Polyscias Fruticosa Research Articles

Application of DNA barcode ITS2to identify herbal medicinal materials

Nowadays, the demand for using herb plants to treat and protect human health is increasing. Along with the growing herbal market, the adulteration of herbal medicinal materials is increasing in many countries, including Vietnam. It is difficult to determine the origin of herbal medicinal materials by morphological or chemical methods when they are substituted by herbs from closely related species or adulterated intentionally by materials from unrelated plants or processed materials. Therefore, it is necessary to use molecular methods based on DNA markers. ITS is a highly conservative nuclear ribosomal marker that has been widely used in the identification of plant species. In this study, the ITS2 marker was used to identify 8 herbal medicinal materials, including 2 samples of polyscias(DLTN, DLBG), 2 samples of morinda (BKTN, BKQN), 2 samples of black zingiber (GDTN, GDYB) and 2 samples of black curcuma (NDTN, NDYB). Gene analysis and sequencing results showed that the DLTN and DLBG were Polyscias fruticosa; BKTN and BKQN were different species, Gynochthodes officinalis (BKTN) and Morinda officinalis (BKQN); GDTN and GDYB were Kaempferia parviflora; NDTN and NDYB were Curcuma caesia. The research results show that the ITS2 indicator can be used to identify medicinal species.

Application of Response Surface Methodology for Optimizing the Extraction Conditions of Total Saponins from Polyscias fruticosa (L.) Harms Planted in Southern Vietnam

Aims: This study aimed to optimizing the extraction conditions for total saponins from Polyscias fruticosa using response surface methodology coupled with Box-Behnken design (RSM-BBD).
 Methodology: The optimization process for extraction of saponins from the roots of Polyscias fruticosa was involved in three parameters including extraction temperature, time, and solvent-to-sample ratio. The three levels of independent variables were identified by screening test. The response surface methodology conjugated with Box-Behnken design was then applied to investigate the affinities between the extraction variables and experimental response (extraction yield) which was expressed in terms of mg oleanolic acid equivalents (OAE) per gram of plant extract.
 Results: Based on the analysis of all integrated data, the optimal extraction conditions were predicted to be temperature of 60.91°C, extraction time of 4.57 hours and solvent/sample ratio of 10.3:1 (mL/g). The highest total saponins content value predicted by response surface methodology was 37.18 mg OAE/g of plant extract which was in close agreement with the corresponding experimental value of total saponins content (37.42 ± 0.26 mg OAE per g of plant extract) (n = 3, p < 0.05).
 Conclusion: The strong correlation between the real and the predicted data indicated that the response model was adequate to reflect the expected optimization.

Suspension Cell Culture of Polyscias fruticosa (L.) Harms in Bubble-Type Bioreactors-Growth Characteristics, Triterpene Glycosides Accumulation and Biological Activity.

Polyscias fruticosa (L.) Harms, or Ming aralia, is a medicinal plant of the Araliaceae family, which is highly valued for its antitoxic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antibacterial, anti-asthmatic, adaptogenic, and other properties. The plant can be potentially used to treat diabetes and its complications, ischemic brain damage, and Parkinson's disease. Triterpene glycosides of the oleanane type, such as 3-O-[β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D-glucuronopyranosyl] oleanolic acid 28-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester (PFS), ladyginoside A, and polysciosides A-H, are mainly responsible for biological activities of this species. In this study, cultivation of the cell suspension of P. fruticosa in 20 L bubble-type bioreactors was attempted as a sustainable method for cell biomass production of this valuable species and an alternative to overexploitation of wild plant resources. Cell suspension cultivated in bioreactors under a semi-continuous regime demonstrated satisfactory growth with a specific growth rate of 0.11 day-1, productivity of 0.32 g (L · day)-1, and an economic coefficient of 0.16 but slightly lower maximum biomass accumulation (~6.8 g L-1) compared to flask culture (~8.2 g L-1). Triterpene glycosides PFS (0.91 mg gDW-1) and ladyginoside A (0.77 mg gDW-1) were detected in bioreactor-produced cell biomass in higher concentrations compared to cells grown in flasks (0.50 and 0.22 mg gDW-1, respectively). In antibacterial tests, the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of cell biomass extracts against the most common pathogens Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant strain MRSA, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli varied within 250-2000 µg mL-1 which was higher compared to extracts of greenhouse plant leaves (MIC = 4000 µg mL-1). Cell biomass extracts also exhibited antioxidant activity, as confirmed by DPPH and TEAC assays. Our results suggest that bioreactor cultivation of P. fruticosa suspension cell culture may be a perspective method for the sustainable biomass production of this species.

Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Mechanisms of Lipophilic Fractions from Polyscias fruticosa Leaves Based on Network Pharmacology, In Silico, and In Vitro Approaches.

Polyscias fruticosa leaf (PFL) has been used in food and traditional medicine for the treatment of rheumatism, ischemia, and neuralgia. However, the lipophilic components of PFL and their biological properties remain unknown. This study, integrating network pharmacology analysis with in silico and in vitro approaches, aimed to elucidate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacities of lipophilic extracts from PFL. A total of 71 lipophilic compounds were identified in PFL using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Network pharmacology and molecular docking analyses showed that key active compounds, mainly phytosterols and sesquiterpenes, were responsible for regulating core target genes, such as PTGS2, TLR4, NFE2L2, PRKCD, KEAP1, NFKB1, NR1l2, PTGS1, AR, and CYP3A4, which were mostly enriched in oxidative stress and inflammation-related pathways. Furthermore, lipophilic extracts from PFL offered powerful antioxidant capacities, as evident in our cell-free antioxidant assays. These extracts also provided a protection against oxidative stress by inducing the expression of catalase and heme oxygenase-1 in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated RAW 264.7 cells. Additionally, lipophilic fractions from PFL showed anti-inflammatory potential in downregulating the level of pro-inflammatory factors in LPS-treated macrophages. Overall, these findings provide valuable insights into the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of lipophilic extracts from PFL, which can be used as a fundamental basis for developing nutraceuticals and functional foods.

Extraction of saponins, total soluble solids and antioxidant activity from Polyscias fruticosa roots

Polyscias fruticosa is a tropical plant that has been used as medicine and food in Asian countries for centuries. The roots of Polyscias fruticosa contain a significant amount of beneficial bioactive compounds including saponins, polyphenols and flavonoids. Although a few reports on the extraction of bioactive from Polyscias fruticosa roots have been published, the literature related to the effects of extraction parameters on the recovery of saponins, the predominant bioactive group in this medicinal plant is limited. In this study, the effects of ethanol concentration, temperature, extraction time and liquid-solid ratio on the recovery of total soluble solids (TSS), saponins and antioxidant activity (AA) of extracts from Polyscias fruticosa roots were investigated. The yield of saponins, TSS and AA were significantly affected by the extraction conditions. The extraction time of 120 mins resulted in the highest yield of TSS while the extraction time of 90 mins led to the highest recovery of saponins and AA. Total saponin recovery increased along with the increase in ethanol concentration and reached a plateau at 40% of ethanol concentration. In addition, the temperature of 50oC and the liquid-solid ratio of 40/1 (mL/g) were found to be the most favourable conditions for the extraction. The results of this study were applicable for the process development on larger scales to produce saponin-rich products from Polyscias fruticosa roots.

Neuroprotective Effects of Ethanol Extract of Polyscias fruticosa (EEPF) against Glutamate-Mediated Neuronal Toxicity in HT22 Cells.

