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Artemisia argyi is widely used as traditional medicine in East Asia. However, its effects against inflammation and gastric ulcers have not been reported yet. We analyzed anti-inflammatory activity and its molecular mechanisms of A. argyi using RAW264.7 cells line, then evaluated the curative efficacy in rats with acute gastric ulcers. Nitric oxide and IL-6 production was measured using Griess reagent and an ELISA kit. Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), interleukin (IL)-6, and mucin (MUC)1, MUC5AC, and MUC6 mRNA were determined by SYBR Green or Taqman qRT-PCR methods. The phosphorylation of ERK, JNK, p38, and c-Jun protein were detected by western blotting. RW0117 inhibited LPS-induced NO and IL-6 production. The mRNA levels of iNOS and IL-6 were strongly suppressed. The phosphorylation of ERK, JNK, and c-Jun decreased by treatment with RW0117. Oral administration of RW0117 recovered the amount of mucin mRNA and protein level that was decreased due to gastric ulcers by HCl-EtOH. A. argyi exhibited strong anti-inflammatory effects and contributed to the modulation of HCl-EtOH-induced gastric ulcer in rats.

This observational study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of pegteograstim prophylaxis in patients with lymphoma and solid malignancies. This study was conducted at 18 sites in Korea between November 2015 and August 2018. In total, 611 patients (female, 61.2%) with a median age of 58 (range, 18–88) years were included. Most patients had lymphomas (n = 371, 60.7%) and breast cancer (n = 230, 37.6%) and were administered R-CHOP21 (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone per 21 days) (n = 284, 46.5%) and AC (doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide) (n = 177, 29.0%). The total pegteograstim dose in the 611 patients was 14,970 mg (2495 doses), with each patient receiving an average daily dose of 6.0 mg. Neutropenia grade 4 occurred in 97 patients (15.9%), and febrile neutropenia (FN) occurred in 31 patients (5.1%). Among the 611 patients, 267 patients (43.7%) developed 882 adverse events (AEs), and 11 patients (1.8%) experienced 18 adverse drug reactions (ADRs). There were 62 patients (10.2%) who experienced 81 cases of serious adverse events (SAEs), with FN and pneumonia being the most frequent at 14 and 13 episodes, respectively, in 13 patients (2.1%). Meanwhile, 1 patient (0.2%) developed 2 episodes of serious ADRs (grade 1 and grade 2 hypotension). No safety concerns in the elderly and patients with liver and/or renal disease were identified. The prophylactic use of pegteograstim might have good overall safety and efficacy in patients with lymphomas and solid malignancies in routine clinical practice, even in those who are elderly and have liver and renal diseases.

We aimed to investigate the prognostic influence of primary tumor site on the survival of patients with breast cancer.Data of 63,388 patients with primary breast cancer from the Korean Breast Cancer Registry were analyzed. Primary tumor sites were classified into 5 groups: upper outer quadrant, lower outer quadrant, upper inner quadrant, lower inner quadrant (LIQ), and central portion. We analyzed overall survival (OS) and breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS) according to primary tumor site.Central portion and LIQ showed lower survival rates regarding both OS and BCSS compared with the other 3 quadrants (all P .05) and hazard ratios were 1.267 (95% CI, 1.180-1.360, P .001) and 1.215 (95% CI, 1.097-1.345, P .001), respectively. Although central portion showed more unfavorable clinicopathologic features, LIQ showed more favorable features than the other 3 quadrants. Primary tumor site was a significant factor in univariate and multivariate analyses for OS and BCSS (all P .001). For lymph node-negative patients, LIQ showed a worse OS than the other primary tumor sites in the subgroup with no chemotherapy (P .001), but that effect disappeared in the subgroup with chemotherapy (P = .058).LIQ showed a worse prognosis despite having more favorable clinicopathologic features than other tumor locations and it was more prominent for lymph node-negative patients who received no chemotherapy. The hypothesis of possible hidden internal mammary node metastasis could be suggested to play a key role in LIQ lesions.

