Acanthopanax Trifoliatus Research Articles

Acanthopanax trifoliatus (L.) Merr polysaccharides ameliorates hyperglycemia by regulating hepatic glycogen metabolism in type 2 diabetic mice.

Drug monotherapy was inadequate in controlling blood glucose levels and other comorbidities. An agent that selectively tunes multiple targets was regarded as a new therapeutic strategy for type 2 diabetes. Acanthopanax trifoliatus (L.) Merr polysaccharide (ATMP) is a bio-macromolecule isolated from Acanthopanax trifoliatus (L.) Merr and has therapeutic potential for diabetes management due to its anti-hyperglycemia activity. Type 2 diabetes mellitus was induced in mice using streptozotocin, and 40 and 80 mg/kg ATMP was administered daily via the intragastric route for 8 weeks. Food intake, water intake, and body weight were recorded. The fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting insulin (FINS) and an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) were performed. Histological changes in the liver and pancreas were analyzed by H&E staining. The mRNA and the protein levels of key factors involved in glycogen synthesis, glycogenolysis, and gluconeogenesis were measured by quantitative real time PCR and Western blotting. In this study, we found that ATMP could effectively improve glucose tolerance and alleviate insulin resistance by promoting insulin secretion and inhibiting glucagon secretion. In addition, ATMP decreases glycogen synthesis by inhibiting PI3K/Akt/GSK3β signaling, reduces glycogenolysis via suppressing cAMP/PKA signaling, and suppresses liver gluconeogenesis by activating AMPK signaling. Together, ATMP has the potential to be developed as a new multitargets therapeutics for type 2 diabetes.

Chemical profile and antioxidant activity of bidirectional metabolites from Tremella fuciformis and Acanthopanax trifoliatus as assessed using response surface methodology.

This study aimed to establish a bidirectional fermentation system using Tremella fuciformis and Acanthopanax trifoliatus to promote the transformation and utilization of the synthesized antioxidant metabolites from fermentation supernatant. The effect of fermentation conditions on the total phenolic content was investigated using response surface methodology in terms of three factors, including temperature (22-28°C), pH (6-8), and inoculum size (2-8%, v/v). The optimized fermentation parameters were: 28°C, pH 8, and an inoculum size of 2%, which led to a maximum total phenolic content of 314.79 ± 6.89 μg/mL in the fermentation supernatant after 24 h culture. The content of total flavonoids and polysaccharides reached 78.65 ± 0.82 μg/mL and 9358.08 ± 122.96 μg/mL, respectively. In addition, ABTS+, DPPH⋅, and ⋅OH clearance rates reached 95.09, 88.85, and 85.36% at 24 h under optimized conditions, respectively. The content of total phenolics, flavonoids and polysaccharides in the optimized fermentation supernatant of T. fuciformis-Acanthopanax trifoliatus increased by 0.88 ± 0.04, 0.09 ± 0.02, and 33.84 ± 1.85 times that of aqueous extracts from A. trifoliatus, respectively. Simultaneously, 0.30 ± 0.00, 0.26 ± 0.01, and 1.19 ± 0.12 times increase of antioxidant activity against ABTS+, DPPH⋅, and ⋅OH clearance rates were observed, respectively. Additionally, the metabolite composition changes caused by fermentation were analyzed using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) based on untargeted metabolomics and the phytochemical profile of fermentation supernatant differentiated significantly based on unsupervised principal component analysis (PCA) during fermentation from 24 to 96 h. Furthermore, a significant increase in antioxidant phenolic and flavonoid compounds, such as ellagic acid, vanillin, luteolin, kaempferol, myricetin, isorhamnetin, and (+)-gallocatechin, was observed after fermentation. Thus, these results indicated that the fermentation broth of T. fuciformis and A. trifoliatus had significant antioxidant activity, and may have potential application for health products such as functional beverages, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical raw materials.

HS-GC with A Simple Pretreatment Protocol to Determine Short-chain Fatty Acids in Mouse Feces and the Effect of Polysaccharide from Acanthopanax trifoliatus (L.) Merr on Their Distribution in Diabetic Mice

HS-GC with A Simple Pretreatment Protocol to Determine Short-chain Fatty Acids in Mouse Feces and the Effect of Polysaccharide from Acanthopanax trifoliatus (L.) Merr on Their Distribution in Diabetic Mice

Extracts with anti-inflammatory activities from Acanthopanax trifoliatus (L.) Merr. by inhibiting LPS-induced expression of iNOS and COX-2