In traditional herbal medicine, the Polyscias fruticosa has been frequently used for the treatment of ischemia and inflammation. Oxidative stress mediated by elevated glutamate levels cause neuronal cell death in ischemia and various neurodegenerative diseases. However, so far, the neuroprotective effects of this plant extract against glutamate-mediated cell death have not been investigated in cell models. The current study investigates the neuroprotective effects of ethanol extracts of Polyscias fruticosa (EEPF) and elucidates the underlying molecular mechanisms of EEPFs relevant to neuroprotection against glutamate-mediated cell death. The oxidative stress-mediated cell death was induced by 5 mM glutamate treatment in HT22 cells. The cell viability was measured by a tetrazolium-based EZ-Cytox reagent and Calcein-AM fluorescent dye. Intracellular Ca2+ and ROS levels were measured by fluorescent dyes, fluo-3 AM and 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCF-DA), respectively. Protein expressions of p-AKT, BDNF, p-CREB, Bax, Bcl-2, and apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) were determined by western blot analysis. The apoptotic cell death was measured by flow cytometry. The in vivo efficacy of EEPF was evaluated using the Mongolian gerbil mouse by surgery-induced brain ischemia. EEPF treatment showed a neuroprotective effect against glutamate-induced cell death. The EEPF co-treatment reduced the intracellular Ca2+ and ROS and apoptotic cell death. Furthermore, it recovered the p-AKT, p-CREB, BDNF, and Bcl-2 levels decreased by glutamate. The EEPF co-treatment suppressed the activation of apoptotic Bax, the nuclear translocation of AIF, and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway proteins (ERK1/2, p38, JNK). Further, EEPF treatment significantly rescued the degenerative neurons in the ischemia-induced Mongolian gerbil in vivo model. EEPF exhibited neuroprotective properties that suppress glutamate-mediated neurotoxicity. The underlying mechanism of EEPF is increasing the level of p-AKT, p-CREB, BDNF, and Bcl-2 associated with cell survival. It has therapeutic potential for the treatment of glutamate-mediated neuropathology.

ULTRASOUND-ASSISTED EXTRACTION OF PHENOLIC COMPOUNDS FROM Polyscias fruticosa (L.) Harms ROOT

Polyscias fruticosa (L.) Harms root extracts were obtained and separated using ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) with the preset optimal parameters, such as solvent/solid (SS) ratio (50/1, mL g–1), ethanol concentration (40%, v/v), temperature (45 °C), and extraction time (20 min). The best values of the total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant capacity (AC) of the extracts under these extraction conditions were 2.13 ± 0.02 mg of gallic acid equivalents (GAE) per gram of dry sample weight (DW) for TPC and 78.13 ± 0.25% for AC. In addition, the structure of the plant material was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM): it was revealed that the structure of the residues changed completely as a result of the ultrasound treatment compared to the initial material.

Phytoremediation of heavy metals from landfill soil using Polyscias fruticosa

The presence of heavy metals in landfill soil by industrial or anthropogenic activities pose a risk to the environment and it is one of the major concerns. This study was to determine and evaluate the capability of Polyscias fruticosa in the phytoremediation of heavy metals from abandoned landfill soil. P. fruticosa was analysed to evaluate its tolerance and phytoremediation ability on landfill soil in a greenhouse study with a harvesting period of 1-month intervals. Ninety-six (96) cuttings from P. fruticosa were transplanted and had the same treatment in 500 g landfill soil. The roots, stems, and leaves of exposed and unexposed plants were dry-digested and heavy metals were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). The height and weight of dry biomass of exposed and unexposed plants were determined. The data obtained were subjected to a one-way analysis of variance and the least significant difference (L.S.D.) at probability level p<0.05. The highest accumulation in the roots occurred on Pb, followed by Cr, As, and Cd with concentrations 0.82, 0.68, 0.35, and 0.33 mg/kg, respectively. Heavy metals were not detected from unexposed plant and soil. The three indices, bioconcentration, translocation factors, and extraction coefficient, were found to be more significant (>1) on six months compared to other harvesting periods. The percentage removal was Cd 88%, As 87%, Cr 86%, and Pb 78%. The results indicate that P. fruticosa might be an effective species to reduce heavy metals from landfill soil.

