Peucedanum Japonicum Research Articles

산국과 감국의 자생지 환경특성과 식생 비교

This study compared the differences between the Dendranthema boreale and Dendranthema indicum in their habitat, soil adaptability, species composition and community structure in Korea. More D. boreale distributed than D. indicum to in the place where high elevation and on the surface of low degree slope. Both D. boreale and D. indicum growed well in south-east direction of the slope. The soil pH of D. boreale and D. indicum was 6.1 and 7.1, respectively. Ca, Mg, Na and organic matter content of the soil of D. boreale habitat was significantly lower than that of the D. indicum habitat. There were 102 and 88 taxa, in D. boreale and D. indicum habitat, respectively. Both species generally distributed along with herbs than along with trees. The important species found in D. boreale habitat were Artemisia princeps (57.1%) and Humulus japonicus (33.3%), and the D. indicum habitat were Miscanthus sinensis (42.9%) and Lonicera japonica (38.1%). The D. boreale group was classified into Artemisia princeps, Crepidiastrum denticulatum, Miscanthus sinensis, Humulus japonicus, Pueraria lobata, Lespedeza bicolor, Lonicera japonica and Rubus crataegifolius community. The D. indicum group was classified into Artemisia capillaris, Peucedanum japonicum, Boehmeria pannosa, Pinus thunbergii, Lonicera japonica, Quercus acutissima and Robinia pseudoacacia community. There is a large difference bewteen D. boreale and D. indicum in their habitat, soil adaptability, species composition and community structure.

与那国島産ボタンボウフウを含有する飲料摂取による下肢むくみ改善効果

与那国島産ボタンボウフウを含有する飲料摂取による下肢むくみ改善効果

Effect of Peucedanum japonicum Thunb Extract on High-fat Diet-induced Obesity and Gene Expression in Mice

Supplementation of the diet with Peucedanum japonicum Thunb (PJT) powder inhibits high-fat diet-induced obesity in mice. Either the fiber component or other bioactive components in the PJT powder may inhibit obesity. This study, therefore, was an attempt to identify the components, fiber or other phytochemicals of PJT that were responsible for the anti-obesity activity, and also studied the modulation of obesity-related gene expression in C57BL/6 mice. Animals were fed a modified-AIN76 diet supplemented with PJT powder or extracts of PJT in water, 50 % ethanol, or ethanol. Body weight gain, tissue weight, serum biochemical parameters, liver lipid concentrations, and gene expression in tissues were compared between the control and treatment groups. Of the extracts, the ethanol extract of PJT decreased fat accumulation and adipocyte size, reduced serum and liver triglyceride concentrations, and inhibited obesity. This finding clearly demonstrates the presence of anti-obesity phytochemicals in PJT. Ethanol extract of PJT inhibited lipase activity in vitro. Modulation of gene expression by PJT ethanol extract was largely similar to that by PJT powder in the hepatic and adipose tissues: RORC and PBEF1 were upregulated and DUSP1, INSIG2, and SERPINA12 were downregulated in the liver; FXRα and PPARγ were upregulated and PEG1/MEST, the size-marker of adipocytes, was downregulated in the adipose tissue. Furthermore, PJT ethanol extract increased the expression of the UCP3 gene in muscle. These results suggest that the anti-obesity phytochemicals in PJT lower lipid levels by inhibiting fat absorption and by modulating obesity-related gene expression in the liver, adipose tissue, and muscle.

Labedaea rhizosphaerae gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from rhizosphere soil

A novel actinomycete, designated strain RS-49(T), was isolated from the rhizosphere soil of a cliff-associated plant (Peucedanum japonicum Thunb.) in the Republic of Korea and subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic study. The results of comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses showed that the organism belonged to the family Pseudonocardiaceae, suborder Pseudonocardineae and that it was most closely related to members of the genera Kibdelosporangium (96.6-97.0% sequence similarity), Actinokineospora (96.3-96.7%), Streptoalloteichus (96.2%) and Actinophytocola (96.2%). Substrate mycelia were well-developed and whitish or pale yellow to strong yellow. Aerial mycelia were branched and fragmented into rod-shaped elements. Single spherical spores were produced directly on the substrate mycelium. Sporangium-like structures and fragmentation of the substrate mycelium were absent. The diagnostic diamino acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan was meso-diaminopimelic acid. The acyl type of the muramic acid residues in the peptidoglycan was N-acetylated. Whole-cell sugars were glucose, rhamnose, galactose, ribose, mannose, arabinose and xylose. The major menaquinone was MK-9(H(4)). Small amounts of MK-8 and MK-9(H(2)) were also detected. The polar lipids contained diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidyldimethylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, an unknown phospholipid and an unknown lipid. The predominant fatty acids were iso-C(15:0) and iso-C(16:0). The DNA G+C content was 64.2 mol%. The phenotypic and phylogenetic characteristics show that strain RS-49(T) can be differentiated from members of all genera in the suborder Pseudonocardineae and thus represents a novel species in a new genus for which the name Labedaea rhizosphaerae gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain of the type species is RS-49(T) ( = KCTC 19662(T) = DSM 45361(T)).