Acanthopanax trifoliatus (L.) Merr. have been used as folk medicine to treat various diseases traditionally and the young leaves and shoots of A. trifoliatus are popularly consumed as vegetables and herbal tea in southern China. In the study, we firstly tested the cytotoxicity and NO production of 18 fractions that extracted from the leaves, stems and roots of A. trifoliatus to select the bioactive fraction. The increasing evidence suggested that the dichloromethane extract prepared from stems of A. trifoliatus (ATSDC) have anti-inflammatory activity. Therefore, the study followed to investigate the effects of ATSDC on the inflammatory response and the molecular mechanisms underpinning this effect in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. The manuscript showed that ATSDC effectively inhibited NO production in LPS-stimulated cells and significantly reduced the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, at a dose of 40 µg/mL, whereas TNF-α production tended to decrease under ATSDC treatment. We also confirmed a dose-dependent and significant inhibition of iNOS and COX-2 protein expression. In conclusion, ATSDC exerted strong inhibitory effect on the expression of iNOS and COX-2 protein in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages and could be potentially used in treatment of inflammatory-related diseases in the future.

Antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and hemostatic activities of Acanthopanax trifoliatus (L.) merr.

Acanthopanax trifoliatus (L.) Merr (AT) is a medicinal and edible plant with high nutritional value. The biological activity of A. trifoliatus (L.) Merr and its basis for injury treatment are explored in this paper. AT was ethanol‐extracted then refined separately with petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and n‐butanol. Active ingredients were analyzed, and anti‐bacterial, anti‐inflammatory, analgesic, and hemostatic effects were explored. Petroleum ether layer (PEL) extract produced the strongest antibacterial effect. Ethyl acetate layer (EAL) extract had the highest active substance content, with strong hemostatic and analgesic activities. Chloroform layer (CL) extract had the strongest anti‐inflammatory effect and significantly reduced IL‐1β protein expression. Active ingredients were analyzed using HPLC and UPLC‐MS to determine saponin, polyphenol, flavonoid, and characteristic ingredient contents. EAL extract had the highest polyphenol and flavonoid levels, including rutin, chlorogenic acid, isochlorogenic acid A, and isochlorogenic acid C, which may contribute to its nutritional activities. The study provides a reliable theoretical and practical basis for the applications of AT nutraceutical products.

Synergistic Anticancer Effect of Gemcitabine Combined With Impressic Acid or Acankoreanogein in Panc-1 Cells by Inhibiting NF-κB and Stat 3 Activation

Natural products have presented potentiality to improve the outcomes of cancer therapies. Impressic acid (E12-1) and acankoreanogein (E13-1), important activity compounds in Acanthopanax trifoliatus (L.) Merr., show widely biological activities. In this study, we isolated E12-1 and E13-1 from Acanthopanax trifoliatus (L.) Merr., and investigated their improvement effect in gemcitabine (GEM) treatment in Panc-1 cells. The results showed that GEM in combination with E12-1 or E13-1 showed stronger inhibition on the growth and induction of apoptosis in Panc-1 cells compared to GEM, E12-1, or E13-1 alone. GEM in combination with E12-1or E13-1 also strongly inhibited cell migration. Mechanistic investigation showed that GEM in combination with E12-1or E13-1 effectively inhibited the activition of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells and Stat 3. Overall, GEM in combination with E12-1 or E13-1 might be an effective strategy for the prevention of prostate cancer.

The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Acanthopanax trifoliatus (Linn.) Merr.

Acanthopanax trifoliatus (Linn.) Merr. is an edible vegetables and medicinal plant from Asian countries. In this study, the complete chloroplast genome of A. trifoliatus was assembled and annotated by high-throughput sequencing. The total chloroplast genome size of A. trifoliatus was 156,716 bp, containing a large single-copy (LSC) region of 86,672 bp, a small single-copy (SSC) region of 18,174 bp, and a pair of inverted repeat regions of 25,935 bp. A total of 134 genes were predicted in the chloroplast genome of A. trifoliatus, including 89 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis showed that A. trifoliatus was closely related to Eleutherococcus gracilistylus.

