In the present study, the author intended to investigate whether two oriental medical prescriptions named GSGT and GCPT significantly affect mucin release from cultured hamster tracheal surface epithelial (HTSE) cells. Confluent HTSE cells were metabolically radiolabeled with 3H-glucosamine for 24 hrs and chased for 30 min in the presen+ce of GSGT or GCPT to assess the effect of each agent on 3H-mucin release. Possible cytotoxicities of each agent were assessed dy measuring lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) release. Also, the effects of GSGT and GCPT on contractility of isolated tracheal smooth muscle were investigated. (1) GSGT did not affect mucin release without cytotoxicity ; (2) GCPT significantly stimulated mucin release from cultured HTSE cells, with significant cytotoxicity ; (3) GSGT and GCPT did not affect contractility of isolated tracheal smooth muscle. We suggest that the effects of GCPT and its components should be further investigated and it is of great value to find, from oriental medical prescriptions, novel agents which have potent expectorant effects on mucin secretion from airway goblet cells.