Puerariae Radix Research Articles

A comprehensive strategy integrating chemical profiling with deep learning for screening the antithrombin bioactive-chemical quality markers of functional food: Pueraria radix as an example

Pueraria lobata radix (PL) and Puerariae tbatae radix (PT) are nutritious medicinal food homology plants that are widely used in the food and health products industry. Both of them are used as Pueraria radix (PR) for medicine. In this study, the function-related active markers were discovered by chemical profiling coupled with deep learning for assessment of PR. Firstly, IR spectral fingerprints were established. And the IR spectra of PL and PT were different in fingerprint region. HCA, PCA and PLS-DA can distinguish the samples of PL and PT. Furtherly, UPLC-Q-TOF-MS was further applied to identify the main components of PL and PT, and 30 chemical components in PL and 15 in PT were identified. In vitro antithrombin assay was performed to indicate the different batches of PL and PT extracts and they could be distinguished according to the strength of activity. The potential active markers related to antithrombin activity were screened by PCA and PLS-DA. Finally, 3′-hydroxy puerarin, puerarin, 3′-methoxy puerarin, daidzin, and daidzein were screened-out as functional markers applying molecular docking combined with BP-ANN, CP-ANN, SIMCA, and SVMDA. The thrombin-based discovery strategy of bioactive-chemical marker combination was a powerful tool for screening the quality markers for evaluation of PR.

The synergistic effect of Huangqi Gegen decoction on thrombosis relates to the astragalus polysaccharide-improved oral delivery of puerarin

Ethno-pharmacological relevanceHuangqi Gegen decoction (HGD), which comprises Astragali Radix (AR) and Puerariae Radix (PR), is widely used to treat thrombosis in China. However, the mechanism underlying its synergistic effect in thrombosis treatment remains unclear. Aim of the studyFollowing PR administration, low plasma exposure was reported for its primary ingredients. In this regard, this study examined the effect of AR on PR's antithrombotic efficacy with respect to the impact of Astragalus Polysaccharide (APS) on the oral delivery of Puerarin (PUE). Materials and methodsTo evaluate the synergistic effect of HGD, a thrombus mice model was established via intraperitoneal injection of carrageenan. After treatment, histopathological observations were made, and the proportion of thrombus length in the tail, as well as the plasma APTT, PT, INR, and FIB levels, were detected. Molecular docking was employed to assess the PR ingredients that could inhibit the HMGB1/NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway. The Pharmacokinetics of PR ingredients in rats were also compared between the PR and HGD groups. Moreover, the effect of APS on the solubility, intestinal absorption, and pharmacokinetics of PUE was evaluated. Furthermore, the impact of APS on the antithrombotic efficacy of PUE was assessed. ResultsIn mice, AR enhanced the antithrombotic effect of PR. This improved PR effect was associated with isoflavones-induced downregulation of the HMGB1/NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway. The synergistic effect resulting from the compatibility of HGD components was primarily achieved by improving the plasma exposure of PR isoflavones. Specifically, APS enhanced PUE's water solubility through the formation of self-assembly Nanoparticles, increasing its intestinal absorption and oral bioavailability, which, in turn, suppressed the HMGB1/NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway, thus improving its antithrombotic effect. ConclusionsOur findings revealed that APS improved PUE's plasma exposure, enhancing its inhibitory effect on the HMGB1/NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway. This mechanism presents a key aspect of the synergistic effect of HGD compatibility in thrombosis treatment.

Puerariae radix protects against ulcerative colitis in mice by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a common inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has long been used in Asia as a treatment for UC and Puerariae radix (PR) is a reliable anti-diarrheal therapy. The aims of this study were to investigate the protective effect of PR using the dextran sulfate sodium salt (DSS)-induced UC model in mice and identify molecular mechanisms of PR action. The chemical constituents of PR via ultra-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry and identified potential PR and UC targets using a network pharmacology (NP) approach were obtained to guide mouse experiments. A total of 180 peaks were identified from PR including 48 flavonoids, 46 organic acids, 14 amino acids, 8 phenols, 8 carbohydrates, 7 alkaloids, 6 coumarins and 43 other constituents. NP results showed that caspase-1 was the most dysregulated of the core genes associated with UC. A PR dose of 0.136 mg/g administered to DSS treated mice reversed weight loss and decreased colon lengths found in UC mice. PR also alleviated intestinal mucosal shedding, inflammatory cell infiltration and mucin loss. PR treatment suppressed upregulation of NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteases-1 (caspase-1), apoptosis-associated speck-like (ASC) and gasdermin D (GSDMD) at both the protein and mRNA expression levels. The addition of a small molecule dual-specificity phosphatase inhibitor NSC 95397 inhibited the positive effects of PR. These results indicated that PR exerts a protective effect on DSS-induced colitis by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation in mice.

