In recent years, the popularity increased for nutritional supplements and herbal products. Prescription drugs, but not herbal therapies are paid by health insurances. They are sold over-the-counter(OTC) on the patients' own expense. However, there are potential risks of self-medication, e. g. incorrect self-diagnosis, severe adverse reactions, dangerous drug interactions, risk of addiction etc. They are often used by patients at their own discretion without knowledge of and control by their physicians. Certain users are at risk of intoxication. Multiple medications taken by older patients increase the risk for adverse drug reactions, drug-drug interactions, and compliance problems for this age group(polypharmacy). Herbals should be discontinued prior to operations to avoid interactions with anesthetics or anticoagulants. Herbal preparations may also be carcinogenic or interfere with cancer treatments. Pregnant women use various OTC preparations. However, in many cases, it is unclear whether their use is safe for mother or baby. Self-medication with herbals is also largely distributed among anxious and depressive patients, and patients with other conditions and symptoms. The popularity of herbal products has also brought concerns on quality, efficacy and safety. Cases of botanical misidentification, contaminations with heavy metals, pesticides, radioactivity, organic solvents, microbials as well as adulteration with chemical drugs necessitate the establishment of international quality control standards. Hepatotoxic effects have been reported for more than 300 plant species, and some commonly used herbs have been demonstrated to interact with Western medication. Health care professionals have a critical responsibility assessing the self-care ability of their patients. Databases are available for pharmacists with information on action, side effects and toxicities as well as herb-drug interactions. There is a need for established guidelines regarding the correct use of nutritional supplements and herbal OTC preparations(phytovigilance). Physicians, pharmacists, and other health care professionals have to counsel patients and the general public on the benefits and risks associated with herbal drugs. Information centers for consumers and general practitioners are needed, and convincing evidence on safety and efficacy of herbal products has to be demonstrated in placebo-controlled, double blind and randomized clinical trials.

Four new triterpenoid alkaloid derivatives, buxrugulines A-D(1-4), together with four known ones(5-8), were isolated from the leaves and stems of Buxus rugulosa. The structures of compounds 1-4 were elucidated by NMR and MS spectroscopic analysis. All compounds were assayed for their cytotoxicities against HL-60, SMMC-7721, A549, MCF-7, and SW480 cells lines.

A chemical investigation on the cultures of Xylaria carpophila led to the isolation of one known cyclopeptide cyclo(Nmethyl-_L-Phe-_L-Pro-_L-Leu-_D-Ile-_L-Val)(1), five new sesquiterpenes, named as xylcarpins A-E(2-6), and another known compound(7). The structures were determined by extensive NMR and MS spectroscopic analysis. The absolute configuration of 1 was established by use of Marfey's method and ROESY spectroscopic data. All compounds were tested for their cytotoxicities against five human cancer cell lines. Compound 7 showed week inhibitory activity.

Salvia dugesii is an invasive plant in Yunnan, China. To tentatively explore its utilization, a systematic phytochemical investigation was carried out on this plant, which led to the isolation of five new neo-clerodane diterpenoids, dugesins C-G(1-5), together with six known ones. Their structures were determined by comprehensive NMR and MS spectroscopic analysis. It was noteworthy that the eleven isolates, composed of five different carbocyclic systems derived from the neo-clerodane diterpenoid skeleton, were reported from the same plant for the first time. The anti-feedantial, cytotoxic, and antiviral activities of the isolates were evaluated. Dugesin F(4) was tested to be a non-toxic antiviral compound against influenza virus FM1.

Seven new illudin-type sesquiterpenoids, agrocybins A-G(1-7), along with three known analogues(8-10), have been isolated from the culture broth of the fungus Agrocybe salicacola. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic data analysis and comparison with data reported in the literature. The relative stereoconfigurations of 1 and 6 were elucidated by the X-ray crystallographic diffraction analysis. Compound 1 was highly cyclized containing seven chiral carbons which arranged compactly in six rings.

Four new alkaloids, sinensines B-E(1-4), together with one known alkaloid, sinensine(5), were isolated from the fruiting bodies of Ganoderma sinense. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR spectra analysis. The structure of sinensine E was confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis of its acetyl product(4a).

Crataeva tapia bark lectin was evaluated for its antitumor activity against sarcoma 180 in Swiss albino mice. The antiinflammatory and analgesic properties were investigated in models of inflammation and nociception. The anti-inflammatory assay was induced by carrageenan induced peritonitis and the analgesic activity was induced by acetic acid-induced writhing response. The lectin presents low toxicity with a LD₅₀ of 2, 500 mg/kg body weight and significant antitumor activity causing inhibition of tumor growth. The lectin also promoted significant reduction(35.4%) in the number of neutrophil migration induced by carrageenan. Concerning its analgesic property, the lectin inhibits abdominal contractions induced by acetic acid. The current results revealed a lectin with significant antitumoral, anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities. Further investigations to unveil the exact mechanisms are needed.

Euglobal-IIIa(1), a novel acylphloroglucinol-sesquiterpene derivative, and a known analogue, have been isolated from leaves of Eucalyptus robusta. The structures was elucidated by extensive spectroscopic data and by comparison with data reported in literature, while the absolute configuration of 1 was determined by the X-ray diffraction analysis. Compound 1 exhibited comparable cytotoxicity with that of cisplatin against five human cancer cell lines HL-60, SMMC-7721, A-549, MCF-7, and SW480 with IC₅₀ values of 15.7, 15.5, 17.6, 14.3, and 21.8 μM, respectively.