This study was performed to elucidate the effects of Epimedii Herba on the antibody responses in mice immunized by Ovalbumin (OVA). Antibodies in serum were detected in male ICR mice treated with the aqueous extract of Epimedii Herba at a dosage of 40, 120, and 360 mg/kg orally for 2 weeks. Effects of AEEH on antibody forming responses were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) of immunoglobulin (Ig) levels in serum collected 7 days after priming with OVA in complete Freund,s adjuvant (CFA). The results were as follows; 1. Epimedii Herba slightly decreased body weight gain. 2. Epimedii Herba significantly increased the relative spleen weight. 3. Epimedii Herba significantly increased total serum IgG levels. 4. Epimedii Herba significantly enhanced total serum IgG1 levels. 5. Epimedii Herba significantly increased total serum IgG2a levels. 6. Epimedii Herba markedly increased total serum IgM levels. These findings demonstrate that Epimedii Herba significantly enhances serum antibody production after priming with OVA in CFA, and suggest that Epimedii Herba may prevent the host from microbial infections.

With a view to investigating how Epimedium koreanum Nakai affects formation of melanin content in skin, we have measured change in the number of cell, melanin content, and tyrosinase activity by treating its aqueous extracts at various concentrations with B16 melanoma cells, the result of which is as follows: Firstly, cell viability has been shown as over 95% when treating with the aqueous extract of Epimedium koreanum Nakai up to 200 ug/mL, from which the effect of cell toxicology has not nearly appeared. Secondly, the number of cell has been slightly decreased than that of the control group when treating with the aqueous extract of Epimedium koreanum Nakai, which has not shown a statistical noteworthiness. Thirdly, the aqueous extract of Epimedium koreanum Nakai has increased in tyrosinase activity. Fourthly, the aqueous extract of Epimedium koreanum Nakai has promoted the formation of melanin content, its final product. According to the result, it is confirmed that Epimedium koreanum Nakai has the influence on promoting melanization of B16 melanoma cell, and it is considered that Epimedium koreanum Nakai can be applicable for curing vitiligo caused by decrease or loss of pigment through a systematic study.

Recently many efforts were focused to understand the mechanical insights of melanogenesis to develop the agents for hyper-pigmentation and hypo-pigmentation. In the melanin biosynthetic pathway, tyrosinase is the rate limiting enzyme, and α-melanocyte stimulating hormone(MSH) stimulate melanogenesis and enhance the melanin synthesis and the tyrosinase activity. This study the effects of Radix Trichosanthis on the basal melanogenic activities of B16/F10 mouse melanoma cells, and on the α-MSH induced melanogenesis. Radix Trichosanthis alone markedly suppressed melanin content and tyrosinase activity in a dose-dependent manner. Pretreatment of the cells with Radix Trichosanthis also suppressed the increase of α-MSH (10 nM) induced melanin content and tyrosinase activity. These results suggest that Radix Trichosanthis inhibits melanogenesis and abrogates α-MSH induced melanogenesis in B16 melanoma cells.