A Comparison of Volatile Organic Compounds in Puerariae Lobatae Radix and Puerariae Thomsonii Radix Using Gas Chromatography–Ion Migration Spectrometry

Puerariae Radix is one of the most widely used ancient traditional Chinese medicines and is also consumed as food, which has rich edible and medicinal value. Puerariae Radix can be divided into Puerariae Lobatae Radix (PL) and Puerariae Thomsonii Radix (PT). These two medicinal materials are very similar, and they are often mixed up or misused. In this study, gas chromatography–ion migration spectrometry (GC-IMS) was used to analyze the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of PL and PT, and the differences in VOCs were analyzed using fingerprint, principal component analysis (PCA), and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA). The results showed that a total of 173 VOCs were obtained from PL and PT, and 149 were qualitatively identified, including 38 aldehydes, 22 alcohols, 22 ketones, 19 esters, 13 esters, 10 acids, 10 pyrazines, 6 terpenes, 4 furans, and 2 pyridines. The characteristic VOCs of PL and PT were clarified by constructing GC-IMS fingerprints. PL and PT can be effectively distinguished, and five characteristic VOCs were screened using PCA and OPLS-DA analysis methods. This study identified and evaluated the types and differences in VOCs in PL and PT. The established method is simple, rapid, accurate, and sensitive, and it provides theoretical guidance for the identification, tracing, and quality evaluation of PL and PT.

Retracted: Screening and Identification of Antidepressant Active Ingredients from Puerariae Radix Extract and Study on Its Mechanism.

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.1155/2021/2230195.].

Constituent isoflavones of Puerariae radix as a potential neuroprotector in cognitive impairment: Evidence from preclinical studies.

With the increasing aging population worldwide, the incidence of senile cognitive impairment (CI) is increasing, posing a serious threat to the health of elderly persons. Despite developing new drugs aimed at improving CI, progress in this regard has been insufficient. Natural preparations derived from plants have become an unparalleled resource for developing new drugs. Puerariae radix (PR) has a long history as Chinese herbal medicine. PR is rich in various chemical components such as isoflavones, triterpenes, and saponins. The isoflavones (puerarin, daidzein, formononetin, and genistein) exhibit potential therapeutic effects on CI through multiple mechanisms. Relevant literature was organized from major scientific databases such as PubMed, Elsevier, SpringerLink, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science. Using "Puerariae radix," "Pueraria lobata," "isoflavones," "puerarin," "antioxidant," "daidzein," "formononetin," "genistein," "Alzheimer"s disease," and "vascular cognitive impairment" as keywords, the relevant literature was extracted from the databases mentioned above. We found that isoflavones from PR have neuroprotective effects on multiple models of CI via multiple targets and mechanisms. These isoflavones prevent Aβ aggregation, inhibit tau hyperphosphorylation, increase cholinergic neurotransmitter levels, reduce neuroinflammation and oxidative stress, improve synaptic plasticity, promote nerve regeneration, and prevent apoptosis. PR has been used as traditional Chinese herbal medicine for a long time, and its constituent isoflavones exert significant therapeutic effects on CI through various neuroprotective mechanisms. This review will contribute to the future development of isoflavones present in PR as novel drug candidates for the clinical treatment of CI.

Effects of Pueraria Radix isoflavone (PRI) extract on osteoporosis in ovariectomized rats

Effects of Pueraria Radix isoflavone (PRI) extract on osteoporosis in ovariectomized rats

Chloroplast genomes of two Pueraria DC. species: sequencing, comparative analysis and molecular marker development

