browning reaction. It has been reported that some chemically deglycosylated and transformed saponins are obtained from black ginseng as artifacts produced during intensive steaming. They have been known to be ginsenosides Rg3, Rg4, Rg5, Rg6, Rh1, Rh2, Rh4, Rk1 and Rk3, quite different from those of red ginseng, among which ginsenosides Rg3, Rg5 and Rk1 are considered to be major components. And also, black ginseng has been recently found to demonstrate anticancer, recovery from learning and memory damages, hypontensive, antidiabetic, antiobesitic, tonic and antiatopic activities, together with antioxidative and exercise performance improving activities, exhibiting their effects to be a little bit stronger than those of red ginseng. These findings suggest that black ginsng might play an important role in the development of promising functional foods and drugs from the viewpoint of the chemical composition and biological activities of black ginseng with a distinction from those of white and red ginsengs. In this review, the authors will survey and evaluate further functions of black ginseng with a focus on its physicochemical properties and biological activities.

Validation and contents determination of (+)-catechin and diosgenin from Smilax china L. rhizome (SC) were confirmed using Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC). (+)-Catechin was isolated from 60% prethanol SC extract and diosgenin was isolated by acid hydrolysis of saponin fraction from 60% prethanol extract of SC. Finally we have established the validation of the isolated compounds [(+)-catechin, diosgenin] and contents determinations of (+)-catechin and diosgenin by UPLC on 60% prethanol extract of SC [(+)-catechin: 0.06878%, diosgenin: 0.48169%], and on hot water extract of SC [(+)-catechin: 0.06584%, diosgenin: 0.42178%].

Cnidium monnieri (L). Cussion is used as a tonic agent in traditional oriental medicine. However, the molecular mechanism of mast cell-mediated anti-inflammatory modulation has not been fully understood. The aim of the present study was to demonstrate the effects of Cnidium monnieri (L). Cussion eathyl acetate fraction on the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, as well as to elucidate its mechanism of action in the human mast cell line (HMC-1). Cells were stimulated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) plus A23187 in the presence or absence of Cnidium monnieri (L). Cussion eathyl acetate fraction. Cnidium monnieri (L). Cussion eathyl acetate fraction significantly inhibited the PMA plus A23187-induction of inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-$\alpha$, interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8. Moreover, EtOAc fraction attenuated cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expression. In activated HMC-1 cells, phosphorylation of extra-signal response kinase (ERK) 1/2 decreased after treatment with EtOAc fraction. Moreover EtOAc fraction inhibited PMA plus A23187-induced nuclear factor (NF)-${\kappa}B$ activation, $I{\kappa}B$ degradation. EtOAc fraction suppressed the expression of TNF-$\alpha$, IL-6, IL-8 through a decrease in the ERK 1/2, as well as activation of NF-${\kappa}B$. These results indicated that Cnidium monnieri (L). Cussion EtOAc fraction exerted a regulatory effect on inflammatory reactions mediated by mast cells.

This study was performed to examine the antigenic potential of purified bee venom (Apis mellifera L., PBV) collected using bee venom collector. Antigenic potential of PBV was examined by active systemic anaphylaxis (ASA) in guinea pigs. PBV was subcutaneously administered at 0.025 and 0.05 mg/kg and also as a suspension with adjuvant (Freund's complete adjuvant, FCA). Ovalbumin (OVA) as a suspension with adjuvant was used to introduce positive control response. In the weight measurement and clinical observation, experimental groups didn't show any significant changes compared with control group. In the autopsy of body, the abnormalities of lung were detected only in the positive control. In the ASA test, experimental groups didn't show any symptoms of anaphylaxis like piloerection, hyperpnea and staggering gait. These results suggested that PBV didn't have antigenic potential in guinea pig.