Optimization of Total Saponin Extraction from Polyscias fruticosa Roots Using the Ultrasonic-Assisted Method and Response Surface Methodology

Polyscias fruticosa (L.) Harms is commonly used for medicinal purposes in Vietnam. In traditional medicine, the plant is used to cure ischemia, reduce inflammation, and increase cerebral blood circulation. Triterpene saponins are the major chemical constituents found in the roots of P. fruticosa. This compound exhibited a broad spectrum of biological effects, including lowering blood sugar, suppressing tumor growth and inflammation. This study focused on optimizing the process of total saponins extraction from P. fruticosa roots using the ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) method, ethanol solvent and response surface methodology, and Box–Behnken design model, then evaluating the cytotoxic effect against some cancer cell lines. The results showed that under the optimal conditions, including an extraction temperature of 60 °C and ultrasonic power of 185 W in 65 min, the maximum extraction yield and total saponin content were 14.51 ± 1.15% and 41.24 ± 1.68 mg/g, respectively. Moreover, the saponin extract had cytotoxic effects against A549, HepG2, PC-3, and Hela. The results of this study confirmed that triterpene saponin is an important chemical component which is present in a high content in P. fruticosa roots and gives rise to significant biological activities. In addition, UAE can be used as a highly efficient method for triterpene saponins extraction from P. fruticosa roots.

Growth Stimulation, Phosphate Resolution, and Resistance to Fungal Pathogens of Some Endogenous Fungal Strains in the Rhizospheres of Medicinal Plants in Vietnam.

Endophytic fungi are recognized for their many potential applications in agriculture, such as supporting cropland expansion and increasing the yield and resistance of plants by creating antibiotics that inhibit the growth of pathogenic microorganisms. In addition, they can produce enzymes that break down hard-to-solubilize substances within soil, dissolve phosphates, fix nitrogen, reduce metals, and produce hormones that promote plant growth (auxin, cytokinin, and gibberellins) to keep crops healthy. In this report, three strains of endophytic fungi, namely, N1, N2, and N3, were isolated from the roots of Stevia rebaudiana (Bert.) Hemsl., Polyscias fruticosa, and Angelica dahurica in some localities in Vietnam. Through a screening process, it was found that they can produce high levels of indole acetic acid (IAA), resolve phosphates, and resist disease, and they were selected to as an alternative to chemical fertilizers to make probiotics in order to increase medicinal plant yields. The results show that the three strains of fungi have the ability to degrade phosphate to 341.90, 1498.46, and 390.79 ppm; the content of IAA produced in the culture medium reached 49.00, 52.35, and 33.34 ppm. Based on some morphological characteristics and an internal transcribed spacer gene sequence analysis of the fungal strains, N1, N2, and N3 were named Penicillium simplicissimum CN7, Talaromyces flavus BC1, and Trichoderma konilangbra DL3, respectively, which have the ability to inhibit the growth of pathogenic fungal strains, such as fungus C. gloeosporioides (CD1), fungus F. oxysporum, fungus L. theobromae N13, and N. dimidiatum. They grow significantly over a period of 5 to 6 days.

Concentration of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) in roots and leaves of Polyscias fruticosa used in phytoextraction of crude oil spiked soil

Concentration of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) in roots and leaves of Polyscias fruticosa used in phytoextraction of crude oil spiked soil

Degradation Kinetics of Chlorophyll Pigments in Dried Leaves of Polyscias Fruticosa (L.) Harms during Storage

Chlorophyll is well-known as the only natural green pigment that owns high biological values with an enormous amount worldwide. In this study, the experiment was designed to a two-level factorial design with three factors, including storage temperature (4 and 28 °C), level of light (with or without light transmission through the package), and level of oxygen (high and low oxygen concentration in package). The chlorophyll content in samples was analyzed every three days. The results showed that the Weibull model could characterize chlorophyll content change in dried P. fruticose leaves. Factors including temperature, light, oxygen and their interactions significantly forced the rate of chlorophyll degradation. Storage of dried P. fruticose leaves at 4 °C, lack of light and oxygen could get the highest retention of chlorophyll a and b. And in this condition, the half-life was 222 days and 376 days for the degradation of chlorophyll a and b, respectively.

