Edible Medicinal Plant Research Articles

Bioactivity-Guided Isolation of Cytotoxic Phenanthrenes from Spiranthes sinensis.

Bioactivity-guided separation led to the isolation of six novel phenanthrenes, spiranthesphenanthrenes A-F (1-6), together with 19 known compounds, including seven phenanthrenes (7-13), one bibenzyl compound (14), five flavonoids (15-16 and 20-22), and six simple phenolic compounds (17-19 and 23-25), from the petroleum ether (PE) and ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extracts of Spiranthes sinensis (Pers.) Ames, an edible medicinal plant named "panlongshen" in Chinese that is popularly used in medicinal foods and herbal teas. The structures of the obtained compounds were identified on the basis of extensive NMR spectroscopy and HR-ESI-MS analyses. The cytotoxicities of the phenanthrenes (1-13), the bibenzyl compound (14) , and the flavonoids (15-16 and 20-22) toward SGC-7901, HepG2, and B16-F10 cell lines were examined in vitro. Compounds 1 and 7 exhibited moderate cytotoxic activities toward all of the selected cancer cell lines, and their IC50 values ranged from 19.0 ± 7.3 to 30.2 ± 5.6 μM. Spiranthesphenanthrene A (1) exhibited higher cytotoxic activity than the positive control cisplatin toward the B16-F10 cell line (IC50 = 19.0 ± 7.3 μM). A wound healing assay revealed the inhibition of the migration of B16-F10 cancer cells in a time- and dose-dependent pattern by treatment with 2.5, 5, and 10 μM solutions of compound 1 for 24 and 48 h, respectively. Western blots revealed that compound 1 obviously increased the level of the E-cadherin protein (an epithelial marker) and decreased the levels of the vimentin and N-cadherin proteins (mesenchymal markers). Furthermore, the level of the transcription factor Snail was also obviously decreased by compound 1 in a dose-dependent manner. Taken together, compound 1 inhibits the migration of B16-F10 cancer cells, which may be closely related to the inhibition of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Compound 1 represents a promising drug candidate for the prevention of tumor metastasis.

Nanozyme-assisted technique for dual mode detection of organophosphorus pesticide

A novel dual-mode analytical method by employing nanozyme was developed for the detection of organophosphorus pesticides (OPP) for the first time. The detection principle is that the pesticide could be hydrolyzed to para-nitrophenol (p-NP) in the presence of nanoceria as nanozyme. p-NP exhibits the bright yellow color, and its color intensity has a positive correlation with the pesticide concentration. Meanwhile, the characteristic absorption peak at 400 nm of p-NP increases gradually with the raised concentration of pesticide. Therefore, a dual-mode method including smartphone-based colorimetric and spectroscopic strategies was rationally developed. Herein, methyl-paraoxon was selected as the representative compound. Under the optimum conditions, the detection limits of both two strategies were calculated to be 0.42 μmol L−1. Finally, the present method was successfully applied in three edible medicinal plants (Semen nelumbinis, Semen Armeniacae Amarum, Rhizoma Dioscoreae). The present work offers a reliable and convenient approach for routine detection of pesticide based on two different detection mechanisms.

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.

Hypoglycemic effect of Hypericum attenuatum Choisy extracts on type 2 diabetes by regulating glucolipid metabolism and modulating gut microbiota

Hypericum attenuatum Choisy, as an edible medicinal plant, possesses multiple therapeutic effects. Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disorder that has become a major threat to public health. The objective of this study was to investigate the hypoglycemic effect of Hypericum attenuatum Choisy extracts (HaC) on T2DM mice and modulatory effect of HaC on composition of intestinal microflora. T2DM mice were treated with HaC for 5 weeks. HaC could modulate fasting blood glucose, improve hepatic insulin sensitivity and promote hepatic glycogen storage by activating IRS1/PI3K/AKT pathway. Moreover, HaC regulated dysfunctional lipid metabolism and reduced inflammation in T2DM mice. Additionally, HaC treatment could modulate the compositions of gut microbiota in small intestine and colon with the altered abundances of Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria. Meanwhile, HaC treatment could augment short chain fatty acids contents. These results demonstrate that H. attenuatum Choisy may be a potential therapy for the treatment of T2DM.

