Sorbus Commixta Research Articles

Analyzing Generalist Plant Species Using Topographic Characteristics of Picea jezoensis (Siebold & Zucc.) Carrière Forests in East Asia: From China (Mt. Changbai) to South Korea

Picea jezoensis (Siebold & Zucc.) Carrière forests are distributed in Korea and China and are crucial for phytogeographical research. Implementing conservation policies encompassing multiple species is necessary to conserve endangered species, particularly monitoring coexisting species and their interactions within an ecological network. Here, we identified plants within P. jezoensis forests in East Asia as generalist species to contribute foundational data for biodiversity conservation. We examined 91 standardized sites through the Braun-Blanquet method, while generalist indices were calculated using Levin’s method. The top 5% of generalists in the P. jezoensis forests were Acer komarovii (0.7409), Betula ermanii (0.7214), Asarum sieboldii (0.7002), Lepisorus ussuriensis (0.6977), Acer pseudosieboldianum (0.6915), Tripterygium regelii (0.6876), Thelypteris phegopteris (0.6771), Dryopteris expansa (0.6745), Sorbus commixta (0.6642), and Rhododendron schlippenbachii (0.6625). Correlation analysis between ecological factors and generalist species revealed that the coverage of Abies spp., Acer spp., and Rhododendron spp. and the species diversity index were influenced by altitude. Convex hull analysis revealed that pteridophytes and broad-leaved plants regenerated through stump sprouts occupy ecological niche spaces, indicating diverse habitats within P. jezoensis forests. This study highlights the importance of the simultaneous monitoring of multiple species to conserve ecosystem health and offers broader implications for ecological understanding.

Stem of Sorbus commixta Hedl. Extract Inhibits Cartilage Degradation and Arthritic Pain in Experimental Model via Anti-Inflammatory Activity.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a widespread joint disease that affects millions of people worldwide. Conventional treatments for OA, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and steroids, have a risk of various adverse events, including liver, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and kidney disease, which are unsatisfactory in their effectiveness. In this study, Sorbus commixta Hedl. Stem extracts (SCE) were evaluated in animal models as potential inhibitors for the progression of OA. Sorbus commixta Hedl., which was found to have substantial anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities in earlier investigations, has shown potential as a candidate for OA treatment. To mimic human OA symptoms, male rats were injected using sodium iodoacetate (MIA) in their knee joints. SCE significantly reduced MIA-induced weight-bearing loss in rats after the MIA injection and alleviated cartilage degradation and subchondral bone injury caused by MIA. In addition, SCE administration reduced levels of TNF-α and IL-1β such as pro-inflammatory cytokines in serum, as well as the levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) such as MMP-1, -3, -8 and -13 in the joint cartilage. SCE significantly inhibited the writhing responses in acetic acid-administered mice and was used to quantify pain. In lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated RAW264.7, SCE suppressed NO production and reduced the expression of TNF-α, PGE2, IL-6, IL-1β, MMP1, MMP3, MMP8, and MMP-13. Our study showed that SCE alleviated inflammation and cartilage degradation in arthritis through its anti-inflammatory activities on multiple targets.

Antithrombotic Effect of Sorbus commixta in an Arterial Thrombosis Mouse Model

Sorbus commixta Hedlund ( S. commixta) is known to possess cardiovascular protective activity. However, its effect on thrombosis has not been reported, although thrombosis plays a primary role in diverse circulatory diseases. Thus, this study was performed to assess the antithrombotic activity of dried S. commixta fruit extract. Mice were fed with a diet containing 8.3% extract for 4 weeks, which corresponded to the consumption of approximately 1000 mg extract/kg/day. The antithrombotic effect was tested in a FeCl3-induced arterial thrombosis model. Additionally, the effects on platelet aggregation and plasma coagulation were examined in vitro using washed platelets (WP) and isolated blood plasma, respectively. Thrombotic vascular occlusion time was significantly prolonged by the 4-week administration of the extract. Treatment of WP with the extract resulted in a decrease in thrombin-induced aggregation, which was concentration-dependent over 10 to 100 μg/mL and was not attributed to the direct inhibition of thrombin. The extract did not affect blood plasma coagulation, which was assessed by measuring prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time. S. commixta is capable of preventing arterial thrombosis and such an effect may be attributed to the inhibition of platelet aggregation.