Context: Antiacetylcholinesterase (AChE) drugs have been a main therapeutic treatment for Alzheimer’s disease because increased AChE levels play a key role in reducing neurotransmission. Objectives: Extracts from 35 Korean plants were selected and screened for antioxidant and anti-cholinesterase activity to explore new sources derived from Korean natural resources that could be used as AD therapeutic agents. Materials and methods: The antioxidant effect of extracts from 35 selected Korean plants was determined using two most common free radical scavenging assays using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS). Additionally, the effect of extracts, identified as antioxidants, on acetylcholinesterase inhibition was assessed by an acetylcholinesterase assay kit. Results: Out of 36 extracts of 35 plants tested, Oenothera biennis L. (9.09 μg/mL), Saururus chinensis (Lour.) Baill. (9.52 μg/mL) and Betula platyphylla var. japonica (9.85 μg/mL) showed strong DPPH scavenging activity. Twelve other extracts also exerted moderate free radical scavenging activities with IC50 values ranging from 10 to 50 μg/mL. Antioxidant capacity detected by ABTS assay was only significant in O. biennis (23.40 μg/mL), while the other extracts were weak or unable to reduce the production of ABTS. Based on the antioxidant activities of these plant extracts, 19 extracts with IC50 values less than 100 μg/mL in DPPH assay were selected for further AChE inhibition assay. Among the extracts tested, the IC50 value for Prunella vulgaris var. lilacina NAKAI (18.83 μg/mL) in AChE inhibitory activity was the lowest, followed by O. biennis (20.09 μg/mL) and Pharbitis nil Chosy (22.79 μg/mL). Conclusions: Considering complex multifactorial etiology of AD, the extracts of P. vulgaris var. lilacina (aerial part), O. biennis (seed) and P. nil (seed) may be safe and ideal candidates for future AD modifying therapies.

Background: Melissa officinalis L. is a well-known medicinal plant from the family Lamiaceae, which is distributed throughout Eastern Mediterranean region and Western Asia. Objective: In this study, response surface methodology (RSM) was utilized to optimize the extraction conditions for bioactive compounds from the leaves of M. officinalis L. Materials and Methods: A Box–Behnken design (BBD) was utilized to evaluate the effects of three independent variables, namely extraction temperature (°C), methanol concentration (%), and solvent-to-material ratio (mL/g) on the responses of the contents of caffeic acid and rosmarinic acid. Results: Regression analysis showed a good fit of the experimental data. The optimal condition was obtained at extraction temperature 80.53°C, methanol concentration 29.89%, and solvent-to-material ratio 30 mL/g. Conclusion: These results indicate the suitability of the model employed and the successful application of RSM in optimizing the extraction conditions. This study may be useful for standardizing production quality, including improving the efficiency of large-scale extraction systems. SUMMARY The optimum conditions for the extraction of major phenolic acids from the leaves of Melissa officinalis L. were determined using response surface methodologyBox–Behnken design was utilized to evaluate the effects of three independent variablesQuadratic polynomial model provided a satisfactory description of the experimental dataThe optimized condition for simultaneous maximum contents of caffeic acid and rosmarinic acid was determined. Abbreviations used: RSM: Response surface methodology, BBD: Box–Behnken design, CA: Caffeic acid, RA: Rosmarinic acid, HPLC: High-performance liquid chromatography.

The root bark of Ulmus davidiana var. japonica (Ulmaceae), commonly known as yugeunpi, has been used as a traditional Korean medicine for the treatment of gastroenteric and inflammatory disorders. As part of continuing projects to discover bioactive natural products from traditional medicinal plants with pharmacological potential, phytochemical investigation of the root bark of this plant was carried out. This led to the successful isolation of a new chromane derivative (1) and 22 known compounds: catechin derivatives (2–5), megastigmane glycoside (6), dihydrochalcone glycosides (7 and 8), flavanone glycosides (9 and 10), coumarins (11 and 12), lignan derivatives (13–17), and phenolic compounds (18–23). The structure of the new compound (1) was determined with 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy and HR-ESIMS, and its absolute configurations were achieved by chemical reactions and the gauge-including atomic orbital (GIAO) NMR chemical shifts calculations. All the isolated compounds were evaluated for their potential biological activities including neuro-protective, anti-neuroinflammatory, and anti-Helicobacter pylori activities. Among the isolates, compounds 1, 8, and 20 displayed stronger potency by causing a greater increase in the production and the activity of nerve growth factor (NGF) in C6 glioma cells (147.04 ± 4.87, 206.27 ± 6.70, and 143.70 ± 0.88%, respectively), whereas compounds 11, 14, and 19 inhibited nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated murine microglial cells (IC50 of 18.72, 12.31, and, 21.40 µM, respectively). In addition, compounds 1, 11, 18, and 20 showed anti-H. pylori activity with MIC values of 25 or 50 µM against two strains of H. pylori 51 and 43504. These findings provide scientific evidence that supports the traditional usage of U. davidiana var. japonica root bark in the treatment of gastroenteric and inflammatory disorders.