Puerariae lobatae radix (Ge‐Gen in Chinese) and Puerariae thomsonii radix (Fen‐Ge) are widely used as medicine and health products, particularly in Chinese medicine. Puerarin and daidzein are the primary bioactive compounds in Puerariae radix. These isoflavones have been used to treat cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, hypertension, diabetes, and osteoporosis. The content of puerarin in Ge‐Gen is about six times higher than that in Fen‐Ge, so its use has a higher pharmacological effect. It is therefore of great importance to effectively distinguish between these two species. However, because their basal plants, P. lobata (Willd.) Ohwi and P. thomsonii Benth., possess an extremely similar appearance, and detecting the level of chemical constituents is just a rough distinction, it is necessary to develop more efficient identification approaches. Here the complete chloroplast genomes of P. lobata and P. thomsonii were deciphered, including sequencing, assembly, comparative analysis, and molecular marker development. The results showed that they are 153,393 and 153,442 bp in length, respectively; both contain 124 annotated genes, including eight encoding rRNA, 29 encoding tRNA, and 87 encoding proteins. Phylogenetic analysis showed that they form a clade, indicating that they originate from the same ancestor. After obtaining 10 intergenic/intronic regions with a genetic distance greater than 0.5 cm, primers were designed to amplify regions of high variability in P. lobata and P. thomsonii. Finally, a 60‐bp differential base fragment, located in the intron of rpl16, was developed as a molecular marker to efficiently distinguish between these two species.

Chronoeffects of the Herbal Medicines Puerariae radix and Coptidis rhizoma in Mice: A Potential Role of REV-ERBα.

Identifying drugs with dosing time-dependent effects (chronoeffects) and understanding the underlying mechanisms would help to improve drug treatment outcome. Here, we aimed to determine chronoeffects of the herbal medicines Puerariae radix (PR) and Coptidis rhizoma (CR), and investigate a potential role of REV-ERBα as a drug target in generating chronoeffects. The pharmacological effect of PR on hyperhomocysteinemia in mice was evaluated by measuring total homocysteine, triglyceride levels and lipid accumulation. PR dosed at ZT10 generated a stronger effect on hyperhomocysteinemia than drug dosed at ZT2. Furthermore, PR increased the expression levels of REV-ERBα target genes Bhmt, Cbs and Cth (encoding three key enzymes responsible for homocysteine catabolism), thereby alleviating hyperhomocysteinemia in mice. Moreover, CR attenuated chronic colitis in mice in a dosing time-dependent manner based on measurements of disease activity index, colon length, malondialdehyde/myeloperoxidase activities and IL-1β/IL-6 levels. ZT10 dosing generated a stronger anti-colitis effect as compared to ZT2 dosing. This was accompanied by lower production of colonic inflammatory cytokines (i.e., Nlrp3, IL-1β, IL-6, Tnf-α and Ccl2, REV-ERBα target genes) in colitis mice dosed at ZT10. The diurnal patterns of PR and CR effects were respectively consistent with those of puerarin (a main active constituent of PR, a REV-ERBα antagonist) and berberine (a main active constituent of CR, a REV-ERBα agonist). In addition, loss of Rev-erbα in mice abolished the dosing time-dependency in PR and CR effects. In conclusion, the therapeutic effects of PR and CR depend on dosing time in mice, which are probably attributed to diurnal expression of REV-ERBα as the drug target. Our findings have implications for improving therapeutic outcomes of herbal medicines with a chronotherapeutic approach.

Subacute oral toxicity and bacterial mutagenicity of a mixture of Puerariae radix and Hizikia fusiforme extracts

The study aims to identify the safety profile of a mixed extract (KGC-02-PS) from two traditional medicinal herbs, Puerariae radix and Hizikia fusiforme. In a subacute oral toxicity study, KGC-02-PS was administered orally for 28 days by gavage to Sprague Dawley rats (both sexes) at a daily dose of 0, 500, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg body weight. Bodyweight, food consumption, and clinical signs were monitored during the experimental period. After administering the final dose, this study conducted hematology, serum biochemistry, and pathological evaluations. In addition, the study performed a bacterial reverse mutation test with varying concentrations of KGC-02-PS (312.5 μg − 5,000 μg/plate) following OECD guideline No. 471, before testing five bacterial strains (Salmonella typhimurium TA98, TA100, TA1535, TA1537, and Escherichia coli WP2) in the presence or absence of metabolic activation. The preclinical evaluation of KGC-02-PS’s subacute oral toxicity yielded no associated toxicological effects or any changes in clinical signs, body weight, and food consumption. Moreover, examining KGC-02-PS’s hematological and serum biochemical characteristics and pathology yielded no toxicological changes in terms of organ weight measurements and gross or histopathological findings. KGC-02-PS neither increased the number of revertant colonies in all bacterial strains used in the bacterial reverse mutation test, nor did it induce genotoxicity related to bacterial reverse mutations under the study’s conditions. Also, KGC-02-PS’s no-observed-adverse-effect level was greater than 2000 mg/kg.