Apoptosis in angiotensin II-stimulated hypertrophic cardiac cells -modulation by phenolics rich extract of Boerhavia diffusa L.

Herein, we investigated the effects of B. diffusa (BDE), a well-known cardiotonic edible medicinal plant against apoptosis in Angiotensin II (Ang II)-stimulated hypertrophic cardiac cells (H9c2). The cells were analyzed for viability, markers of hypertrophy, apoptosis, and the expression of various proteins related to apoptosis. Ang II (100 nM for 48 h)-exposed H9c2 cells treated with BDE (75 μg/ml) showed a significant reduction in apoptosis (58.60%↓) compared to Ang II-alone treated cells. BDE treatment significantly reduced the up-regulation of Bax and cytosolic cytochrome-C caused by Ang II as well as reduced the degree of Ang II- induced down-regulation of Bcl-2. A reduction in caspase-3 activity (33.77%↓) and down-regulation of TNF-α was also observed in BDE treated cells stimulated with Ang II. Furthermore, the up-regulation of phospho-p38 MAPK was attenuated by BDE treatment. Bioactive components in the extract were identified as boeravinone B, quercetin, kaempferol, and caffeic acid as evident from high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Overall, our study shows that B. diffusa is effective in attenuating apoptosis in cardiac cells, which is a major contributor to sudden cardiac death in addition to its nutraceutical properties.

Abstract 4394: Novel edible medicinal plant induced cytotoxic and apoptotic effects on ovarian cancer cells

Abstract Ovarian cancer (OC) is the leading cause of death in gynecologic cancer and the fifth most common form of cancer diagnosed among women. Caucasians have a higher incidence and mortality rate compared to African-Americans. The low survival rate of ovarian cancer among patients is caused by the fact that ovary organs are located inside the pelvic region in the female reproductive system; many cases are diagnosed in advanced stage, when cancer has already metastasized beyond the ovaries. Consequently, there is an urgent need to prevent ovarian cancer at the early stage and provide effective treatment. Herbal medicine with lesser or no side effect is currently considered as an alternative cancer treatment because it possesses many bioactive compounds essential to destroy cancer cells. A preliminary study in our laboratory demonstrates that extracts of Vernonia species have antitumor activities against cancer cells. Therefore, our overall goal in this study was to test the therapeutic mechanisms of a Vernonia species (an edible medical plant) in the treatment of ovarian cancer. To reach our goal, we tested the cytototic and apoptotic effects of the Vernonia species on OVCAR-3 cells. Data generated from the trypan blue test and MTT assay demonstrated that extracts of Vernonia species exhibited significant growth-inhibitory effects on OVCAR-3 cells. Oxidative stress biomarkers showed slight decrease in the production of malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and an increase in catalase activity and glutathione peroxidase in treated cells compared to the control group. Further experiments, including cell morphology and apoptosis analysis, showed that VA caused growth-inhibitory effects on OVCAR-3 cells through cell cycle arrest at the Go/G1 checkpoint and activation of caspase-3 activity leading to apoptosis. Collectively, findings from this study provide convincing scientific evidence that the Vernonia species tested here may represent a potential anticancer candidate against ovarian cancer. This research work was supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Health (Grant No. NIMHD-G12MD007581). Citation Format: Ariane T. Mbemi. Novel edible medicinal plant induced cytotoxic and apoptotic effects on ovarian cancer cells [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4394.