Eleven new triterpene saponins (1-11), together with fourteen known triterpene and triterpene saponins (12-25) were isolated from a MeOH extract of Pleurospermum kamtschaticum HOFFMANN (Umbelliferae). The chemical structures of the new compounds (1-11) were determined by means of MS, (1)H-NMR, (13)C-NMR, correlated spectroscopy (COSY), heteronuclear multiple bond correlation (HMBC), total correlated spectroscopy (TOCSY) and nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy (NOESY) to be pleurosaponin A (1)-K (11). The isolated compounds were tested for their cytotoxicity against four human tumor cell lines (A549, SK-OV-3, SK-MEL-2, HCT15) in vitro using the sulforhodamine B bioassay (SRB) assay. All compounds showed little cytotoxicity against tested cell lines (IC(50) >30 µM).

The purification of a MeOH extract from the rhizome of Acorus gramineus (Araceae) using column chromatography furnished two new stereoisomers of phenylpropanoid, acoraminol A (1) and acoraimol B (2). It also furnished 17 known phenolic compounds, β-asarone (3), asaraldehyde (4), isoacoramone (5), propioveratrone (6), (1'R,2'S)-1',2'-dihydroxyasarone (7), (1'S,2'S)-1',2'-dihydroxyasarone (8), 3',4'-dimethoxycinnamyl alcohol (9), 3',4',5'-trimethoxycinnamyl alcohol (10), kaempferol 3-methyl ether (11), 2-[4-(3-hydroxypropyl)-2-methoxyphenoxy]-1,3-propanediol (12), hydroxytyrosol (13), tyrosol (14), (2S,5S)-diveratryl-(3R,4S)-dimethyltetrahydrofuran (15), (7S,8R)-dihydrodehydrodiconiferyl alcohol (16), 7S,8S-threo-4,7,9,9'-tetrahydroxy-3,3'-dimethoxy-8-O-4'-neolignan (17), 7S,8R-erythro-4,7,9,9'-tetrahydroxy-3,3'-dimethoxy-8-O-4'-neolignan (18), and dihydroyashsbushiketol (19). The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by analysis of spectroscopic data including 1D and 2D NMR data. The absolute configurations of 1 and 2 were determined using the convenient Mosher ester procedure. Compounds 5-19 were isolated for the first time from this plant source. The isolated compounds were tested for cytotoxicity against four human tumor cell lines in vitro using a Sulforhodamine B (SRB) bioassay.

Chemical investigation of the tubers of Corydalis ternata resulted in the isolation and characterization of four new benzylisoquinoline alkaloids, epi-coryximine (1) and coryternatines A-C (2-4), along with 10 known alkaloids (5-14). Their structures were established on the basis of extensive spectroscopic data analyses and comparison with spectroscopic data reported. In addition, the cytotoxicities of the alkaloids (1-14) were evaluated by determining their inhibitory effects on several human tumor cell lines (A549, SK-OV-3, SK-MEL-2, and HCT-15) using the SRB assay. Compound 8 showed significant cytotoxicity against A549, SK-OV-3, SK-MEL-2, and HCT-15 cell lines (IC(50)=8.34, 5.14, 7.87, and 2.86 microM, respectively). The four new compounds (1-4) exhibited selective cytotoxicity against the HCT-15 cell line.

Prunella vulgaris var. lilacina is widely distributed in Korea, Japan, China, and Europe, and its flowers are used to treat inflammation in traditional Chinese medicine. In the present study, we studied the effects of the ethanolic extract of the flower of P. vulgaris var. lilacina (EEPV) on drug-induced learning and memory impairment using the passive avoidance, the Y-maze, and the Morris water maze tasks in mice. EEPV (25 or 50 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly ameliorated scopolamine-induced cognitive impairments in the passive avoidance and Y-maze tasks (P

Background: Melissa officinalis L. is a well-known medicinal plant from the family Lamiaceae, which is distributed throughout Eastern Mediterranean region and Western Asia. Objective: In this study, response surface methodology (RSM) was utilized to optimize the extraction conditions for bioactive compounds from the leaves of M. officinalis L. Materials and Methods: A Box–Behnken design (BBD) was utilized to evaluate the effects of three independent variables, namely extraction temperature (°C), methanol concentration (%), and solvent-to-material ratio (mL/g) on the responses of the contents of caffeic acid and rosmarinic acid. Results: Regression analysis showed a good fit of the experimental data. The optimal condition was obtained at extraction temperature 80.53°C, methanol concentration 29.89%, and solvent-to-material ratio 30 mL/g. Conclusion: These results indicate the suitability of the model employed and the successful application of RSM in optimizing the extraction conditions. This study may be useful for standardizing production quality, including improving the efficiency of large-scale extraction systems. Abbreviations used: RSM: Response surface methodology, BBD: Box–Behnken design, CA: Caffeic acid, RA: Rosmarinic acid, HPLC: High-performance liquid chromatography.