Plant-insect communication in urban forests: Similarities of plant volatile compositions among tree species (host vs. non-host trees) for alder leaf beetle Agelastica coerulea

Behavior of insects, such as pollination and grazing, is usually determined by biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs). However, particularly in O3-polluted urban forests, the BVOCs-based plant-insect communication can be disrupted by the reaction of O3 with leaf-emitted BVOCs, such as between Japanese white birch (Betula platyphylla var. japonica) and a leaf beetle (Agelastica coerulea). To understand plant-insect communication in O3-polluted environments, it is necessary to identify chemical species of BVOCs that contribute to attractiveness toward insects but are diminished by elevated O3. In this study, we conducted olfactory response tests and gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses to clarify whether there is a similarity of BVOC components among Betulaceae host trees that can explain the attraction of the stenophagous insect A. coerulea. The olfactory response tests indicated that Betulaceae host trees attract A. coerulea via leaf-emitted BVOCs, while there was no preference of the leaf beetles to non-host trees (Sorbus commixta and Morus bombycis). However, GC-MS analyses indicated that the composition of BVOC blends considerably differed among Betulaceae host trees, although alders (Alnus hirsuta and A. japonica) had a similar composition of BVOC blend in each season (June and September) during which the adult leaf beetle is active. A distinct characteristic of the emission from B. platyphylla was that 2-carene and limonene, which are O3-reactive species, were emitted with a high monoterpene ratio irrespective of the season. Thus, these volatiles and the blend could be expected to lead the disrupted communication found between B. platyphylla and A. coerulea under elevated O3 in previous field studies. In addition, our results indicated that A. coerulea is attracted to more than one blend within Betulaceae host trees, suggesting that grazing damages can be affected by different host preferences and O3 reactivity with specific BVOCs in the field. BVOCs-based plant-insect interactions should be further studied in multi-species communities to better understand plant-insect communication in O3-polluted environments.

Breeding a new cultivar for larger fruit and high productivity in silvery mountain ash (Sorbus commixta)

Breeding a new cultivar for larger fruit and high productivity in silvery mountain ash (<i>Sorbus commixta</i>)

Potential therapeutic properties of Sorbus commixta twig ethanol extract on vitiligo in skin cells

Sorbus commixta is a tree of the Rosaceae family growing in Asia that has long been used to treat asthma and neuralgia. In a previous report, the chemical isolated from the bark of S. commixta was shown to suppress the production of nitric oxide (NO) and preinflammation by downregulating the NF-?B pathway in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Vitiligo is an acquired immune disease, usually characterized by white spots on the skin; however, its exact cause has not been identified. This study assessed the effects of an ethanol extract of S. commixta twigs (STE) on melanocyte activation, as well as its antiinflammatory and antioxidant properties. STE significantly increased the proliferation and melanin content of B16 melanocytes. Because of the importance of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-? in inflammatory diseases, including the stimulation of vitiligo, the antiinflammatory effects of STE were tested in TNF-?-stimulated dermal fibroblasts and keratinocytes. STE reduced the levels of expression of IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-? mRNA and proteins. To assess the underlying molecular mechanism, the effects of STE on the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling process were analyzed in dermal fibroblasts. Results show that STE inactivated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). In addition, STE exhibited antioxidative properties in assays of DPPH radical scavenging activity. Taken together, these findings suggest that STE has potential therapeutic activity in vitiligo.

Effect of Iron Source and Medium pH on Growth and Development of Sorbus commixta In Vitro.

Sorbus commixta is a valuable hardwood plant with a high economical value for its medicinal and ornamental qualities. The aim of this work was to investigate the effects of the iron (Fe) source and medium pH on the growth and development of S. commixta in vitro. The Fe sources used, including non-chelated iron sulfate (FeSO4), iron ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (Fe-EDTA), and iron diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (Fe-DTPA), were supplemented to the Multipurpose medium with a final Fe concentration of 2.78 mg·L−1. The medium without any supplementary Fe was used as the control. The pH of the agar-solidified medium was adjusted to either 4.70, 5.70, or 6.70. The experiment was conducted in a culture room for six weeks with 25 °C day and night temperatures, and a 16-h photoperiod with a light intensity of 50 mmol·m−2·s−1 photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD). Both the Fe source and pH affected the growth and development of the micropropagated plants in vitro. The leaves were greener in the pH 4.70 and 5.70 treatments. The tissue Fe content decreased with the increase of the medium pH. The leaf chlorophyll content was similar between plants treated with FeSO4 and those with Fe-EDTA. The numbers of the shoots and roots of plantlets treated with FeSO4 were 2.5 and 2 times greater than those of the control, respectively. The fresh and dry weights of the shoot and the root were the greatest for plants treated with Fe-EDTA combined with pH 5.70. The calcium, magnesium, and manganese contents in the plantlets increased in the pH 5.70 treatments regardless of the Fe source. Supplementary Fe decreased the activity of ferric chelate reductase. Overall, although the plantlets absorbed more Fe at pH 4.70, Fe-EDTA combined with pH 5.70 was found to be the best for the growth and development of S. commixta in vitro.