Screening and Identification of Antidepressant Active Ingredients from Puerariae Radix Extract and Study on Its Mechanism.

Objective. Depression is a common mental disease with long course and high recurrence rate. Previous studies showed that Puerariae Radix and its extracts have powerful antidepressant effects in recent years. The study proposed an integrated strategy, combining network pharmacology and molecular pharmacology experiment to investigate the mechanisms of the antidepressant active ingredients from Puerariae Radix. Methods. TCMSP database, GeneCards database, Venny 2.1, UniProt database, STRING database, Cytoscape 3.7.2, and Metascape database were used to screen the active chemical components, antidepressant-related genes, and core targets, convert the abbreviated gene names in batch, search and predict the interaction between proteins, and construct the PPI network of Puerariae Radix. KEGG pathway and GO biological process enrichment and biological annotation were used to select antidepressant core gene targets. The MTT method was used to detect the effect of puerarin on the damage of PC12 cells induced by corticosterone. The DCFH-DA probe and ROS assay kit were utilized to detect the production of ROS in PC12 cells. PI/Annexin V was used to detect the apoptotic rate of puerarin on PC12 cells. Western blotting was used to verify the regulation of puerarin on the key targets of AKT1, FOS, CASP3, STAT3, and TNF-α in PC12 cells. Results and Conclusion. Eight main active components, 64 potential antidepressant gene targets, and 15 core antidepressant gene targets were obtained. 35 signaling pathways and 52 biological processes related to antidepressant effect of Puerariae Radix were identified. Puerarin was the active ingredient derived from Puerariae Radix which exhibited the antidepression effect by improving the viability of cell, reducing cell apoptosis, regulating ROS production, increasing protein expressions of AKT1 and FOS, and reducing protein expressions of CASP3, STAT3, and TNF-α. The study revealed the pharmacodynamic material basis and possible antidepressant mechanism of Puerariae Radix and provided new theoretical basis and ideas for antidepressant research.

Comparison of urinary kinetics between traditional decoction and concentrated powders of puerariae radix in healthy men

Puerariae Radix (PR), the roots of Pueraria lobata (Leguminosae), is widely used in clinical Chinese medicine and also as a food in oriental countries. PR is a rich source of isoflavones including puerarin, daidzin and daidzein. This study was aimed to compare the urinary kinetics of isoflavones between traditional decoction (TD) and concentrated powders (CP) of PR in healthy man. Ten male volunteers were given two dosage forms of PR in a crossover design and their urine was collected at specific intervals until 36 h. Urine samples were assayed by an HPLC method before and after hydrolysis with β-glucuronidase and sulfatase. The results indicated that the parent forms of puerarin, daidzin and daidzein were not detected in urine, whereas daidzein sulfates/glucuronides were predominant, mainly sulfates. The half-lives of daidzein sulfates/glucuronides were 5-7 h. In conclusion, the isoflavones were exclusively metabolized to sulfates/glucuronides of daidzein following administration of TD and CP of PR. Through the comparison of urine kinetics between two dosage forms, we suggest that the standardization of the contents of daidzin and daidzein, which are bioavailable, is more important than puerarin content for the efficacy of PR.

Determination of seven pueraria constituents by high performance liquid chromatography and capillary electrophoresis

Puerariae Radix is a commonly used Chinese herbal medicine derived from the dried root of the legume plant, which contains a series of isoflavones as its chief pharmacologically active constituents. Using 7 pueraria constituents as marker substances, a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC and a capillary electrophoresis (CE) method were developed to assay the quality of Puerariae Radix within 65 and 50 min, respectively. Extracted samples were analyzed with a Cosmosil 5C18-MS column and eluted with a mixture of potassium dihydrogenphosphate (30 mM, adjusted to pH 3.0 with phosphoric acid) and aqueous acetonitrile solution, or an uncoated capillary (75 μm I.D.) and carried with an aqueous solution containing 10 mM sodium dihydrogenphosphate and 40 mM sodium dodecyl sulphate. The relative standard deviation of the marker substances, on the basis of peak-area ratios for 6 replicate injections, was 0.50∼0.97% (intraday) and 0.48∼0.97% (interday) for HPLC, and 0.88∼1.25% (intraday) and 0.85∼1.38% (interday) for CE. Both methods yielded accurate results differing by only 5% when applied to the analysis of practical samples of Puerariae Radix.