From the MeOH extract of Ilex cornuta Lindley (Aquifoliaceae), four new triterpene saponins (I-IV) together with 13 known triterpenoids are isolated and their structures are elucidated via chemical and spectroscopic methods.

E-mail: krlee@skku.ac.krReceived June 10, 2012, Accepted July 14, 2012Key Words : Sinomenium acutum , Menispermaceae, Aporphine alkaloidSinomenium acutum Rehder et Wilson (Menispermaceae)is a deciduous shrub grown in Asia, particularly in Japan,China, and Korea. The stems and roots of the plant are wide-ly used to treat various rheumatic diseases, allergy, dropsy,dermatophytosis, and acesodyne in traditional Chineseprescriptions.

All melting points were determined on a Gallenkamp melting point apparatus and are uncorrected. Optical rotations were measured on a JASCO P-1020 Polari-meter. UV spectra were obtained using a Shimadzu UV-1601 UV/Visible spectrophotometer (Shimadzu Co.). NMR spectra were recorded on a Varian UNITY INOVA 500 NMR and Bruker Avance 500 NMR spectrometer. FAB-MS data were obtained on a JEOL JMS700 mass spectrometer. Preparative HPLC was performed using a Gilson 306 pump, Shodex refractive index detector, and either an Apollo silica 5µ column (250 × 22 mm) or an Econosil

Macrolepiota neomastoidea Hongo (Agaricaceae) is a poisonous mushroom, which is widely distributed throughout Korea and other East Asian countries. M. neomastoidea has been known to cause severe gastrointestinal symptoms including intestinal irritation, vomiting and profuse diarrhea. To the best of our knowledge, the active principles of this mushroom are unknown except for two compounds, lepiotins A and lepiotins B. Therefore, as part of our systematic study of Korean toxic mushrooms, we investigated the constituents of M. neomastoidea collected at Mt. Jiri, Namwon of Jeonbuk province, in Korea in November, 2005. Half dried aerial parts of M. neomastoidea were extracted with 80% aqueous MeOH at room temperature. The concentrated MeOH extract was partitioned with n-hexane, CHCl3 and nBuOH. Purification of the n-BuOH fraction by repeated column chromatography furnished four γ-lactam pyrrolidinone alkaloids, lepiotins A (1), lepiotins B (2), lepiotins C (3) and (R)-5-hydroxypyrrolidin-2-one (4). Although compound 3 has previously been reported as a synthetic compound, here we have isolated it for the first time from a natural source and named it lepiotins C. Moreover, the spectral data of isolated lepiotins C (3) were little different from those of synthetic compound. Lepiotins A (1) and lepiotins B (2) were isolated from this mushroom by Tomihisa et al., but their absolute configurations of these compounds at C-5 were not clarified. The structures of the isolated metabolites, Lepiotins A (1), lepiotins B (2) and (R)-5-hydroxypyrrolidin-2-one (4) were determined by comparison of spectral data with those reported previously. The compound 4 was for the first time isolated from this mushroom. This paper describes the isolation and structure elucidation of compound 3, as well as the determination of absolute configurations of 1 and 2 by the convenient Mosher’s method and Circular Dichroism (CD) study. Compound 3 was obtained as a colorless gum, which tested positive against Dragendorff reagent. Its molecular formula was determined to be C10H11NO2 from the [M + H] peak at m/z 178.0866 (C10H12NO2, calcd. for 178.0868) in the positive-ion high resolution (HR)-FAB-MS spectrum. The IR spectrum indicated that 3 possessed hydroxyl (3443 cm−1) and carbonyl (1662 cm−1) groups. The H-NMR spectrum (Table 1) of 3 displayed signals for the presence of two methylene groups at δH: 1.89-1.98 (2H, m) and at δH: 2.42-2.45 (2H, t, J = 7.0 Hz), and one methylene group adjacent to the nitrogen function at δH: 3.21-3.23 (2H, t, J = 7.0 Hz). The Hand C-NMR spectra of 3 exhibited signals for two sets of methine groups (δH/δC; 6.67/114.9, 7.35/120.8) on a 1,4-disubstituted aromatic ring (Figure 1). The C-NMR spectrum displayed ten carbon signals, composed of a carbonyl carbon of amide, one benzene ring, and three methylene carbons (Table 1). The C-NMR resonances were similar to those of the related alkaloid, lepiotins A (1), except for the replacement of the hydroxylated methine group at C-5 (δC: 87.3) in 1 with the methylene group at C-5