Effect of Peucedanum japonicum Thunb on the Expression of Obesity-Related Genes in Mice on a High-Fat Diet

The present study describes the effect of Peucedanum japonicum Thunb (PJT) intake on the expression of obesity-related genes in mice fed a high-fat diet. To explore the mechanism underlying the effect of PJT, This study focused on the expression of genes, especially those related to obesity and metabolism syndrome, in the liver and adipose tissues. In agreement with our previous observations, intake of 10 % PJT for 4 weeks significantly reduced serum triglyceride (TG), leptin, abdominal fat, and adipocyte size. PJT also significantly increased fecal excretion of TG, decreased that of bile acid, and tended to increase the fecal excretion of total cholesterol. Microarray analysis was used to monitor changes in 324 metabolic syndrome-related genes in the liver. Statistically significant upregulation of PPP1R10, RORC, and PBEF1 genes and downregulation of DUSP1, INSIG2, and SERPINA12 genes were noted and confirmed by real-time RT-PCR. These changes were indicative of increased fatty acid oxidation in the maintenance of lipid homeostasis and insulin sensitivity in the livers of PJT-fed mice. PJT increased the expression of PPARγ, FXRα, DGAT1, and ATGL genes, suggesting an enhancement of adipocyte differentiation and normalization of functionality of adipose tissue.

Peucedanum japonicum Thunb Inhibits High‐fat Diet Induced Obesity in Mice

This study examined the antiobese activity of Peucedanum japonicum Thunb (PJT) in mice. In the first experiment, 4-week-old C57BL/6 mice were fed seven different diets containing 15% corn oil and 0-20% PJT powder for 4 weeks. Feeding the 10% and 20% PJT diet suppressed the body weight gain and the accumulation of abdominal and subcutaneous fats. PJT reduced serum and liver levels of triglyceride and serum levels of leptin in a dose-dependent manner. PJT intake decreased the proportion of saturated fatty acids and increased polyunsaturated and n-3 fatty acids in the liver. To obtain more insight into the antiobese activity of PJT, its effect on lipid absorption and enzyme activities related to lipid metabolism was studied in the second experiment. There was an increased faecal excretion of triglyceride in mice fed 5% and 10% PJT diets. Fatty acid synthase activity was decreased while carnitine palmitoyltransferase activity was increased by 10% PJT intake. These findings pointed to the usefulness of PJT for the development of a safe natural agent to reduce obesity or body weight for the first time. The rationale for the lipid lowering mechanism of PJT and the candidate compound responsible for the observations have also been discussed.

Nocardioides ultimimeridianus sp. nov. and Nocardioides maradonensis sp. nov., isolated from rhizosphere soil

Two novel Gram-reaction-positive, rod-shaped actinobacterial strains, designated RP-B26(T) and RP-B30(T), were isolated from rhizosphere soil of a cliff-associated plant (Peucedanum japonicum Thunb.) which was collected from Mara Island, Republic of Korea. The colonies of the isolates were circular, smooth, convex and moderately yellow-light-yellow in colour. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that the isolates belonged to the family Nocardioidaceae and formed two distinct sublineages within the radiation of the genus Nocardioides. 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between the isolates was 98.2 %. The closest phylogenetic neighbours of strain RP-B26(T) were Nocardioides humi DCY24(T) and Nocardioides kongjuensis A2-4(T) with 97.4 and 97.0 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, respectively, whereas 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities between strain RP-B30(T) and N. humi DCY24(T) and N. kongjuensis A2-4(T) were 96.5 and 96.0 %, respectively. Both of the isolates contained ll-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid in the cell walls. The predominant menaquinone was MK-8(H(4)). The polar lipids were phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylglycerol. The fatty acid profiles of the isolates were characterized by the presence of saturated, unsaturated, 10-methyl and hydroxyl fatty acids, with small amounts of branched fatty acids. The DNA G+C contents of strains RP-B26(T) and RP-B30(T) were 73.0 and 71.7 mol%, respectively. Levels of DNA-DNA relatedness between the isolates were 44.9 ± 1.5 % (thermal renaturation method) and 43.2 % (photobiotin-labelled method); the isolates showed low DNA-DNA relatedness values (<11 %) to the most closely related strain, N. humi KCTC 19265(T). On the basis of the phenotypic, genotypic and DNA-DNA hybridization data presented here, the isolates are considered to represent two novel species of the genus Nocardioides, for which the names Nocardioides ultimimeridianus sp. nov. (type strain RP-B26(T) = KCTC 19368(T) = DSM 19768(T)) and Nocardioides maradonensis sp. nov. (type strain RP-B30(T) = KCTC 19384(T) = DSM 19769(T)) are proposed.