Determination of Kaurenoic Acid in Acanthopanax trifoliatus by Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography Coupled with Tandem Mass Spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS)

Acanthopanax trifoliatus (L.) Merr. (A. trifoliatus) belongs to the family Araliaceae, which is called “Le Cai”, and is an indigenous plant to Guangdong Province that has been prevalently planted for years. A. trifoliatus is used in folk medicine and has ginseng-like activity. Kaurenoic acid ((−)-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid, KA) is a kaurane-type diterpenoid that is regarded as a major compound in A. trifoliatus. Early studies have reported the determination of KA by HPLC capillary electrophoresis. However, KA could not be completely separated from other components in the plant extract by HPLC because of their similar molecular structures and physical and chemical properties. UHPLC-MS/MS could be a useful tool to identify and quantify KA. In the present work, a UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS method for determining KA in A. trifoliatus was developed and validated. KA was extracted from lyophilized A. trifoliatus leaves by ultrasound-assisted extraction and further purified by solid phase extraction (SPE). KA was quantified and separated on an Accucore C18 LC column. Mass spectrometry with multi-reaction monitoring (MRM) and quantitative fragment ion/product ion (m/z: 301.3/301.3) in ESI negative mode was used for quantification. The intra-assay and inter-assay relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) were 2.8% and 3.2%, respectively. The inter-person R.S.D. on the same day was 3.6%. The inter-instrument R.S.D. with the same model on the same day was 2.9%. The recoveries evaluated upon spiking three different concentrations of KA were above 97%. A minor matrix effect of 94% was observed. This method has been applied successfully for the determination of KA in A. trifoliatus leaves.

Proximate composition, vitamin and mineral composition, antioxidant capacity, and anticancer activity of Acanthopanax trifoliatus.

Acanthopanax trifoliatus has been used as both traditional plant food and medicinal plant in Thailand. This study aimed to evaluate proximate, vitamin, and mineral compositions of A. trifoliatus leaf samples together with antioxidant and anticancer activities of ethanolic leaf extract of A. trifoliatus. For leaf samples, quantitative determination of proximate composition was evaluated comprising moisture, crude protein, total fat, total carbohydrate, dietary fiber, ash, as well as energy. Quantitative determination of vitamin and mineral composition including Vitamin A, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin C, calcium, sodium, and iron was also assessed. For ethanolic leaf extract, antioxidant activity was investigated using oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) methods. Anticancer activity was determined against human ductal, bronchogenic, liver, gastric, and colon cancer cell lines using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide method. Proximate composition of A. trifoliatus was found to be 74.62 ± 0.38, 5.01 ± 0.05, 0.95 ± 0.04, 16.47 ± 0.40, 8.54 ± 0.06, and 2.95 ± 0.04 g/100 g sample, respectively, and energy was found to be 94.48 ± 1.30 kcal/100 g sample. Vitamin and mineral composition was found to be 428.47 ± 3.00 μg/100 g sample, 0.41 ± 0.01, 0.17 ± 0.00, 11.95 ± 0.86, 675.35 ± 46.57, 13.46 ± 0.95, and 4.79 ± 0.15 mg/100 g sample, respectively. A. trifoliatus ethanolic leaf extract revealed antioxidant capacity with ORAC value of 9057.29 ± 43.08 μmol TE/100 g and FRAP value of 1230.88 ± 19.51 μmol TE/100 g. Its extract also showed cytotoxic potential against all tested cancer cell lines. A. trifoliatus leaf is a good source of essential nutrients, which had antioxidant and anticancer potential.

Downregulating NF-κB signaling pathway with triterpenoids for attenuating inflammation: in vitro and in vivo studies.

Acanthopanax trifoliatus (L.) Merr., an edible medicinal plant from Southeast Asia, exerts a wide range of bioactivities, such as anti-inflammatory activity. However, the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of its action and active constituents remain unclear. Herein, the effects of two triterpenoids, namely impressic acid (IA) and acankoreanogenin A (AA), from A. trifoliatus in both in vitro and in vivo chronic inflammation models were investigated. The results indicated that AA and IA reduced lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced production of nitroxide significantly in murine macrophage RAW246.7 cells. In addition, AA and IA down-regulated the activation of NF-κB and decreased the release of inflammatory mediators (iNOS, COX-2, TNF-α, and IL-6) and tumorigenesis-associated factors (MMP-9 and VEGF) in RAW246.7 cells. Furthermore, in a tetradecanoylphorbolacetate (TPA)-treated mouse model, AA and IA could effectively attenuate mouse ear edema and pathological damage and reduced levels of cytokines including iNOS, COX-2, TNF-α, and IL-1β. Taken together, AA and IA, being of natural origin, are promising anti-inflammatory agents and may contribute to the overall anti-inflammatory effect of A. trifoliatus.