Chemical Composition, Proapoptotic and Antiosteoporosis Activities of the Essential Oil from the Aerial Part of <i>Alpinia officinarum</i> Hance

Background: Alpinia officinarum Hance is valued as an edible medicinal plant. The rhizome is widely reported to have anticancer activity whereas little information is available on the aerial part. This study investigates chemical composition, proapoptotic and anti-osteoporosis activities of essential oil from aerial parts of A. officinarum (APEO). Methods: In this study, APEO was extracted by hydrodistillation and analyzed using GC-MS. The inhibitive activity of 0 - 2.5 μL/mL. APEO was investigated using MTT assay, while in vivo effect was evaluated in nude mice. The cell cycle, apoptosis, Δψm and expression of proteins analyses influenced by 0 - 0.313 μL/mL APEO were detected by PI, Annexin V/PI, JC-1, and Western blot, respectively. Alkaline phosphatase activity and mineralized nodules formation of rat osteoblasts with 0 - 0.156 μL/mL APEO were assayed using colorimetric method and alizarin red staining, respectively. Results: Total 45 constituents were identified accounting for 91.1% of APEO (sesquiterpene hydrocarbons for 44.4%). APEO significantly inhibited cancer cells growth in a dose-dependent manner. APEO also inhibited cancer growth in vivo. The percentage of S phase cells is up to 64.846% with 0.313 μL/mL APEO. The proportion of total apoptotic cells significantly increased to 79.6% at 0.313 μL/mL concentration. APEO treated cells accompanied with Bcl-2 and Δψm decrease, and caspase-3 and p53 upregulation. Furthermore, addition of APEO in rat osteoblasts led to a dose-dependent increase in ALP activity and formation of mineralized bone nodules. Conclusions: Our data suggest that APEO could be developed as an agent against human lung cancer and osteoporosis, especially cancer-induced bone loss.

Chemical profiling of Malva verticillata L. by UPLC-Q-TOF-MSE and their antioxidant activity in vitro

Malva verticillata L. (M. verticillata) is an edible medicinal plant. Its dry, mature seeds are used in Traditional Mongolian Medicine. Nevertheless, detailed information regarding its chemical composition remains scarce.In this study, nineteen compounds were identified preliminarily using a UPLC-Q-TOF-MSE method. All of the compounds from M. verticillata are reported for the first time. M. verticillata is shown to be a rich source of phenolics, and the total phenolic content in the leaves, stems and seeds is 110.32 ± 3.45 mg GAE/g extract, 97.98 ± 4.19 mg GAE/g extract and 40.85 ± 7.63 mg GAE/g extract, respectively. The leaves are ideal for scavenging ABTS free radicals and possess ferric reducing antioxidant power, and the seeds are ideal for scavenging DPPH free radicals. M. verticillata is a rich source of natural antioxidants. These findings support the notion that M. verticillata is a functional food and can be used in nutraceutical applications.

Edible plant-derived essential oils synergistically enhance the Th1, Th2 and anti-inflammatory cytokines in neonatal cord blood monocytic cell line

ABSTRACT Edible medicinal plants Curcuma longa, Kaempferia galanga and Zingiber officinale are considered to be suitable for pregnant mother and neonates. Their essential oils are claimed to have therapeutic effects, yet its immunomodulatory activities need to be investigated. To validate the immunomodulatory effect, cord blood monocyte cells (CBMCs) treated with different concentrations of essential oils ranging from 0 to 40 µg/ml. K. galanga oil at 40 µg/ml concentrations upregulated IFN-γ at 49.23 pg/ml, while C. longa oil downregulated the IL-10 at 10.45 pg/ml showing immunostimulant activity on CBMCs. However, Z. officinale oil showed no significant result at any concentration. K. galanga and C. longa oils also showed an increase in lymphocyte proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. The present study was aimed to evaluate the immunomodulatory potentialities of essential oils which will attract the interest of researchers and pharmaceutical industries for clinical studies and other applications in the therapy of diseases related to neonatal infections.