Eleven new triterpene saponins (1-11), together with fourteen known triterpene and triterpene saponins (12-25) were isolated from a MeOH extract of Pleurospermum kamtschaticum HOFFMANN (Umbelliferae). The chemical structures of the new compounds (1-11) were determined by means of MS, (1)H-NMR, (13)C-NMR, correlated spectroscopy (COSY), heteronuclear multiple bond correlation (HMBC), total correlated spectroscopy (TOCSY) and nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy (NOESY) to be pleurosaponin A (1)-K (11). The isolated compounds were tested for their cytotoxicity against four human tumor cell lines (A549, SK-OV-3, SK-MEL-2, HCT15) in vitro using the sulforhodamine B bioassay (SRB) assay. All compounds showed little cytotoxicity against tested cell lines (IC(50)30 µM).

The three new compounds, named komaroveside A (I), B (II), and C (III) are isolated together with eight known compounds.

Three new megastigmane glucopyranosides, komaroveside A [(3S,4R,5Z,7E)-3,4-dihydroxy-5,7-megastigmadien-9-one-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside] (1), komaroveside B [(3S,4S,5S,6R,7E)-5,6-epoxy-3,4-dihydroxy-7-megastigmen-9-one-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside] (2) and komaroveside C [(3S,4S,5S,6R,7E,9S)-5,6-epoxy-3,4,9-trihydroxy-7-megastigmen-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside] (3) were isolated, together with eight known compounds, from Cardamine komarovii. The identification of these compounds and the elucidation of their structures were based on 1D- and 2D-NMR spectral data analysis. The isolated compounds were tested for their cytotoxicity against four human tumor cell lines (A549, SK-OV-3, SK-MEL-2, HCT15) in vitro using the sulforhodamine B bioassay.

Two new triterpene glycosides, coryternic acid 3-O-β-D-glucuronopyranoside (1) and coryternic acid 3-O-β-D-glucuronopyranoside-6'-O-methyl ester (2), were isolated from a MeOH extract of the tubers of Corydalis ternata. Acidic hydrolysis of 1 and 2 yielded a new triterpene as their aglycone, coryternic acid (3). The structures of these new compounds were determined through spectral analysis, including extensive 2D-NMR data. In this study we reported that triterpenoids were first isolated from the genus Corydalis. Compound 2 exhibited significant cytotoxicity against the A549, SK-OV-3, SK-MEL-2, and HCT-15 cell lines (IC50 = 15.16, 17.07, 13.32, and 11.95 µM, respectively) and significantly reduced NO production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated microglia/BV-2 cells with an IC50 value of 16.2 µM without cell toxicity.

Purification of a MeOH extract from the aerial parts of Hylomecon vernalis Maxim. (Papaveraceae) using column chromatography furnished a new acetylated flavonol glycoside (1), together with twenty known phenolic compounds (2–21). Structural elucidation of 1 was based on 1D- and 2D-NMR spectroscopy data analysis to be quercetin 3-O-[4‴-O-acetyl-α-L-arabinopyranosyl]-(1‴→6″)-β-D-galactopyranoside (1). The structures of compounds 2–21 were elucidated by spectroscopy and confirmed by comparison with reported data; quercetin 3-O-[2‴-O-acetyl-α-L-arabinopyranosyl]-(1‴→6″)-β -D-galactopyranoside (2), quercetin 3-O-α-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1‴→6″)-β-D-galactopyranoside (3), quercetin 3-O-β -D-galactopyranoside (4), kaempferol 3,7-O-α-L-dirhamnopyranoside (5), diosmetin 7-O-β -D-glucopyranoside (6), diosmetin 7-O-β -D-xylopyranosyl-(1‴→6″)-β-D-glucopyranoside (7), p-hydroxybenzoic acid (8), protocatechuic acid (9), caffeic acid (10), 6-hydroxy-3,4-dihydro-1-oxo-β -carboline (11), (Z)-3-hexenyl-β -D-glucopyranoside (12), (E)-2-hexenyl-β -D-glucopyranoside (13), (Z)-3-hexenyl-α-Larabinopyranosyl-(1″→6′)-β-D-glucopyranoside (14), oct-1-en-3-yl-α-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1″→6′)-β-D-glucopyranoside (15), benzyl-β-D-apiofuranosyl-(1″→6′)-β-D-glucopyranoside (16), benzyl-α-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1″→6′)-β-D-glucopyranoside (17), benzyl-β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1″→6′)-β-Dglucopyranoside (18), 2-phenylethyl-α-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1″→6′)-β-D-glucopyranoside (19), 2-phenylethyl-β-D-apiofuranosyl-(1″→6′)-β-D-glucopyranoside (20), and aryl-β-D-glucopyranoside (21). Compounds 2-21 were isolated for the first time from this plant. The isolated compounds were tested for cytotoxicity against four human tumor cell lines in vitro using a Sulforhodamin B bioassay.

