Optimisation of Ethanol-Reflux Extraction of Saponins from Steamed Panax notoginseng by Response Surface Methodology and Evaluation of Hematopoiesis Effect.

Yupiao Hu,Zejun Zhang,Yiming Zhang,Lijuan Chen,Xiuming Cui,Yin Xiong,Xiaoyan Yang,Chengxiao Wang,Yuan Qu

doi:10.3390/molecules23051206

Abstract

The present study aims to optimize the ethanol-reflux extraction conditions for extracting saponins from steamed Panax notoginseng (SPN). Four variables including the extraction time (0.5–2.5 h), ethanol concentration (50–90%), water to solid ratio (W/S, 8–16), and times of extraction (1–5) were investigated by using the Box-Behnken design response surface methodology (BBD-RSM). For each response, a second-order polynomial model with high R2 values (>0.9690) was developed using multiple linear regression analysis and the optimum conditions to maximize the yield (31.96%), content (70.49 mg/g), and antioxidant activity (EC50 value of 0.0421 mg/mL) for saponins extracted from SPN were obtained with a extraction time of 1.51 h, ethanol concentration of 60%, extraction done 3 times, and a W/S of 10. The experimental values were in good consistency with the predicted ones. In addition, the extracted SPN saponins could significantly increase the levels of blood routine parameters compared with the model group (p < 0.01) and there was no significant difference in the hematopoiesis effect between the SPN group and the SPN saponins group, of which the dose was 15 times lower than the former one. It is suggested that the SPN saponins extracted by the optimized method had similar functions of “blood tonifying” at a much lower dose.

Highlights

To verify the pharmacologic activity of extracted saponins from steamed Panax notoginseng (SPN), we investigated the hematopoiesis effect of SPN saponins on the levels of blood routine parameters in anemic mice induced by acetylphenylhydrazine (APH) and cyclophosphamide (CTX)
By comparing the chromatograms of SPN saponins to that of the mixed standards solution, constituents corresponding to major peaks were identified as notoginsenoside R1, ginsenosides Rg1, Re, Rb1, Rd, Rk3, Rh4, Rh1, 20(S)-Rg3, and 20(R)-Rg3
Ginsenosides Re and Rd were active constituents related to the antioxidation effect of SPN [12]

Summary

Introduction

Panax notoginseng (PN) (Burk.) F. H. Chen, a highly valued Chinese medicinal herb, has been used in Asia to treat blood disorders for thousands of years [1]. Numerous studies have shown that saponins are the major active components of PN, with pharmacologic effects such as dilating blood vessels, lowering the blood pressure, anti-thrombosis, anti-inflammation, anti-vascular aging, anti-cancer, and antioxidant activities [2,3,4]. Therefore, a large number of studies have focused on the technology of extraction and purification of saponins. Related products with PN saponins as the main ingredients have even been developed. For example, Xuesaitong, one of the bestselling prescriptions of herbal

Methods

Results

Conclusion