Proximate nutrient composition of some wild edible medicinal plants from Uganda

There are high levels of malnutrition especially among children in Africa. In Uganda, this is compounded by widespread food insecurity. There are various wild edible plant species in Uganda. However, little research has been carried out to document and validate the claims associated with their use. A study was, therefore, carried out to analyse the nutritional contents of six commonly used wild edible medicinal plant species from Nebbi district in Northwestern Uganda. These plants were Erythrococca bongensis, Grewia trichocarpa, Leptadenia hastata, Nymphaea lotus, Oxygonum sinuatum and Talinum portulacifolium. The plants were selected mainly because of their use as both food and medicine. All the selected plant species have documented medicinal uses among the local communities in Nebbi district where they are used. However, many of them are often neglected and underutilized, despite their potential therapeutic and nutritional benefits. The vitamin C, β-carotene, macronutrient, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorous and sodium compositions of the selected edible parts of the plant species were analysed. With the exception of Grewia trichocarpa fruits and Nymphaea lotus seeds, the leaves of Talinum portulacifolium had higher Fe (4.54±0.07 mg/100g), P (0.31±0.01 mg/100g), Mg (0.3±0.3 mg/100g), β-carotene (0.275±0.00 μg/100g) and crude ash (22.13±0.19%) contents than the rest of the plant species. The leaves of Leptadenia hastata had higher levels of vitamin C (17.93±2.01 mg/100g) than the leaves of other plant species. All the plant species analysed were richer in iron than the common cabbage Brassica oleracea var capitata. There were significant differences in the nutritional contents of the plant species analysed (p<0.05). However, the nutrient values of the plant extracts were generally much lower, providing a small percentage of Recommended Dietary Allowance or Recommended Nutrient Intakes (RNI) values. The vitamin C, β-carotene and other nutrient contents of most of the plant species analysed were generally comparable or even higher than those of the common cabbage in some instances. Consumption and conservation of these plant species should be encouraged by local authorities because they not only supplement the local staples with the much needed nutrients, but they could also have medicinal properties. Key words: Wild, edible, Medicinal plants, Nutrient, Food-security, food, underutilized, Uganda

Mahanine exerts in vitro and in vivo antileishmanial activity by modulation of redox homeostasis

Earlier we have established a carbazole alkaloid (mahanine) isolated from an Indian edible medicinal plant as an anticancer agent with minimal effect on normal cells. Here we report for the first time that mahanine-treated drug resistant and sensitive virulent Leishmania donovani promastigotes underwent apoptosis through phosphatidylserine externalization, DNA fragmentation and cell cycle arrest. An early induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) suggests that the mahanine-induced apoptosis was mediated by oxidative stress. Additionally, mahanine-treated Leishmania-infected macrophages exhibited anti-amastigote activity by nitric oxide (NO)/ROS generation along with suppression of uncoupling protein 2 and Th1-biased cytokines response through modulating STAT pathway. Moreover, we have demonstrated the interaction of a few antioxidant enzymes present in parasite with mahanine through molecular modeling. Reduced genetic and protein level expression of one such enzyme namely ascorbate peroxidase was also observed in mahanine-treated promastigotes. Furthermore, oral administration of mahanine in acute murine model exhibited almost complete reduction of parasite burden, upregulation of NO/iNOS/ROS/IL-12 and T cell proliferation. Taken together, we have established a new function of mahanine as a potent antileishmanial molecule, capable of inducing ROS and exploit antioxidant enzymes in parasite along with modulation of host’s immune response which could be developed as an inexpensive and nontoxic therapeutics either alone or in combination.

Contents of Heavy Metals in Chinese Edible Herbs: Evidence from a Case Study of Epimedii Folium.