The new alkaloids epi-coryximine (Ib), coryternatine A (Ia) together with both enantiomers of (II), named coryternatine B and C, are isolated along with several known alkaloids from the title plant.

All melting points were determined on a Gallenkamp melting point apparatus and are uncorrected. Optical rotations were measured on a JASCO P-1020 Polari-meter. UV spectra were obtained using a Shimadzu UV-1601 UV/Visible spectrophotometer (Shimadzu Co.). NMR spectra were recorded on a Varian UNITY INOVA 500 NMR and Bruker Avance 500 NMR spectrometer. FAB-MS data were obtained on a JEOL JMS700 mass spectrometer. Preparative HPLC was performed using a Gilson 306 pump, Shodex refractive index detector, and either an Apollo silica 5µ column (250 × 22 mm) or an Econosil

Spinasterol, which is isolated from the aerial parts of Aster scaber Thunb. (Asteraceae), is involved in various biological activities. In this study, we report the efficacy of spinasterol in effectively modulating the regulation of antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activity through the upregulation of heme oxygenase (HO)-1 in murine hippocampal HT22 cells and BV2 microglia. We showed that spinasterol increased the cellular resistance of HT22 cells to oxidative injury caused by the glutamate-induced cytotoxicity by extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway-dependent expression of HO-1. Furthermore, spinasterol suppressed the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced expression of pro-inflammatory enzymes and inflammatory mediators in BV2 microglia. Spinasterol also suppressed the production of nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 (PGE₂), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) through extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway-dependent expression of HO-1. These results suggest that spinasterol has a therapeutic potential against neurodegenerative diseases that are caused by oxidative stress and neuroinflammation.

Two new sesquiterpene glucosides, 1(R),4β-dihydroxy-trans-eudesm- 6-ene-1-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (1) and 1(R),4β-dihydroxy-trans-eudesm-7-ene- 1-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (2), together with six other known compounds, were isolated from the flowers of Gymnaster koraiensis (Nakai) Kitamura (Compositae). The identification and structural elucidation of these compounds were based on 1D- and 2D-NMR spectral data analysis. The absolute configurations of 1 and 2 were determined by a convenient Mosher ester procedure carried out in NMR tube.

Three new benzamide derivatives, N-{[ P-(3,7-dimethyl-6 R,7-dihydroxy-4 R-octadecanoyloxy-2-octenyloxy)phenyl]ethyl} benzamide (1), N-{[ P-(3,7-dimethyl-6 R,7-dihydroxy-4 R-9'''( E)-octadecenoyloxy-2-octenyloxy)phenyl]ethyl} benzamide (2), and N-{[ P-(3,7-dimethyl-6 R,7-epoxy-4 R-9'''( E)-octadecenoyloxy-2-octenyloxy)phenyl]ethyl} benzamide (3), together with 10 known compounds (4-13), were isolated from the bark of Limonia acidissima. The structures of these new compounds were determined through spectral analyses, including extensive 2D NMR data. Among the isolates, 13 alpha,14 beta,17 alpha-lanosta-7,9,24-triene-3 beta,16 alpha-diol (8), 4-methoxy-1-methyl-2(1 H)-quinolinone (10), and 13 alpha,14 beta,17 alpha-lanosta-7,24-diene-3 beta,11 beta,16 alpha-triol (13) potently inhibited nitric oxide (NO) production in microglia cells.