Frondihabitans peucedani sp. nov., an actinobacterium isolated from rhizosphere soil, and emended description of the genus Frondihabitans Greene et al. 2009

A novel actinobacterium, designated RS-15T, was isolated from rhizosphere soil of a plant (Peucedanum japonicum Thunb.) on Mara Island, Jeju, Republic of Korea. Cells were strictly aerobic, Gram-stain-positive, oxidase-negative, catalase-positive, non-motile, irregular, short rods. The peptidoglycan in the cell wall was of the B2beta type with ornithine as the diagnostic diamino acid. The major menaquinone was MK-8; small amounts of MK-9 and MK-7 were also present. The polar lipids contained phosphatidylglycerol, five unknown glycolipids, three unknown phospholipids and two unknown lipids. Mycolic acids were not present. The predominant fatty acids were summed feature 7 (one or more of C18:1omega9c, C18:1omega12t and C18:1omega7c), anteiso-C15:0 and C14:0 2-OH. The DNA G+C content was 68.3 mol%. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain RS-15T belonged to the family Microbacteriaceae and formed a tight phylogenetic cluster with Frondihabitans australicus E1HC-02T (98.5% sequence similarity). The DNA-DNA relatedness between strain RS-15T and Frondihabitans australicus DSM 17894T was 17.2% (17.1%, duplicate measurements). On the basis of the physiological, chemotaxonomic and DNA-DNA hybridization data, strain RS-15T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Frondihabitans, for which the name Frondihabitans peucedani sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is RS-15T (=KCTC 13435T =DSM 22180T). An emended description of the genus Frondihabitans is also presented.

Amycolatopsis ultiminotia sp. nov., isolated from rhizosphere soil, and emended description of the genus Amycolatopsis

A novel actinomycete, designated strain RP-AC36(T), was isolated from a cliff-associated plant (Peucedanum japonicum Thunb.) in the Republic of Korea and its taxonomic status was determined by using a polyphasic approach. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that the organism formed a distinct clade within the radiation of the genus Amycolatopsis. The chemotaxonomic properties supported the assignment of the isolate to the genus Amycolatopsis. High levels of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity were found with Amycolatopsis sulphurea (98.2 %), Amycolatopsis halotolerans (97.5 %) and Amycolatopsis jejuensis (97.1 %). DNA-DNA relatedness data, together with phenotypic differences, clearly distinguished the isolate from its closest relative A. sulphurea. Based on the phenotypic and genotypic evidence, it is suggested that the organism be assigned as representing a novel species of the genus Amycolatopsis, for which the name Amycolatopsis ultiminotia sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is RP-AC36(T) (=NRRL B-24662(T)=DSM 45180(T)).

Ecological Characteristics and Distribution of Native Scrophularia takesimensis in Ulleung-do Island

Scrophularia takesimensis Nakai called Sum-Hyun-Sam, growing about 1m in high is a perennial plant of Scrophulariaceae. Because the number of these species is very limited in the world, the Ministry of Environment has appointed S. takesimensis as a preserved plant. The Korea Forest Service also protects it strictly by the law since S. takesimensis is an out-of-the-way plant and possible to be exterminated soon in Korea. Investigation for distribution and ecological characteristics of the habitat for S. takesimensis was carried out in Ulleung-do Island. S. takesimensis has a tendency to emerged with Calystegia soldanella Roem. et Schultb. and Artemisia japonica subsp. littoricola Kitam. C. soldanella community were developed on the dry and well-lighted as east or north facing conditions. A. japonica subsp. littoricola community have tendency to developed on the properly lighted as west or north facing and well maintained soil or air humidity. C. soldanella community were developed on the sandy gravel or gravel and grew with Farfugium japonicum, (L.) Kitam., Lonicera japonica Thunb., and Peucedanum japonicum Thunb.. A. japonica subsp. littoricola communities were emerged on the rock beds or pile of rocks and grew with Sedum oryzifolium Makino, Sedum takesimense Nakai, and Spergularia marina (L.) Griseb..