Toxic heavy metal contamination in Chinese edible herbs has raised a worldwide concern. In this study, heavy metals in Epimedii Folium, an edible medicinal plant in China, were quantitatively analyzed. Variations of heavy metals in different species, in various organs (i.e., leaves, stems, and roots), in wild-growing and cultivated plants, and in 35 market samples of Epimedii Folium, were systematically investigated. In all of Epimedium samples, Hg (mercury) was not detectable (0.00μg/g). Four species, Epimedium pubescens, Epimedium sagittatum, Epimedium brevicornu, and Epimedium wushanense, were found to contain Cu (copper) and Pb (lead). And contents of Cu and Pb in E. brevicornu were significantly higher than those in other species (P<0.01). In wild-growing and cultivated Epimedium plants, Cd (cadmium) and As (arsenic) were not detectable, and concentrations of Cu and Pb in wild-growing plants were significantly higher than those in cultivated plants (P<0.01). Cd was not detectable in leaves, roots, and stems, while organ specificity was apparent in the distribution of Cu, As, and Pb. And the highest levels of Cu and Pb were observed in roots and leaves, respectively. In Chinese markets, several samples of Epimedii Folium contained excessive Cu, Cd, As, and Pb beyond the national permissible limits. In summary, there was a large variation of heavy metals among Epimedii Folium samples, and Cu and Pb were the most important heavy metals contaminating the edible medicinal plant. Application of Epimedii Folium to drug and food industries will need to focus more on toxic heavy metal contamination.

A novel bioactive edible coating based on sodium alginate and galbanum gum incorporated with essential oil of Ziziphora persica: The antioxidant and antimicrobial activity, and application in food model

Galbanum, an aromatic oleo-resin gum, is produced from umbelliferous Persian plant species in the genus Ferula with the common Persian name “Barije”, chiefly endemic flora of the mountain ranges of northern Iran. Ziziphora persica is an edible medicinal plant, which is widely distributed in Iran, Turkey and Eurasian countries. The aims of the present research were to produce novel bioactive edible coatings based on sodium alginate (Alg), galbanum oleo-resin gum (GG) and the biocomposite of alginate and galbanum (CAG) containing different concentration of Ziziphora essential oil (ZEO), and evaluate the antioxidant and the antimicrobial activities of these substances in vitro and their effect on the quality and shelf life of chicken fillet during cold storage. Overall, the MIC and MBC values of GG and ZEO extracts ranging from 1.25 to 50 (μg mL−1) proved that gram-positive bacteria were more susceptible to GG and ZEO than gram-negative bacteria. The high phenolic and flavonoid contents and antioxidant activities of GG and ZEO were proved by in vitro analysis. Results showed that coatings of Alg had no significant effect on decreasing the microbial load of aerobic mesophilic and psychrotrophic bacteria, lactic acid bacteria, Pseudomonas spp., and Enterobacteriaceae, as well as L. monocytogenes (p > 0.05), while the coating of fillet with GG, CAG alone and in combination with ZEO showed a significant differences with the other treatments during 12 days of storage (p < 0.05). The results also showed that TVBN, TBARS and peroxide formation in the samples treated by GG/ZEO was significantly lower than other groups (p < 0.05).

Taxonomical Identification of Himalayan Edible Medicinal Plants in Bhutan and the Phenolic Contents and Antioxidant Activity of Selected Plants

In this study, 71 species of edible medicinal plants belonging to 49 families were identified. These medicinal plants (beside therapeutic applications in Sowa Rigpa medicine) are used as food, fruit and vegetables in Bhutan. Five Himalayan medicinal plants were further studied for their phenolic content and antioxidant activity. Hypecoum leptocarpum Hook. f. & Thompson contained maximum phenolic content. The antioxidant activities were determined by DRSA and FRAP assays from water and methanol extracts. Overall, among five plants investigated, Lepisorus contortus (Christ) Ching, H. leptocarpum and Podophyllum hexandrum Royle gave good yield of phenolics content and best antioxidant activity. This study demonstrates that edible medicinal plants could be a potential source of natural antioxidants that can boost the immune system.

Polyphenol rich ethanolic extract from Boerhavia diffusa L. mitigates angiotensin II induced cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis in rats.