Phytoextraction of copper and lead from spiked soil using Acalypha wilkesiana (Copper leaf) and Polyscias fruticosa (Aralia)

Soil contaminated with heavy metals industrially or anthropogenically is a major global concern. This study aimed at investigating the potential of Acalypha wilkesiana and Polyscias fruticosa plants to remove copper (Cu) and lead (Pb) from soil spiked with solutions of Cu and Pb. Information on the ability of both plants to uptake and accumulate Cu and Pb from spiked soil is insufficient. Plant cuttings were grown in a 2 kg soil spiked with heavy metals and kept at the greenhouse for the period of 240 days. Root, stem and leaf of the plants were analyzed for Cu and Pb using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). Cu accumulation (2.58 -542.66 mg/kg) was appreciably higher than Pb accumulation (26.24 - 46.44 mg/kg) in A. wilkesiana, while Cu accumulation ranged 4.54 - 384.19 mg/kg was found to be lower than the Pb accumulation ranged 1.22-759.48 mg/kg in P. fruticosa. The maximum accumulation of Cu and Pb in the shoot were found to be 52.50 and 82.93 mg/kg in A. wilkesiana, while 38.26 and 123.98 mg/kg in P. fruticosa. Accumulation of Cu and Pb by both plants were correlated using the indices bioaccumulation, transfer factor and translocation index. The result is encouraging and suggests that both plants could be applied for phytoextraction of Cu and Pb from heavy metal spiked soil.

Therapeutic Potential of Polyscias fruticosa (L.) Harms Leaf Extract for Parkinson's Disease Treatment by Drosophila melanogaster Model.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by progressive locomotive defects and loss of dopaminergic neurons. Polyscias fruticosa leaves are used by Vietnamese as herbal medicines to support the treatment of some diseases related to neurodegeneration such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. However, recent scientific data have not provided sufficient evidence for the use of P. fruticosa leaves to treat PD or decelerate PD progression. In the present study, the capacity of P. fruticosa leaf extract for PD treatment on the dietary supplementation was investigated using dUCH-knockdown Drosophila model. The results indicated that P. fruticosa leaf extract decelerated dopaminergic neuron degeneration induced by dUCH knockdown in not only the larval stage but also the adult stage, which might result in the amelioration in locomotor ability of dUCH-knockdown larvae and flies. Furthermore, antioxidant activities and some key phytochemicals such as saponins, polyphenols, and flavonoids that might contribute to the effects of the P. fruticosa leaf extract were identified.

Applying the integrated model of GIS and AHP for evaluating ecological suitability of Ming aralia (Polyscias fruticosa): a case study of Hai Hau district, Nam Dinh province, Vietnam

The Hai Hau district, located in the southeast region of the Nam Dinh province, belongs to the Red river delta where residents mainly rely on agriculture, fisheries, and handicrafts as their livelihood. In recent years, many households have switched from growing rice to Ming aralia (Polyscias fruticosa), a tropical medicinal plant with high economic value. On the basis of analysing the influence of bioclimatological and soil conditions in Hai Hau district, Nam Dinh province on the growth and development of cloves through the integrated Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) - Geographic Information System (GIS) model, this study has divided the adaptive thresholds for each climate factor with corresponding weighted values to evaluate the ecological adaptability of Ming aralia to the criteria’s in Hai Hau district. The research results show that the Hai Hau district has 25.3% of highly suitable area (S1), 33.8% of moderately suitable area (S2), 23.3% of marginally suitable area (S3), and 17.6% of not suitable area (N) for Ming aralia development. The suitable area for cultivation of Ming aralia with high economic efficiency is about 13,522.37 ha, or 59.1% of the total area, located in the northern communes of the district. This finding is a scientific basis for planning, planting, and exploitation of Ming aralia to improve sustainable livelihoods and promote local socioeconomics.

Novel Integrated Nanofertilizers for Improving the Growth of Polyscias fruticosa and Asparagus officinalis

The study of nanotechnology has been focused in recent years on the application in various fields including agriculture. Nanofertilizers were suggested to have the ability to supply plants with nutrients more effectively and thus significantly improve crop productivity. Previous studies reported the fabrication of nanofertilizers that contained only one or two essential elements. The addition of other nutrients is necessary for promoting plant development. Therefore, in this study, a novel integrated nanofertilizer containing both macro‐ and micronutritional elements was synthesized and characterized. The results showed that the prepared fertilizer had the rod shape and nanosize of 20‐30 nm in width and 80 nm in length. Treatment of Polyscias fruticosa and Asparagus officinalis crops with the integrated nanofertilizer increased the number of branches, leaf area, dry matter production, and total biomass up to 50% at using level of 5% compared to nontreatment groups.