This study was carried out to investigate the biological activities of grass clippings from turfgrass including Zoysia japonica (TG-1), Zoysia matella (TG-2), Agrostis palustris (TG-3), and Poa pratensis (TG-4). The 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity was relatively higher in TG-1 and -2. Especially, TG-1 exerted the strongest hydroxyl radical scavenging effect, showing 90.40% at the concentration of 100 μg/ml. In addition, TG-1 inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Helicobactor pylori. TG-1 also showed the highest inhibitory effect of AGS human gastric adenocarcinoma cell growth and nitric oxide production against lipopolysaccharide in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. In conclusion, among the TG extracts, TG-1 has anti-oxidative, anti-microbial, anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory effect, indicating that TG-1 may be the potential source of functional food.

Recently, many studies have focused on the aging and oxidative stress. Several papers reported that Vigna angularis has various biological properties including antiaging, antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activities. Methanol extract from the red bean sprouts was successively partitioned as n-hexane, methylene chloride, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and H₂O soluble fractions. We had studied lifespan extending and stress resistant effects of the fractions using Caenorhabditis elegans. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase activities, and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were also investigated. Moreover, we had studied to find any significant change in aging-related factors such as reproduction, food intake, growth and movement of C. elegans. Our results represent that ethyl acetate fraction showed the most potent lifespan extending and stress resistant effects, and this fraction was able to elevate SOD and catalase activities of worms, and reduce intracellular ROS accumulation.

This mass balance study about ginsenoside Rg1 and Re in Red ginseng processed from Fresh ginseng is useful to understand that herbal material sources of ginseng and raw material consumption in Red ginseng preparations. In our results, total molar amounts of ginsenoside Rg1, Re and their converts in Fresh ginseng, Red ginseng, and Red ginseng extract are substantially the same. The molar amounts of ginsenoside Rg1, Re (4.324, 2.880 μmol/g) as starting materials in Fresh ginseng are kept constant as total molar amounts (sum of starting and converts) in Red ginseng (4.264, 2.596 μmol/g) and Red ginseng extract (3.389, 3.129 μmol/g). This result means that protopanaxtriol type ginsenosides and their characteristic converts are not destroyed or inflowing in Red ginseng process. Therefore, it is important for quality assurance of Red ginseng preparations that the ratio between ginsenosides Rg1, Re and these converts is kept constant.

The anti-nociceptive effect of an ethanol extract and its various solvent fractions from Curcuma longa Linne ethanol extract was studied using the writhing test in mice. Different fractions by various solvent extraction from Curcuma longa Linne ethanol extract were administered orally 1 hr or time-course (0.5, 1, 2 and 5 hr) before intraperitoneal injection of acetic acid. After treatment with 30% ethanol extract and n-butanol fraction, CB-1, at a dose of 250 mg/kg, the significant writhing responses were 87.5 ± 13.4 (inhibition rate 31%, p<0.01) and 75.1 ± 11.1 (inhibition rate 41%, p<0.01) lower than the control group. At the dose of CB-1 50 mg/kg and 250 mg/kg, CB-1 showed a similar activity comparing to diclofenac of 10 mg/kg. A time-course experiment was performed, which involved oral administration of CB-1 (250 mg/kg) at 0, 0.5, 1, 2, and 5 hr before acetic acid intraperitoneal injection. The most effective time of CB-1 was 30 min before treatment and persisting until 2 hr. This study showed that Curcuma longa Linne has anti-nociceptive properties comparable with those of diclofenac, which suggests promise for the treatment of intractable visceral pain in humans. Major components of the active fraction are identified as curcumin, cyclocurcumin and demethoxycurcumin.

Allium hookeri (Liliaceae), native to India is widely cultivated in Korea lately as a medicinal plant. This study was performed to evaluate the antioxidant and lifespan extending effects of the root of A. hookeri. Methanol extract from the root of A. hookeri was successively partitioned as methylene chloride, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and H₂O soluble fractions. Antioxidant effects of the fractions were measured by measuring the radical scavenging effect on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and superoxide quenching activities. Lifespan extending effects of the fractions were investigated using Caenorhabditis elegans model system. In addition, stress resistant, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase activities, and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were also studied. Furthermore, we had investigated aging-related factors such as reproduction, food intake, growth and movement of C. elegans to find any sample-induced significant change. Our results revealed that ethyl acetate soluble fraction from the root of A. hookeri showed the most potent antioxidant and lifespan extending effects, and this fraction elevated the most potent SOD and catalase activities of worms, and reduce intracellular ROS accumulation.