Boerhavia diffusa is a renowned edible medicinal plant extensively used against different ailments including heart diseases in the traditional system of medicine in several countries. The present study aims to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of ethanolic extract of Boerhavia diffusa (BDE) on cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis induced by angiotensin II (Ang II) in male wistar rats and to identify the active components present in it. A substantial increase of hypertrophy markers such as cardiac mass index, concentration of ANP and BNP, cardiac injury markers like CK-MB, LDH and SGOT, has been observed in hypertrophied groups whereas BDE treatment attenuated these changes when compared to hypertrophied rats. Moreover, Ang II induced myocardial oxidative stress was reduced by BDE which was apparent from diminished level of lipid and protein oxidation products, increased activities of membrane bound ATPases and endogenous antioxidant enzymes along with enhanced translocation of Nrf2 from the cytosol to nucleus. It appears that BDE evokes its antioxidant effects by attenuating lipid peroxidation, enhancing the translocation of Nrf2 from the cytoplasm to nucleus as well as by regulating the metabolism of glutathione. The extent of fibrosis during cardiac hypertrophy was determined by histopathology analysis and the results revealed that BDE treatment considerably reduced the fibrosis in the heart. HPLC analysis of BDE leads to the identification of four compounds viz., quercetin, kaempferol, boeravinone B and caffeic acid. The study substantiate the effect of B. diffusa in protecting the heart from pathological hypertrophy and the attenuation of cardiac abnormalities may be partly attributed through the reduction of oxidative stress and cardiac fibrosis. Since the plant is widely used as a green leafy vegetable, incorporation of this plant in diet may be an alternative way for the prevention and better management of heart diseases and associated complications.

Momordica charantia: a popular health-promoting vegetable with multifunctionality.

Products derived from edible medicinal plants have been used for centuries to prevent, treat, and even cure multiple diseases. Momordica charantia L., widely cultivated around the world, is a typical one bred for vegetables and medicinal usage. All parts of M. charantia possess important medicinal properties, including antidiabetic, anticancer, hypotensive, anti-obesity, antimicrobial, antihyperlipidemic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immuno-modulatory, anthelmintic, neuro-protective, as well as hepato-protective properties both in vitro and in vivo. This review summarizes the active components and medicinal properties of M. charantia, especially the activities and mechanisms of its anti-diabetic and anti-cancer properties. The anti-diabetic properties involve inhibiting intestinal α-glucosidase and glucose transport, protecting islet β-cells, enhancing insulin secretion, increasing hepatic glucose disposal, decreasing gluconeogenesis, and even ameliorating insulin resistance. Moreover, the expressions of PPARs could also be activated and up-regulated. Meanwhile, its anticancer properties are mostly due to apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, and expression of serum factors associated with immunity. In this review, we aim to provide an overview of M. charantia and its benefits for development as a functional food.

Proteinease inhibition, membrane stabilization, antioxidant and phytochemical evaluations of leaves, seeds and calyces of four selected edible medicinal plants

AbstractThe aqueous extracts of the edible parts of four common medicinal plants (Hibiscus sabdariffa, Telfairia occidentalis, Moringa oleifera and Ocimum gratissimum) readily consumed as food or supplements in many African settings are examined for some of their acclaimed pharmacological activities and possible potential associated risks. The classes of phytochemicals present are examined qualitatively and quantitatively, while the antioxidant activities were determined using three assays which include 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′-azinobis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate (ABTS) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) assays. The anti-inflammatory activities were also examined using proteinase inhibitory assays and red blood cell membrane stabilisation assays. Both the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of the plants indicated that the plants have potentials for applications in foods and nutraceuticals that can be used for the management of various ailments and diseases. However, the consu...

