This study was performed to find anti-inflammatory or antitumor compounds from the polar fraction obtained from the extract of Clinopodium chinense var. shibetchense (H. Lev) Koidz (Labiatae). Chromatography of the BuOH fraction yielded two flavonoid glycosides (compounds 1 and 2) and two saponins (compounds 3 and 4). On the basis of spectroscopic data, compounds 1 and 2 were identified to be ponciretin 7-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→6)-α-D-glucopyranoside (neoponcirin) and naringenin 7-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→6)-α-D-glucopyranoside (isonaringin). Compounds 3 and 4 were identified to be 3-O-{β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-[β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)]-β-D-fucopyranosyl}-saikogenin F (buddlejasaponin IV) and 3-O-{β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-[β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)]-β-D-fucopyranosyl}-21β-hydroxysaikogenin F (clinoposaponin XV). In addition, ursolic acid (5) was isolated and identified from the CHCl₃ fraction. Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) assay and sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay were performed to lead a potential anti-inflammatory or anti-tumor compounds from C. chinense var. shibetchense. Of the four compounds (1 - 4), compound 3 considerably inhibited cancer cell growth and NO production (IC₅₀s, 5.59 μM in iNOS assay and 6.62 - 14.88 μM in SRB assay).

The extract of Cudrania tricuspidata is used in ethnomedicine throughout Eastern Asia in China, Korea and Japan. In Korean traditional medicine, Cudrania tricuspidata has been used to treat eczema, mumps, tuberculosis, contusions, insomnia and acute arthritis. In addition, it has been reported that root extract of Cudrania tricuspidata has anti-platelet effects. Therefore, we investigated which compound in Cudrania tricuspidata has inhibitory effect on platelet aggregation. In this study, we tried to explain the inhibitory mechanism of steppogenin from Cudrania tricuspidata on human platelet aggregation. Collagen-induced human platelet aggregation and [Ca²⁺]_i mobilization were dose-dependently inhibited by steppogenin and we determined the inhibition by steppogenin is due to the down regulation of extracellular-signal-regulated kinase(ERK) and inositol-1,4,5-triphosphate receptor type I(IP₃RI) phosphorylation. In addition, steppogenin inhibited collagen-induced fibronectin adhesion to αIIb/β3 and thromboxane A₂ generation. Thus, in the present study, steppogenin showed an inhibitory effect on human platelet aggregation, suggesting its potential use for preventing platelet-induced cardiovascular disease.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder on the large intestine that has been considered as an incurable not only in Western society but also in Eastern Asia in recent years. Despite enormous efforts to develop novel therapeutics for this disease, strategy using bioactive compounds from natural product is still considered as important. p-hydroxycinnamic acid (HCA) is an intermediate substance found in several plants and has been known to possess anti-inflammation but little evidence is reported whether HCA has an inhibitory effect on intestinal inflammation. In the present study, we observed HCA does not show cytotoxic and apoptotic in HT-29 cells. Quantitative PCR analysis revealed that HCA effectively blocks the activity of HT-29 cells stimulated with TNF-α treatment. HCA inhibits translocation of p65 and MAPK pathways in activated HT-29 cells by TNF-α treatment. Besides, oral administration of HCA attenuates manifestation of DSS-induced inflammatory disease in vivo. Histological analysis exhibited that oral administration of HCA recovers IBD symptoms. The expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines were reduced by oral administration of HCA on intestinal tissues. Therefore, these results suggest that HCA has a potent anti-inflammatory effect on intestinal cells as well as show a therapeutic potential for treating IBD in vivo.

Caenorhabditis elegans model system was used to investigate the antioxidant activity of methanol extract of Mallotus japonicus twigs. The ethyl acetate soluble fraction of the M. japonicus methanol extract showed the best DPPH radical scavenging activity. The ethyl acetate fraction was measured for the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and oxidative stress tolerance by using C. elegans along with reactive oxygen species (ROS) level. In addition, to confirm that the regulation of the stress response gene is responsible for the increased stress tolerance of C. elegans treated by the ethyl acetate fraction, SOD-3 expression was measured using a transgenic strain. As a result, the ethyl acetate fraction increased SOD and catalase activity, and decreased ROS accumulation in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, the ethyl acetate fraction-treated CF1553 worm showed higher SOD-3::GFP intensity than the control worm.