Anti-Melanoma Activities and Phytochemical Compositions of Sorbus commixta Fruit Extracts.

Sorbus commixta Hedl. (Rosaceae family) has a long history as a medicinal plant in East Asian countries. In this study, we evaluated the effect of S. commixta fruit extracts prepared with different ethanol concentrations on anti-melanoma activity, and the extraction yield of phenolic compounds and flavonoids. Using the partitioned fractions from the EtOH extract, we found that the butanol fraction (BF) possessed strong cytotoxic activity against SK-MEL-2 cells (human melanoma cells) but not against HDFa cells (human dermal fibroblast adult cells). Additionally, BF-induced cell death was mediated by the inhibition of the mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular regulated kinase (MEK/ERK) signaling pathway, coupled with the upregulation of caspase-3 activity in SK-MEL-2 cells. Furthermore, HPLC analysis of polyphenolic compounds suggested that S. commixta fruits contained several active compounds including chlorogenic acid, rutin, protocatechuic acid, and hydroxybenzoic acid, all of which are known to possess anti-cancer activities. Although this study has been carried out by cell-based approach, these results suggest that S. commixta fruits contain promising anti-melanoma compounds.

Inhibitory Effect of Scopoletin Isolated from Sorbus commixta on TNF-α-Induced Inflammation in Human Vascular Endothelial EA.hy926 Cells through NF-κB Signaling Pathway Suppression

Inhibitory Effect of Scopoletin Isolated from Sorbus commixta on TNF-α-Induced Inflammation in Human Vascular Endothelial EA.hy926 Cells through NF-κB Signaling Pathway Suppression

Sorbus commixta water extract induces apoptotic cell death via a ROS-dependent pathway.

The stembark of Sorbus commixta Hedl. has been used for treating asthma, bronchitis, gastritis and edema. However, the anticancer and proapoptotic effects of the water extract of the stembark of S. commixta (SCE) remain unknown. In the present study, it was shown that SCE inhibited the cell viability of the hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines Hep3B and HepG2, and of the colon carcinoma cell line HCT116. DNA content analysis indicated that SCE increased the sub-G1 population of HCT116 cells. In addition, degradation of nuclear DNA and levels of proapoptotic cascade components, including caspase-9, caspase-3 and poly ADP-ribose polymerase, were augmented by SCE treatment. Mitochondrial membrane potential and the ratio of B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2)/Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) were also reduced. Furthermore, SCE increased the expression of proapoptotic proteins, including p21, p27 and p53. Mouse double minute 2 homology, a negative regulator of p53, was cleaved by SCE treatment. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was also increased by SCE treatment. However, the SCE-induced cytotoxic effects and the increased expression of proapoptotic proteins, including p53 and p21, and reduced Bcl-2/Bax ratio, could be attenuated by N-acetyl cysteine, an ROS inhibitor. Taken together, these results indicate that SCE is a potent proapoptotic herbal medicine, which exerts its effects via the ROS-mediated mitochondrial pathway.

Suppression of Ultraviolet B-mediated Matrix Metalloproteinase Generation by Sorbus commixta Twig Extract in Human Dermal Fibroblasts.

Sorbus commixta is a traditional oriental medicinal plant that grows in East Asian countries such as Korea, Japan and China. The twig of S.commixta has been considered valuable for centuries to treat diseases including asthma, cough and other bronchial disorders. However, the effect of S.commixta twig extract on human skin has not been investigated well. The present study aimed at assessing the antiphotoaging effect of S.commixta twig ethanol extract (STE) on ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) levels and its underlying mechanism in human dermal fibroblasts. In this study, we found that STE (12.5-50μgmL-1 ) treatment significantly inhibited UVB-induced MMP-1, MMP-2 and MMP-3 expression, concomitant with a downregulation of intracellular ROS generation. These effects might be associated with a STE-induced inhibition of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. Furthermore, STE also downregulated UVB-induced c-Fos expression in a concentration-dependent manner, but had no inhibitory effect on c-Jun phosphorylation. Taken together, these results indicate that STE may be an antiphotoaging agent and that its effect may occur via its inhibition of MMPs expression and MAPK pathway activation.