Huang-Qi San improves glucose and lipid metabolism and exerts protective effects against hepatic steatosis in high fat diet-fed rats

Numerous researches supported that non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) was an emerging problem associated with increased visceral adiposity (obesity), diabetes and related metabolic disorders. Huang-Qi San (HQS) is composed of three traditional Chinese medicines (Astragali Radix, Pueraria Radix and Cortex Mori Radicis) with a weight ratio of 1:2:1. HQS has been reported to be effective in improving glucose-lipid metabolism, but its underlying mechanism on NAFLD has not been fully understood. The purpose of the present study was to assess the protective effects of HQS on obesity-induced hepatic steatosis in rats fed with high fat diet (HFD). Our data revealed that administration of HQS (1.2 and 2.4 g/kg body weight) resulted in significant reduction in body weight (BW) and organs coefficients of visceral fat. The full-Body CT scan demonstrated that HQS reduced liver fat ratio, visceral and subcutaneous fat mass in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, HQS decreased plasma TC, TG, FFA and FABP4 levels, normalized glucose and insulin levels, and improved the glucose tolerance. Pathological examination showed that HQS alleviated hepatic steatosis and reduced the cell size of epididymal visceral adipose tissue. Hepatic lipid accumulation was also reduced by HQS treatment compared with HFD fed rats. RNA-Seq analysis combining with qPCR demonstrated that the mRNA expression of some important glucose and lipid metabolism-related genes including Acat2, Apoc4, Bhmt, Cyp3a62, Cyp51, Egln3 (Phd3), Fads1, Fads2, Gnmt, Hmgcs1 and Pemt, were significantly changed by HQS treatment. Taken together, these results suggested that HQS had beneficial effects on glucose-lipid metabolism and hepatic steatosis, and its mechanism might be related to the functions of the genes in regulating glucose and lipid metabolism.

Comprehensive study of the interaction between Puerariae Radix flavonoids and DNA: From theoretical simulation to structural analysis to functional analysis

Puerariae Radix (PR) is a natural herb whose active ingredient is mainly flavonoids. To explore the interaction between PR flavonoids and DNA not only has important biological implications for understanding the mechanism of action, but also helps develop PR products for the design of appropriate dietary interventions to aid cancer treatment. In this work, we comprehensively studied the interaction between six kinds of PR flavonoids and DNA from four different and progressive levels, including molecular docking, multi-spectral analysis, and functional analysis in vitro and in cell. Results show that the DNA binding affinity of six flavonoids is in an order of quercetin>formononetin>daidzein>puerarin>4'-methoxy puerarin>puerarin 6″-O-xyloside (POS), in which quercetin can significantly inhibit DNA amplification owing to its strongest binding affinity. The binding between quercetin and DNA is further revealed to be intercalated binding, which can cause conformational changes in DNA, thereby exhibiting an activity of cell cycle arrest and anti-proliferative. This property of quercetin can be utilized for the further development of flavonoids with anticancer activity. In addition to the potential application, this work also provides a platform for the comprehensive study of the interaction between micromolecules and DNA.

Lactate-Fortified Puerariae Radix Fermented by Bifidobacterium breve Improved Diet-Induced Metabolic Dysregulation via Alteration of Gut Microbial Communities.