Chemical Constituents of the Leaves of Polyscias fruticosa

Chemical Constituents of the Leaves of Polyscias fruticosa

The Effects of 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid and α-Naphthaleneacetic Acid on Biomass Increment, Rhizogenesis and Somatic Embryogenesis of Suspension-cultured Dinh Lang Cells [Polyscias fruticosa (L.) Harms

Background: Dinh Lang [Polyscias fruticosa (L.) Harms] is a medicinal plant widely grown in Vietnam, with proven note-worthy health benefits. However, Dinh Lang’s amounts of triterpenoid saponins could not meet the need of the pharmaceutical industry. Thus, this study’s purpose is to figure out the optimal condition for raising Dinh Lang’s cell biomass, rhizogenesis and somatic embryogenesis to provide materials for bioactive compound productions. Methods: Different 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and α-naphthaleneacetic acid concentrations (0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 mg/L) were examined to determine the best amount of each plant growth regulator for raising cells’ biomass, rhizogenesis and somatic embryogenesis. In each treatment, two grams of eight-week-old calli were cultured in 50 mL of liquid MS medium. Result: It is demonstrated by the results that liquid MS medium containing 1.5 mg/L α-naphthaleneacetic acid has the capacity of producing the highest numbers of somatic embryos (489 embryos per flask) and rooted cells (259.5 cells per flask), while the fresh weight of cells cultured in the medium given 1.5 mg/L 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid reached its peak of 5.7 g.

Growth and Oleanolic Acid Accumulation of Polyscias fruticosa Cell Suspension Cultures.

Oleanolic acid is an oleanane triterpene found in many plant species all over the world. This compound is also a major saponin in leaves of Polyscias fruticosa and possesses several promising pharmacological activities, such as hepatoprotective effects, and antiinflammatory, antioxidant, or anticancer activities. The objective of the present work is to establish cell suspension culture of P. fruticosa, investigate the influence of several factors such as plant growth regulators and carbon source on cell growth, and determine their oleanolic acid content. Cell culture was established by using 2 g fresh weight of 30 day old friable callus derived from in vitro stem segment in 50 mL of liquid medium with a shaking speed of 220 rpm. The culture was then incubated at 25±2ºC with a shaking speed of 120 rpm in the period of 12 h daylight at a light intensity of about 6.75 μmol/m2/s. Cell growth was measured by fresh and dry biomass at 16 h day. Oleanolic acid content was determined using HPLC analysis. The study results showed that MS medium containing 2% sucrose as a carbon source, supplemented with 1 mg/L 6-benzylaminopurine and 0.5 mg/L 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid was the most appropriate growth medium. Cell biomass and oleanolic acid content reached the highest values of 0.43 g dry weight/flask and 25.4 mg/g dry weight, respectively. These results indicated the potential production of oleanolic acid, a compound with high pharmacological value, from P. fruticosa cell culture.

Kinetic Study on Chlorophyll and Antioxidant Activity from Polyscias fruticosa (L.) Harms Leaves via Microwave-Assisted Extraction.

Polyscias fruticosa (L.) leaves contain significant bioactive compounds with high antioxidant activity such as chlorophylls, total polyphenols, etc. but these have still been underutilized. In this study, the kinetics of chlorophyll and antioxidant activity extraction from P. fruticosa leaves by microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) were investigated. Microwave power was 300, 450, or 600 (W); the ratio of material/solvent varied from 1:40 to 1:80 (g/mL). In this study, the second-order kinetic model successfully predicted the change of chlorophyll and antioxidant activity during MAE. The increase of microwave power or/and the solvent amount increased saturated extraction efficiency and the extraction rate constant. However, the saturated concentration of chlorophyll and antioxidant activity increased with the increment of microwave power and the decrease in solvent amount.