Effect of Initial Density of Meloidogyne hapla on its Pathogenic Potential and Reproduction in Three Species of Medicinal Plants

The pathogenic potential and reproduction fitness of Meloidogyne hapla on three species of medicinal plants, Angelica koreana, Peucedanum japonicum and Astragalus membranaceus was determined in potted soil under greenhouse conditions. Three weeks old seedlings were inoculated with population density (Pi) of 1000; 2000; 3000; 4000; 5000 and 10000 juveniles (J2)/kg soil. A significant damage was observed in shoot and root length, weight and root-diameter of these plants by all Pi levels at 90-day postinoculation. Damage increased with increase in Pi up to 5000 J2/kg soil. At 5000 Pi caused 34.8, 34.1 and 33.3% reduction in root weight of Ang. koreana, P. japonicum and Ast. membranaceus, respectively. Greater root gall severity was observed on Ang. koreana and P. japonicum than on Ast. membranaceus at all Pi levels. At 5000 Pi, root gall severity was 5.0, 5.0, and 3.0 on Ang. koreana, P. japonicum and Ast. membranaceus, respectively. Increasing rate of Pi exponentially reduced reproductive factor (Rf) of M. hapla on all of these medicinal plants. However, Rf was higher on Ang. koreana and P. japonicum than on Ast. membranaceus at all Pi levels. The host status of these medicinal plants renders them unsuitable for their use in crop rotation system in M. hapla-infested fields.

Antidiabetic coumarin and cyclitol compounds fromPeucedanum japonicum

The antidiabetic activity-guided fractionation and isolation of the 80% EtOH extracts from Peucedani Radix (Peucedanum japonicum, Umbelliferae) led to the isolation and characterization of a coumarin and a cyclitol as active principles, that is, peucedanol 7-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (1) and myo-inositol (2). Their structures were identified by spectroscopic methods. Compound 1 showed 39% inhibition of postprandial hyperglycemia at 5.8 mg/kg dose, and compound 2 also significantly inhibited postprandial hyperglycemia by 34% (P<0.05).

The modifying effect of Peucedanum japonicum, a herb in the Ryukyu Islands, on azoxymethane-induced colon preneoplastic lesions in male F344 rats

The modifying effect of dietary Peucedanum japonicum (PJ), which is a traditional herb in the Ryukyu Islands and is an anti-oxidant, on azoxymethane (AOM)-induced rat colon carcinogenesis was examined. Male F344 rats were divided into six groups: rats in groups 1–4 were given subcutaneous injection of AOM (20 mg/kg body weight) once a week for 2 weeks. Rats in groups 2, 3 and 4 were fed the diets containing 0.2 and 1% PJ and 0.025% chlorogenic acid, respectively. We observed modification of the preneoplastic lesions of both aberrant crypt foci (ACF) and β-catenin accumulated crypts (BCAC) in colon carcinogenesis, microscopically and immunohistochemically. The numbers of ACF consisting of more than four aberrant crypts per rat in groups 2 (3.2±1.7) and 3 (3.0±3.2) were significantly lower than that of group 1 (10.8±4.9; P<0.05, respectively). The mean number of BCAC in both groups 2 (0.88±0.48/cm 2/rat) and 3 (0.81±0.34/cm 2/rat) was significantly lower than that in group 1 (2.13±0.54/cm 2/rat; P<0.0001, respectively). In addition, proliferating cell nuclear antigen labeling indices in group 2 (10.98±2.03) and group 3 (9.85±2.62) were significantly lower than that in group 1 (14.87±3.93; P<0.001 and P<0.0001, respectively). These findings indicate that PJ inhibits both ACF formation and accumulation of β-catenin, and that PJ also reduces the cell proliferation activity, suggesting that PJ may have chemopreventive potential for colon carcinogenesis.

Constituents of the leaves of Peucedanum japonicum Thunb. and their biological activity.