Background: Puerariae Radix (PR), the dried root of Pueraria lobata, is reported to possess therapeutic efficacies against various diseases including obesity, diabetes, and hypertension. Fermentation-driven bioactivation of herbal medicines can result in improved therapeutic potencies and efficacies. Methods: C57BL/6J mice were fed a high-fat diet and fructose in water with PR (400 mg/kg) or PR fermented by Bifidobacterium breve (400 mg/kg) for 10 weeks. Histological staining, qPCR, Western blot, and 16s rRNA sequencing were used to determine the protective effects of PR and fermented PR (fPR) against metabolic dysfunction. Results: Treatment with both PR and fPR for 10 weeks resulted in a reduction in body weight gain with a more significant reduction in the latter group. Lactate, important for energy metabolism and homeostasis, was increased during fermentation. Both PR and fPR caused significant down-regulation of the intestinal expression of the MCP-1, IL-6, and TNF-α genes. However, for the IL-6 and TNF-α gene expressions, the inhibitory effect of fPR was more pronounced (p < 0.01) than that of PR (p < 0.05). Oral glucose tolerance test results showed that both PR and fPR treatments improved glucose homeostasis. In addition, there was a significant reduction in the expression of hepatic gene PPARγ, a key regulator of lipid and glucose metabolism, following fPR but not PR treatment. Activation of hepatic AMPK phosphorylation was significantly enhanced by both PR and fPR treatment. In addition, both PR and fPR reduced adipocyte size in highly significant manners (p < 0.001). Treatment by fPR but not PR significantly reduced the expression of PPARγ and low-density lipoproteins in adipose tissue. Conclusion: Treatment with fPR appears to be more potent than that of PR in improving the pathways related to glucose and lipid metabolism in high-fat diet (HFD)+fructose-fed animals. The results revealed that the process of fermentation of PR enhanced lactate and facilitated the enrichment of certain microbial communities that contribute to anti-obesity and anti-inflammatory activities.

Puerarin inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma invasion and metastasis through miR-21-mediated PTEN/AKT signaling to suppress the epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common primary malignant tumors of the liver worldwide. Liver resection and transplantation are currently the only effective treatments; however, recurrence and metastasis rates are still high. Previous studies have shown that the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a key step in HCC invasion and metastasis. Inhibition of EMT has become a new therapeutic strategy for tumors. Recently, puerarin, a well-characterized component of traditional Chinese medicine, has been isolated from Pueraria radix and exerts positive effects on many diseases, particularly cancers. In this study, CCK-8, EdU immunofluorescence, colony formation, wound healing, and migration assays were used to detect the effects of puerarin on HCC cells. We further analyzed the relationship between puerarin and miR-21/PTEN/EMT markers in HCC cell lines. Our results showed that HCC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, tumor formation, and metastasis were reduced by puerarin in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, puerarin inhibited the EMT process of HCC by affecting the expression of Slug and Snail. Moreover, oncogenic miR-21 was inhibited by puerarin, coupled with an increase in the tumor suppressor gene PTEN. Increasing miR-21 expression or decreasing PTEN expression reversed the inhibition effects of puerarin in HCC. These data confirmed that puerarin affects HCC through the miR-21/PTEN/EMT regulatory axis. Overall, puerarin may represent a chemopreventive and/or chemotherapeutic agent for HCC treatment.

Screening and identification of the active components from Puerariae Radix by HUVEC/CMC-LC-MS2

Puerariae Radix (PR) serves as food and medicinal plant for thousands of years with explicit efficacy for heart diseases, while biological target specifically binding-oriented screening of the active components in PR remains a preliminary stage. Cell membrane chromatography (CMC) is newly developed approach where interactions between active components and certain biological targets can be effectively studied, Human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) membrane, with its abundant receptors such as β and AT1, is most eligible for constructing CMC. In this study, an HUVEC/CMC-LC-MS2 system was developed for screening active components in PR, 11 compounds were screened out and four of them were identified. Besides puerarin, the rest identified are daidzin, pueroside D and 3′-hydroxypuerarin. The study provides more reference for CMC applications and PR exploitation.

Cosmetic Potency of Puerariae Radix in Dermal Fibroblasts

Cosmetic Potency of Puerariae Radix in Dermal Fibroblasts

Enhancement of the antioxidant and hypolipidemic activities of Puerariae radix by fermentation with Aspergillus niger.

Puerariae radix (PR) is a traditional Chinese food and medicine. In this study, the chemical profile and bioactivities of PR fermented with Aspergillus niger (PFA) were investigated. Based on HPLC analysis, PFA chemical profile changed and total phenols increased by 12.5% relative to PR. Consequently, the in vitro antioxidant activity significantly improved. According to the blood lipid analysis in mice, PFA showed a better ability to inhibit the increased blood lipid levels induced by Triton WR-1339 than PR. In a quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) study, PFA up-regulated cholesterol 7-alpha hydroxylase (CYP7A1) and low-density lipoprotein receptor mRNA expression, which were 50% and 44.8% higher than the levels induced by high-dose PR. Conversely, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGCoAR) mRNA expression was down-regulated to 46.8% lower than the levels induced by high-dose PR. The qRT-PCR results suggested that PFA displayed better hypolipidemic activity than PR, due to its superior ability to regulate mRNA expression.