To investigate the anti-inflammatory effect on Degenerative Osteoarthritis, Male sprague-Dawley rats were randomized and classified into three different concentration groups. We measured weekly weight change, dietary intake, drinking water intake, blood analysis like TNF-α (tumor necrosis factor-α), IL-6 (interleukin 6), TIMP-1 (tissue inhibitor of metalloprotease-1), MMP-2 (matrix metalloprotease-2), MMP-9 (matrix metalloprotease-9) and micro CT analysis. The results suggest that the treatment with herbal complex HP-04 improved the Monosodium iodoacetate (MIA) induced degenerative osteoarthritis and it could be applicable for the improvement of arthritic symptoms as a new therapeutic agent.

Ultraviolet (UV)-induced damage plays a major role in ocular diseases, such as cataracts and retinal degeneration. UV irradiation can generate free radicals including reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are known to cause lipid peroxidation of cellular membranes. It has also been shown that UV can damage DNA directly and induce apoptosis. Rhynchosia volubilis Loureiro (the small black bean or yak-kong, RV) and Beta bulgaris (beet, BB) are used as health supplements. In this study, we explored the protective effects of RV and BB against UVA-induced damage in human pigment epithelial (ARPE-19) cells and in mice. RV and BB mixture and their effective constituents (cyanidin, delphidin, petunidin glycosides) improved cell viability and suppressed intracelluar ROS generation. Phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), Erk1/2 was analyzed by immunoblotting. RV and BB mixture inhibited UVA-induced phosphorylation of p38 MAPK, JNK, Erk1/2 in APRE-19 cells. RV and BB treatment also showed protective effects on ocular damage in UVA-irradiated mice by increasing the levels of endogenous antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase and glutathione. RV and BB have the potential to be used in a range of ocular diseases and conditions, based on in vitro and in vivo study.

The leaves of Diospyros kaki Thunb. were used to treat heart disease and hypotension in traditionally East Asia. The purpose of this study is to simultaneously quantitiative analyze the content of flavonoids in leaves of D. kaki. The isolated flavonoids from the leaves of D. kaki, and the structure of the isolated flavonoids were analyzed based on ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectrum compared to literature data. Simultaneous quantitative analysis of the isolated flavonoids was validated using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results showed that the calibration curves of the flavonoid compounds were confirmed that they have a large linearity with a correlation coefficient (R²) of 0.99. In the intra-day and inter-day analysis, accuracy and precision of five compounds were measured that accuracy was 94.39 to 114.47% and precision was less than 3.00%. Content analysis showed hyperoside (1.30 ± 0.09%), astragalin (0.81 ± 0.06%), trifoline (1.58 ± 0.07%), quercetin (0.13 ± 0.02%) and kaempferol (1.33 ± 0.25%).

Amomum Tsao-ko used as a traditional oriental herbal medicine, is indigenous to several Asia countries. This study was carried out to investigate the contamination by Benzo(a)pyrene in Amomum Tsao-ko Fruit of Medicinal Herbs. 20 samples of Amomum Tsao-ko Fruit were evaluated for the Benzo(a)pyrene contamination. They were analyzed for Benzo(a)pyrene using high-performance liquid chromatogrphy(HPLC)-fluorescence detection and the positive samples were confirmed using gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. The levels of Benzo(a)pyrene were from 9.2 to 95.5 ㎍/kg and the average was 40.6 ㎍/kg. There are no Benzo(a)pyrene standards for Amomum Tsao-ko Fruit of Medicinal Herbs. These data will be used as a basic data for the future legislation on the regulation and control of benzo(a)pyrene of Amomum Tsao-ko Fruit of Medicinal Herbs.