Macrolepiota neomastoidea Hongo (Agaricaceae) is a poisonous mushroom, which is widely distributed throughout Korea and other East Asian countries. M. neomastoidea has been known to cause severe gastrointestinal symptoms including intestinal irritation, vomiting and profuse diarrhea. To the best of our knowledge, the active principles of this mushroom are unknown except for two compounds, lepiotins A and lepiotins B. Therefore, as part of our systematic study of Korean toxic mushrooms, we investigated the constituents of M. neomastoidea collected at Mt. Jiri, Namwon of Jeonbuk province, in Korea in November, 2005. Half dried aerial parts of M. neomastoidea were extracted with 80% aqueous MeOH at room temperature. The concentrated MeOH extract was partitioned with n-hexane, CHCl3 and nBuOH. Purification of the n-BuOH fraction by repeated column chromatography furnished four γ-lactam pyrrolidinone alkaloids, lepiotins A (1), lepiotins B (2), lepiotins C (3) and (R)-5-hydroxypyrrolidin-2-one (4). Although compound 3 has previously been reported as a synthetic compound, here we have isolated it for the first time from a natural source and named it lepiotins C. Moreover, the spectral data of isolated lepiotins C (3) were little different from those of synthetic compound. Lepiotins A (1) and lepiotins B (2) were isolated from this mushroom by Tomihisa et al., but their absolute configurations of these compounds at C-5 were not clarified. The structures of the isolated metabolites, Lepiotins A (1), lepiotins B (2) and (R)-5-hydroxypyrrolidin-2-one (4) were determined by comparison of spectral data with those reported previously. The compound 4 was for the first time isolated from this mushroom. This paper describes the isolation and structure elucidation of compound 3, as well as the determination of absolute configurations of 1 and 2 by the convenient Mosher’s method and Circular Dichroism (CD) study. Compound 3 was obtained as a colorless gum, which tested positive against Dragendorff reagent. Its molecular formula was determined to be C10H11NO2 from the [M + H] peak at m/z 178.0866 (C10H12NO2, calcd. for 178.0868) in the positive-ion high resolution (HR)-FAB-MS spectrum. The IR spectrum indicated that 3 possessed hydroxyl (3443 cm−1) and carbonyl (1662 cm−1) groups. The H-NMR spectrum (Table 1) of 3 displayed signals for the presence of two methylene groups at δH: 1.89-1.98 (2H, m) and at δH: 2.42-2.45 (2H, t, J = 7.0 Hz), and one methylene group adjacent to the nitrogen function at δH: 3.21-3.23 (2H, t, J = 7.0 Hz). The Hand C-NMR spectra of 3 exhibited signals for two sets of methine groups (δH/δC; 6.67/114.9, 7.35/120.8) on a 1,4-disubstituted aromatic ring (Figure 1). The C-NMR spectrum displayed ten carbon signals, composed of a carbonyl carbon of amide, one benzene ring, and three methylene carbons (Table 1). The C-NMR resonances were similar to those of the related alkaloid, lepiotins A (1), except for the replacement of the hydroxylated methine group at C-5 (δC: 87.3) in 1 with the methylene group at C-5

The column chromatographic separation of the MeOH extract from the aerial parts of Prunella vulgaris var. lilacina Nakai led to the isolation of fifteen triterpenoic acids (2-6, 9-13, 16-20), four flavonoids (14, 21-23), four phenolics (7, 8, 15, 24), and a diterpene (1). Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods to be trans-phytol (1), oleanic acid (2) ursolic acid (3), 2alpha,3alpha,19alpha-trihydroxyurs-12en-28oic acid (4), 2alpha,3alpha-dihydroxyurs-12en-28oic acid (5), maslinic acid (6), caffeic acid (7), phydroxy cinnamic acid (8), 2alpha,3alpha,19alpha,23-tetrahydroxyurs-12en-28oic acid (9), 2alpha,3alpha,23-trihydroxyurs-12en-28oic acid (10), 2alpha,3beta-dihydroxyurs-12en-28oic acid (11), 2alpha,3beta,24-trihydroxyolea-12en-28oic acid (12), (12R, 13S)-2alpha,3alpha,24,trihydroxy-12,13-cyclo-taraxer-14-en-28oic acid (13), quercertin 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (14), rosmarinic acid (15), 2alpha,3alpha,24-trihydroxyurs-12,20(30)-dien-28oic acid (16), 2alpha,3alpha,24-trihydroxyolea-12en-28oic acid (17), 2alpha,3beta,19alpha,24-tetrahydroxyurs-12en-28oic acid 28-O-Dglucopyranoside (18), 2alpha,3alpha,19alpha,24-tetrahydroxyurs-12en-28oic acid 28-O-D-glucopyranoside (19), prunvuloside A (20), kaempferol 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopranoside (21), kaempferol 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (22), quercertin 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (23), and 2-hydroxy-3-(3',4'-dihydroxyphenly)propanoic acid (24). Compounds 1, 8-12, 17, 21, 23, and 24 were isolated from this plant source for the first time. The isolated compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxicity against A549, SK-OV-3, SK-MEL-2, and HCT15 cells in vitro using the sulforhodamin B bioassay (SRB) method. Compound 3 exhibited moderate cytotoxic activity against A549, SK-OV-3, SK-MEL-2, and HCT15 cells, with ED(50) values of 3.71, 3.65, 13.62, and 5.44 microM, respectively.