Perculiarities of introduction of Araliaceae Juss. in botanical gardens (Kyiv, Ukraine)

The results of physiological, morphological, anatomical peculiarities of introduced plants of Araliaceae Juss. have been given. Study of seasonal growth and development peculiarities of Araliaceae Juss. showed that most of these plants were introduced successfully but the process was complicated by climatic conditions of the area in city Kiev. According to a comprehensive assessment a large number of studied species were highly evaluated for decorative effect. Introduced species of family Araliaceae Juss. are characterized by high-level adaptation to local soil and climatic conditions in Botanical gardens of Kiev. The vast majority of them bloom but not all can form seeds. Thus, among the introduced plants only five representatives of genus Acanthopanax – Acanthopanax lasiogyne, Acanthopanax divaricatus, Acanthopanax sieboldianus, Acanthopanax trifoliatus and Acanthopanax wardii have high level of adaptation. To determine the prospect of cultivating research species we assessed the degree of winter resistance by the 5-point M. K. Vechova scale on the basis of visual observations in conditions of the open ground. The level of adaptation of plants was evaluated in the city Kyiv using the estimation scale measured in points and in percentages. Results of researches showed that the species have a high resistance to the effects of adverse factors. All types of this family are promising for introduction into culture and can be widely used in various branches of the national economy. A comprehensive assessment of the decorative effect of ornamental plant species was carried out by the O. G. Horoshyh and O. V. Horoshyh scales, according to which the decorative effect of the vast majority of studied species was highly appreciated. The results of our study shows that the introduced species of Araliaceae Juss. have a good prospect for further their use in ornamental gardening, urban greening and landscape design in private territories of citizens.

Pilot-scale development for leaf decoction extract of Acanthopanax trifoliatus

Pilot-scale development for leaf decoction extract of Acanthopanax trifoliatus

Acanthopanax trifoliatus inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory response in vitro and in vivo

Acanthopanax trifoliatus is a well-known herb that is used for the treatment of bruising, neuralgia, impotence, and gout in Taiwan. This herb exhibits multifunctional activities, including anticancer, anti-inflammation, and antioxidant effects. This paper investigated the in vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory effect of A. trifoliatus. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis established the fingerprint chromatogram of the ethyl acetate fraction of A. trifoliatus (EAAT). The anti-inflammatory effect of EAAT was detected using lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation of the mouse macrophage cell line RAW264.7 in vitro and LPS-induced lung injury in vivo. The effects of EAAT on LPS-induced production of inflammatory mediators in RAW264.7 murine macrophages and the mouse model were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blot. EAAT attenuated the production of LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and IL-6 in vitro and in vivo. Pretreatment with EAAT markedly reduced LPS-induced histological alterations in lung tissues. Furthermore, EAAT significantly reduced the number of total cells and protein concentration levels in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Western blotting test results revealed that EAAT blocked protein expression of inducible NO synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, phosphorylation of Nuclear factor-kappa-B Inhibitor alpha (IκB-α) protein, and mitogen-activated protein kinases in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells as well as LPS-induced lung injury. This study suggests that A. trifoliatus may be a potential therapeutic candidate for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.

Terpenoid composition and the anticancer activity of Acanthopanax trifoliatus.

The petroleum ether and ethyl acetate fractions of extract from an edible and medicinal plant Acanthopanax trifoliatus were found to show significant inhibitory effects against SF-268, MCF-7, HepG2 and NCI-H460 cancer cells. Two new ursane-type triterpenoids, acantrifoic acid C (1) and acantrifoic acid D (2), along with five known triterpenoids (3-7) and eight known diterpenoids (8-15) were obtained from these two fractions. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report concerning the isolation of compounds (5-12, 14, 15) from A. trifoliatus. Among all the isolated compounds, 3, 5 and 8 from the ethyl acetate fraction showed the strongest inhibitory effects against cancer cells, while 12 and 13 from the petroleum ether fraction showed moderate activities. These terpenoid compounds may be responsible for the anticancer activities of A. trifoliatus. Our study provides the first evidence that terpenoids from A. trifoliatus exert anticancer activities and indicates that A. trifoliatus may be a useful edible plant for further development of anticancer health supplement.

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of Chinese ilicifolius vegetable (Acanthopanax trifoliatus (L) Merr) and its reference compounds

Stems and leaves of Acanthopanax trifoliatus (L) Merr (AT) are commonly used as an edible vegetable in China. The scientific basis of antioxidant and antiinflammatory activities of AT was investigated. The polyphenol contents and free radical scavenging activities of AT ethanol extracts (EAT) were determined. Chlorogenic acid, isochlorogenic acid A, isochlorogenic acid C, and rutin were identified as major components in EAT. LPS-induced NO production in RAW264.7 cells was decreased significantly (p<0.05) after EAT treatment, compared with controls. In vivo studies indicated that EAT had more activity than chlorogenic acid per mg of dry weight for inhibition of TPA-induced ear edema. TPA-induced increases in cytokine production (TNF-α, IL-6, MMP-9, and TIMP-1) were significantly (p<0.05) reduced by EAT treatment, compared with controls. EAT exerts anti-inflammatory activities probably due, at least in part, to chlorogenic acid.