In the course of our study on the isolation and structure determination of constituents in tropical plants, we focused on Peucedanum japonicum Thunb., belonging to the family Umbelliferae. In this study, a new C(13) norisoprenoid glucoside, (3S)-O-beta-d-glucopyranosyl-6-[3-oxo-(2S)-butenylidenyl]-1,1,5-trimethylcyclohexan-(5R)-ol (1), and two new phenylpropanoid glucosides, 3-(2-O-beta-d-glucopyranosyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propanoic acid (3) and methyl 3-(2-O-beta-d-glucopyranosyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propanoate (4), were isolated from the n-butanol soluble fraction of this plant's leaves, together with five known compounds. The structures of these compounds were determined on the basis of spectroscopic evidence. In addition, all isolated compounds were examined for scavenging activity against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical and inhibitory activity against mushroom tyrosinase. These results suggested that 2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)propane-1,3-diol (7) and 3-O-beta-d-glucopyranosyl-2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)propanol (8) showed an appreciable activity in both assay systems.

Antioxidant compounds from the leaves of Peucedanum japonicum thunb.

Seventeen compounds were isolated from the n-butanol soluble fraction of the leaves of Peucedanum japonicum Thunb. On the basis of MS and various NMR spectroscopic techniques, the structures of the isolated compounds were determined as isoquercitrin (1), rutin (2), 3-O-caffeoylquinic acid (3), 4-O-caffeoylquinic acid (4), 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid (5), cnidioside A (6), praeroside II (7), praeroside III (8), apterin (9), esculin (10), (R)-peucedanol (11), (R)-peucedanol 7-O-beta-d-glucopyranoside (12), l-tryptophan (13), uracil (14), guanosine (15), uridine (16), and thymidine (17). All compounds except 11 and 12 were isolated for the first time from P. japonicum. Several isolated compounds were quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography analysis. In addition, all isolated compounds were examined for radical scavenging on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical and for inhibition of oxidation of liposome induced by 2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane)dihydrochloride. Compounds 2-5 were found to be the major potent constituents, which contribute to the antioxidant activity of P. japonicum leaves.

Mechanisms of relaxant action of a pyranocoumarin from Peucedanum japonicum in isolated rat thoracic aorta.

The CHCl(3) -soluble fraction obtained from the MeOH extract of Peucedanum japonicum Thunb. inhibited phenylephrine-induced vasoconstriction in isolated rat thoracic aorta. We isolated a vasorelaxing compound, as one of the bioactive components, which was identified as (+)- cis-4'- O-acetyl-3'- O-angeloylkhellactone (1), a pyranocoumarin, and examined the mechanisms of vasorelaxant effect caused by 1. This compound (1) (10(-6)-10(-4) M) concentration-dependently relaxed the isolated rat thoracic aorta pre-contracted with phenylephrine (PE). This vasorelaxant potency was diminished by endothelial removal (by 20%), L- N(G)-nitro-arginine or methylene blue (MB), but not indomethacin treatment. These findings indicate that the vasorelaxant effect of 1 was partially endothelium dependent and mediated by nitric oxide and cyclic GMP pathway. To determine if the effect of 1 was mediated through the activation of some of the receptors known to lead to vascular relaxation, the effects of atropine, triprolidine and propranolol were determined. 1-induced vasorelaxation was not affected by atropine, triprolidine and propranolol. Compound 1 inhibited high potassium (80 mM)-induced, calcium-dependent contractions in a concentration-dependent manner. But it slightly relaxed the rat aorta precontracted with PE in the presence of nifedipine, a blocker of voltage-operated calcium channels. Tetraethylammonium (TEA, a non-specific (K+) channel blocker) did not affect the vasodilatory effect of 1 against PE-induced contraction. Mechanisms of the vasorelaxant effect of 1 were multiple, including endothelium dependence and Ca(2+) channel blockade.

Molecular markers in some medicinal plants of the Apiaceae family.

The internal transcribed spacers ITS1 and ITS2 in the18S-5.8S-26S rDNA repeat units were amplified and cloned from Angelica gigas Nakai, Angelica acutiloba (Siebold & Zucc.) Kitagawa, A. dahurica Maxim, Angelica decursiva (Miq.) Franch. & Savat, Bupleurum falcatum L. and Peucedanum japonicum Thunb. Sequence analyses showed that ITS1 is approx. 215 bp, the 5.8S gene is 162 bp and the ITS2 approx. 221 bp in all six species. The sequences are deposited at the EMBL Nucleotide Database. By including these new sequences in the Apiaceae phylogenetic tree, a third branch consisting of P. japonicum, A. gigas, P. decursivum and A. decursiva is added to theAngelica clade. Peucedanum does not forma distinct branch. The sequence obtained from Angelica dahurica collected in S. Korea is identical to that reported for the same species originating from China. A Bupleurum clade of three species was added to the tree showing closer relationship to theDaucus Laserpitium clade than the Angelica clade. RAPD analysis of all six species showed that the 10-base primer OPC-17 only, out of the20 Kit-C primers from Operon gave polymorphic banding patterns.