Two new flavonol glycosides (1 and 2) were isolated from a MeOH extract of the aerial parts of Cardamine ko- marovii Nakai (Cruciferae) together with 13 known phenolic compounds (3-15). The structures of 1 and 2 were determined by spectroscopic methods including 1D and 2D NMR (COSY, HMQC, HMBC, NOESY, and TOCSY) and HR-FAB-MS data.

Two new sesquiterpene glucosides, 1(R),4β-dihydroxy-trans-eudesm- 6-ene-1-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (1) and 1(R),4β-dihydroxy-trans-eudesm-7-ene- 1-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (2), together with six other known compounds, were isolated from the flowers of Gymnaster koraiensis (Nakai) Kitamura (Compositae). The identification and structural elucidation of these compounds were based on 1D- and 2D-NMR spectral data analysis. The absolute configurations of 1 and 2 were determined by a convenient Mosher ester procedure carried out in NMR tube.

Purpose: The need for completion axillary lymph node dissection, even in early breast cancer patients with a positive sentinel lymph node, has been questioned. The purpose of this study was to determine the factors that predict the presence of metastasis in non-sentinel lymph nodes (NSLNs) when the sentinel lymph node (SLN) was positive. Methods: Between December 1998 and June 2004, the records of 104 early breast cancer patients with a positive SLN and who underwent completion axillary lymph node dissection were reviewed. The clinicopathological features in SLN-positive patients were evaluated as possible predictors of metastatic NSLN. Results: Forty four (42.3%) of the 104 patients with positive SLN had metastatic NSLNs. In a univariate analysis, unicentric multifocality (P=0.016), lymphovascular invasion (P=0.006) and SLN metastasis larger than 2 mm (P= 0.003) were associated with positive NSLN findings. The number of SLNs removed was significantly associated as a negative predictor (P=0.043). A multivariate analysis revealed that SLN metastasis >2 mm (P=0.021) and lymphovascular invasion (P=0.040) were independent predictors of metastatic NSLN. Conclusion: The likelihood of metastatic NSLNs correlates with the size of the largest SLN metastasis and the presence of lymphovascular invasion of the primary tumor. Even though in early breast cancer with positive SLNs, incorporating these factors may help determining which patients would benefit from additional axillary lymph node dissection. (Journal of Korean Breast Cancer Society 2004;7:268-274)

Purpose: Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy has become a new standard procedure in the treatment of patients with early breast cancer. Furthermore, many institutions have begun offering the sentinel lymph node biopsy without simultaneous axillary dissection as a possible standard procedure when the SLN was free from tumors. For appropriate intraoperative decision making on the presence of cancer cells in axillary lymph nodes, a fast and accurate method to assess the SLN is required. The authors performed a prospective investigation of the relative merits of rapid cytokeratin immunohistochemical (IHC) staining of the SLN removed during the operations of breast cancer patients. Methods: Between December 2002 and August 2003, 38 patients with T1and T2 breast cancer were enrolled after undergoing successful sentinel lymph node biopsy. A total of 60 sentinel lymph nodes (mean number, 1.58) were biopsied and first examined by hematoxylin-eosin (HE7:154-160)

Purpose: This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of sentinel lymph node biopsy alone (SLNB) without axillary lymph node dissection. Methods: Between Jun. 1999 and Dec. 2002, we carried out SLNB in 85 consecutive patients with T1 breast cancer whose sentinel lymph node(s) were tumor-free on intraoperative frozen section. Even when sentinel lymph node(s) turned out to be positive by permanent pathology, additional axillary lymph node dissection was not performed. Patients underwent total mastectomy or partial mastectomy and received an appropriate adjuvant therapy according to the characteristics of the primary tumor. All patients who had breast conserving surgery received postoperative radiotherapy to the remaining breast, but not to the axilla. Results: SLNB only took 14 minutes and yielded no postoperative complications. Among the 85 patients whose sentinel lymph nodes were tumor-free on frozen section, 11 patients were diagnosed as metastatic in the permanent pathology. One of them had a macro-metastasized (2.5 cm) sentinel lymph node, and the rest had micro-metastasized sentinel lymph nodes. For 23.1 months of mean follow-up period, all the patients including a patient who died of liver metastases at 17 months showed no evidence of axillary recurrence. Conclusion: No axillary recurrence following SLNB suggests that SLNB may be a good alternative to routine axillary lymph node dissection while providing less surgical morbidity in women with a small breast cancer. However, more patients accumulation and follow-up period will be needed for the final conclusion. (Journal of Korean Breast Cancer Society 2003;6:263-270) ꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