Potent inhibitory effect of terpenoids from Acanthopanax trifoliatus on growth of PC-3 prostate cancer cells in vitro and in vivo is associated with suppression of NF-κB and STAT3 signalling

Five terpenoids (1–5) from a vegetable plant Acanthopanax trifoliatus (L.) Merr. were investigated for their effects on human prostate cancer cells. The diterpenoid (3) and triterpenoids (4 and 5) were found to inhibit the growth and stimulate apoptosis in PC-3 cells. The effects of these terpenoids on PC-3 cells were associated with strong suppression of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3). These terpenoids also inhibited the expression of survivin, a downstream target of NF-κB and STAT3. The in vivo study using a xenograft mouse model showed that 5 strongly inhibited the formation and growth of PC-3 tumours. Moreover, treatment with 5 strongly decreased the expression of phospho-STAT3 and survivin in PC-3 tumours. Our results indicate that 5 has preventive efficacy on the development of PC-3 xenograft tumours. This terpenoid may serve as a candidate for future development as a novel agent for prostate cancer prevention.

Synthesis and Cytotoxic Activity of Derivatives of 24-NOR-Lupane-Triterpenoid Acids Isolated from Acanthopanax trifoliatus

Starting from 24-nor-11α-hydroxy-3-oxo-lup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid (1) and 24-nor-3α,11α-dihydroxy-lup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid (2), isolated from the aerial parts of Acanthopanax trifoliatus (Araliaceae), 19 new derivatives have been synthesized. Their structures were confirmed by IR, MS, and NMR spectral data. Some of the synthesized compounds have been selected for cytotoxicity test on four human cancer cell lines, including KB, HepG2, MCF7, and Lu. Among these, compounds 6, 7, 8, and 18 showed stronger cytotoxicity than the parent compounds; in particular, compound 18 is 6–15 times more active than its lead compound on all four tested cell lines.

ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY AND PHENOLIC CONTENTS OF EXTRACTS FROM THE LEAVES OF ACANTHOPANAX TRIFOLIATUS HARVESTED IN DIFFERENT SEASONS

Acanthopanax trifoliatus or ‘Phak Paem’ is a deciduous shrub in Araliaceae which is commonly found in the north region of Thailand. This plant was traditionally used in Southeast Asia for ginseng-like purposes as a tonic to improve general weakness and for treatments of tuberculosis, lung hemorrhages and ulcers. Young leaves and the shoots are also popularly consumed as vegetables in northern Thai traditional cuisines. Leaf extracts of phak-paem were reported to promote some interesting biological effects including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-anxiety activities. This study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant properties of leaf extracts of A. trifoliatus collected from different seasons and quantitatively analyzed for both total phenolic and flavonoid contents. Eleven decoction extracts from the leaves of A. trifoliatus collected from different durations of a year were tested for free radical scavenging activity using DPPH scavenging assay and inhibition of lipid peroxidation of rat brain homogenate using TBARS method. Free radical scavenging activities of samples were evident while inhibitory effects to lipid peroxidation were evident too. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents of the extracts were determined using colorimetric methods. It was found that climatic condition such as temperature and rainfall had no effect to overall antioxidant activity of plant samples. However, samples collected in the winter especially in January and November were detected in high amount of total phenolic and flavonoid. This data suggests the optimum period for harvesting of plant raw material.

Chemical and biological similarities between root extracts from Phak paem (Acanthopanax trifoliatus) and Siberian ginseng (Acanthopanax senticosus)

Chemical and biological similarities between root extracts from Phak paem (Acanthopanax trifoliatus) and Siberian ginseng (Acanthopanax senticosus)

A new lupane triterpenoid from the aerial part of Acanthopanax trifoliatus

A new lupane-triterpene carboxylic acid (1), together with two known 24-nor-lupane-triterpene carboxylic acids, 24-nor-11α-hydroxy-3-oxo-lup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid and 24-nor-3α,11α-dihydroxy-lup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid, were isolated from the aerial part of Acanthopanax trifoliatus. The structure of 1 was determined to be 11α,23-dihydroxy-3-oxo-lup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid on the basis of spectroscopic data, including IR, HR-ESI-MS, PMR, 13C NMR, 1H-1H COSY, HSQC, and HMBC, and comparison with published references.