Pharmacological activities of khellactones, compounds isolated from Peucedanum japonicum THUNB. and Peucedanum praeruptorium DUNN.

The spasmolytic and antiallergic effects of AA and BB, compounds isolated from Peucedanum japonicum THUNB. (P. japonicum THUNB.) and Peucedanum praeruptorium DUNN. (P. praeruptorium DUNN.), were investigated in isolated smooth muscle and rat PCA. AA and BB showed noncompetitive antagonistic effects on Ach- and histamine-induced contraction in the isolated guinea pig ileum. Both AA and BB at 10(-6) g/ml caused a slight shift to the right of the dose-response curve for Ca2+ in isolated guinea pig ileum, and a concentration up to 3 x 10(-6) g/ml displayed noncompetitive antagonistic effects. The Ba2+ (3 x 10(-4) g/ml)-induced contraction in ileum and the histamine (10(-3) g/ml)-induced contraction in trachea were obtained to relaxation by AA and BB in a concentration-dependent fashion. AA and BB showed noncompetitive antagonist action on serotonin-induced contraction of the rat uterus excised 24-48 h after subcutaneous injection of female rats with estradiol. But, AA and BB were found to have hardly any inhibitory effect on rabbit thoracic aorta contractions induced by epinephrine (3 x 10(-6) g/ml). When the effect of oral administration of 40 mg/kg dose of BB was tested on the rat homologous PCA using anti-egg albumin mouse serum dilutions (1:100, 1:250, 1:500 and 1:750), it inhibited the 1:750 serum reaction 42.6%, but the inhibition rates for the other dilutions were 12-20%. Thus, based on the results of testing AA and BB, compounds isolated from P. japonicum THUNB. and P. praeruptorium DUNN. were confirmed to possess a spasmolytic effect on different types of smooth muscle and a mild antiallergic effect. These findings are of interest in regard to the medical uses of P. japonicum THUNB. and P. praeruptorium DUNN. as a herbal drug for bronchial asthma, spasmolytic effect, etc.

Antiplatelet action of 3',4'-diisovalerylkhellactone diester purified from Peucedanum japonicum Thunb.

3',4'-Diisovalerylkhellactone diester (PJ-1) is a coumarin derivative purified from the medicinal herb Peucedanum japonicum Thunb. We examined its in vitro effects on various aspects of platelet reactivity. PJ-1 inhibited the aggregation and ATP release of rabbit platelets induced by PAF (platelet-activating factor) and collagen. The IC50 values of PJ-1 and BN52021 on PAF (2 ng/ml)-induced platelet aggregation were about 56.3 and 22.0 microM, respectively. And, the IC50 value of PJ-1 toward collagen (10 microg/ml)-induced platelet aggregation was 89.4 microM. Although the platelet aggregation caused by arachidonic acid and thrombin were barely inhibited by PJ-1, the release reactions were partially suppressed. PJ-1 also inhibited the thromboxane B2 formation caused by collagen, while formations of thromboxane B2 and prostaglandin D2 caused by arachidonic acid were not affected. The phosphoinositide breakdown caused by PAF was inhibited by PJ-1, but those by other inducers were not affected significantly. PJ-1 inhibited the intracellular Ca2+ increase caused by PAF in fura-2-loaded platelets. PJ-1 also concentration-dependently inhibited [3H]PAF (3.03 ng/ml) binding to washed platelets with an IC50 value of 3.9 microM. It is concluded that the main antiplatelet effect of PJ-1 may be due to dual activities on the blockade of PAF receptor-induced activation and also the inhibition of phospholipase A2 in rabbit platelets.

Coumarin glycosides from Peucedanum japonicum

A new coumarin glycoside, peujaponiside [(R)-peucedanol 7-O-β-d-apiofuranosyl-(1→6)-β-d-glucopyranoside], was isolated from the roots of Peucedanum japonicum, and its structure was elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic and chemical methods.