Myrrh, Angelicae Radix, and Schisandrae Fructus have been used to treat diverse diseases including neurological disorder in the traditional Korean medicine. In the present study, we investigated the ameliorating effects of HPM-1, a combined extract of Myrrh, Angelicae Radix and Schisandrae Fructus, on scopolamine-induced memory impairments in mice. First, we assessed HPM-1, HPM-2 and HPM-3, in which Myrrh was extracted with water, 30% ethanol, and 30% ethanol/3% vinegar, respectively. The oral administration of HPM-1, HPM-2, or HPM-3 significantly reversed scopolamine-induced reduction of spontaneous alternation in the Y-maze task. In the passive avoidance task, HPM-1 or HPM-3 restored the decreased latency time of the retention trial by scopolamine treatment, but in terms of efficacy, HPM-1 showed more beneficial effects than HPM-3. In addition, HPM-1 administration reversed scopolamine-induced reduction of spontaneous alternation in the Y-maze task and scopolamine-decreased latency time in the passive avoidance in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that HPM-1 has the therapeutic potential in memory impairments.

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) have been implicated in diabetic complications. In this study, the inhibitory effect on AGEs formation of 156 Korean herbal medicines has been evaluated. Among them, 15 Korean herbal medicines were showed to have significant effect (IC₅₀: <10 μg/ml) compared to positive reference, aminoguandine (IC₅₀: 76.47±4.81 μg/ml). Especially, four herbal medicines, Alnus firma (leaves, IC₅₀: 3.25±0.10 μg/ml), Juncus decipiens (whole plants, IC₅₀: 4.30±0.44 μg/ml), Smilax china (stems, IC₅₀: 3.55±0.21 μg/ml), and Vicia amoena (Aerial parts, IC₅₀: 4.25±0.06 μg/ml) showed more potent inhibitory activity approximately 8-24 fold) than the positive control aminoguanidine.

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) have been postulated to play a central role in the development of diabetic complications. A variety of different agents that inhibit AGEs have been under investigation. In this study, 111 herbal medicines from China have been investigated with an in vitro evaluation system using AGEs formation inhibitory activity. Of these, 9 herbal medicines (IC₅₀: <5 μg/ml) were found to have significant AGEs formation inhibitory activity. Particularly, herbal medicines Barleria cristata (leaves), Calotropis gigantea (stems), Ardisia virens (leaves), Dalbergia yunnanensis (leaves) Pittosporum runcatum (leaves), Ardisia japonica (leaves), Rhododendron racemosum (twigs), Oxyria sinensiss (aerial parts), Pyrrosia calvata (whole plants), showed more potent inhibitory activity (approximately 15-40 fold) than the positive control aminoguanidine (IC₅₀: 76.47 μg/ml).

In this study, 80 herbal medicines from Vietnam have been investigated with an in vitro evaluation system using advanced glycation end products (AGEs) formation inhibitory activity. Of these, 10 herbal medicines (IC₅₀: <5 μg/ml) were found to have significant AGEs formation inhibitory activity. Particularly, herbal medicines Strobilanthes pateriformis (aerial parts), Rhodamnia dumetorum (twigs), Glochidion rubrum (twigs), Dipterocarpus obtusifolius (twigs), Bombax ceiba (twigs), Amesiodendron chinense (twigs), Bauhinia coccinea (twigs), Lithocarpus laouanensis (twigs), Bauhinia bracteata (twigs) and Connarus paniculatus (twigs), showed more potent inhibitory activity (approximately 16-31 fold) than the positive control aminoguanidine (IC₅₀: 76.47 μg/ml).