Novel protease from the leaves of edible medicinal plantAster koraiensisNakai with antithrombotic activity: Purification and partial characterization

Nakaiase, a novel protease with antithrombotic and anticoagulant properties was purified from the leaves of Aster koraiensis Nakai, an edible medicinal plant. It had a molecular weight of 23 kDa, as confirmed by SDS-PAGE analysis. The protease was active at 30 °C and pH 7.0. The amidolytic activity of nakaiase was inhibited by EDTA, EGTA, and several metal ions (Ca, Ni, and Zn). Nakaiase inhibited fibrin clot formation and degraded blood clot. It also inhibit activated factor X and thrombin enzymatic activity. In addition, nakaiase prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time and prothrombin time. Further, the protease exerted significant protective effects against thrombin-induced pulmonary thromboembolism in mice. Nakaiase at a dose of 20 mg/kg was devoid of hemorrhagic activity. These results suggest that nakaiase has similar property to metalloprotease-like protease, and has potential as a therapeutic agent for thrombosis owing to its antithrombotic properties and lack of hemorrhagic activity. Practical applications Aster koraiensis Nakai, an edible medicinal plant, has long been used as a traditional medicine and healthy food source in Korea because of its pharmacological efficacy. This study provides beneficial information regarding the antithrombotic potential of A. koraiensis Nakai and bioactive enzymes. Our findings clarify the antithrombotic activities of a new purified protease, which is useful in the development of potential natural pharmacological resources and agents for functional food and clinical application.

Pharmacological Effects of Capparis spinosa L.

Medicinal plants have been known as one of the most important therapeutic agents since ancient times. During the last two decades, much attention has been paid to the health-promoting effects of edible medicinal plants, because of multiple beneficial effects and negligible adverse effects. Capparis spinosa L. is one of the most common medicinal plants, used widely in different parts of the world to treat numerous human diseases. This paper aims to critically review the available scientific literature regarding the health-promoting effects of C. spinosa, its traditional uses, cultivation protocols and phytochemical constituents. Recently, a wide range of evidence has shown that this plant possesses different biological effects, including antioxidant, anticancer and antibacterial effects. Phytochemical analysis shows that C. spinosa has high quantities of bioactive constituents, including polyphenolic compounds, which are responsible for its health-promoting effects, although many of these substances are present in low concentrations and significant changes in their content occur during processing. In addition, there is negligible scientific evidence regarding any adverse effects. Different health promotion activities, as well as tremendous diversity of active constituents, make C. spinosa a good candidate for discovering new drugs. However these findings are still in its infancy and future experimental and clinical studies are needed. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Enzymatic Water Extraction of Polysaccharides fromEpimedium brevicornuand Their Antioxidant Activity and Protective Effect Against DNA Damage

A protocol of enzymatic water extraction was developed to isolate antiradical and DNA damage inhibitory polysaccharides from Epimedium brevicornu (EbP) using single factor experiments and orthogonal test for the first time. Compared to conventinal heating extraction, enzymatic water extraction dramatically enhanced extraction yield, shortened extraction duration, reduced extractant consumption and decreased extraction temperature. Structural features of EbP were investigated by infrared spectroscopy. And some other physicochemical properties like solubility of EbP were identified. EbP obtained by enzymatic water extraction exhibited ability to scavenge DPPH• and ABTS+• radicals. Consistent with their free radical-scavenging activities, Epimedium polysaccharides possessed protective effect against plasmid DNA damage induced by oxidative stress. In summary, enzymatic water extraction seems to be a promising technique for separating Epimedium polysaccharides, which might act as a natural antioxidant or a chemopreventive agent due to their free radical-scavenging capacity and protective activity against DNA damage caused by oxidative stress. Practical Applications Polysaccharides are considered one of the most important bioactive constituents in the famous edible medicinal plant, Epimedium brevicornu. In the present study, enzymatic water extraction of polysaccharides from Epimedium brevicornu was optimized for further large-scale industrial processing for the first time. Epimedium polysaccharides obtained by enzymatic water extraction have proved to possess antioxidant and DNA damage inhibitory activities, which show great potential for becoming a nutraceutical in healthy foods or even a phytopharmaceutical.