A New Dibenzofuran from the Barks of Sorbus commixta

A New Dibenzofuran from the Barks of Sorbus commixta

In Vitro Antiviral Activity of Sakuranetin against Human Rhinovirus 3.

ObjectivesRhinoviruses (RVs) cause common cold and are associated with exacerbation of chronic inflammatory respiratory diseases. Until now, no clinically effective antiviral chemotherapeutic agents to treat diseases caused by human rhinoviruses (HRVs) have been reported. We assessed the anti-HRV3 activity of sakuranetin isolated from Sorbus commixta Hedl. in human epithelioid carcinoma cervix (HeLa) cells, to evaluate its anti-rhinoviral potential in the clinical setting.MethodsAntiviral activity and cytotoxicity as well as the effect of sakuranetin on HRV3-induced cytopathic effects (CPEs) were evaluated using the sulforhodamine B (SRB) method using CPE reduction. The morphology of HRV3-infected cells was studied using a light microscope.ResultsSakuranetin actively inhibited HRV3 replication and exhibited antiviral activity of more than 67% without cytotoxicity in HeLa cells, at 100 μg/mL. Ribavirin showed anti-HRV3 activity similar to that of sakuranetin. Treatment of HRV-infected HeLa cells with sakuranetin visibly reduced CPEs.ConclusionThe inhibition of HRV production by sakuranetin is mainly due to its general antioxidant activity through inhibition of viral adsorption. Therefore, the antiviral activity of sakuranetin should be further investigated to elucidate its mode of action and prevent HRV3-mediated diseases in pathological conditions.

A novel cytotoxic activity of the fruit of Sorbus commixta against human lung cancer cells and isolation of the major constituents

Sorbus commixta Hedl. (Rosaceae) is a well-known herbal tree. Its fruit, commonly called the rowanberry, is traditionally eaten for refreshment and has been used as a laxative and as a gargle for sore throats. We explored the novel pharmacological activity of the S. commixta fruit and found that its ethanolic extracts reduced the viability of human lung adenocarcinoma cells by inducing apoptotic cell death in a p53-independent manner. Column chromatographic separation of the ethanolic extract led to isolation of three main constituents, benzyl β-d-glucopyranoside, sambunigrin, and prunasin. This is the first report showing the presence of the cyanogenic glycosides, sambunigrin and prunasin, in S. commixta fruit. These findings provide experimental evidence for a novel biological activity of S. commixta fruit against human lung cancer cells and identification of the main constituents, which raise the potential of using S. commixta fruit as a functional food for tumor prevention and management.

Antioxidant Activities of Hot Water and Ethanol Extracts from the stem of Sorbus commixta Heal

Antioxidant Activities of Hot Water and Ethanol Extracts from the stem of Sorbus commixta Heal

울릉 마가목의 클로로겐산 이성체의 최종당화산물의 생성 저해 및 라디칼 소거 활성

Advanced glycation end product (AGE) formation and reactive oxygen species are potential therapeutic targets for the prevention of diabetic nephropathy and other pathogenic complications. Activity-guided isolation of an ethylacetate-soluble portion of 80% methanolic extract from fruits of Sorbus commixta of the Ulleung Island origin using AGE formation inhibition assay led to the isolation and identification of three caffeoylquinic acid derivatives of a previously known structure, 3-O-caffeoylquinic acid (neochlorogenic acid; 1), 4-O-caffeoylquinic acid (cryptochlorogenic acid; 2), and 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid (chlorogenic acid; 3). The structures of these compounds were confirmed by interpretation of nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry data. Among the isolates, the major metabolite, neochlorogenic acid (1) showed the most potent inhibitory effect against AGE formation with an IC50 value of 167.5±3.5 μM. Furthermore, all isolated chlorogenic acid isomers were evaluated for their radical scavenging activity against peroxynitrite, and structurally related isomers 1, 2, and 3 exhibited potent inhibitory effects in this radical scavenging assay. This result suggests that the monocaffeoyl quinic acid derivatives isolated from S. commixta might be beneficial for the regulation of diabetic complications and related diseases.

울릉도 마가목의 다양한 부위의 항혈전 활성

Sorbus commixta, a flowering plant in the Rosaceae family, is native to Japan and Ulleung Island, Korea. This plant is also called maga-mok or mai-mok in Korea because the bud of the stem has a similar shape to the teeth of a horse. In this study, hot water extracts from different parts of S. commixta, such as leaf, stem, and immature and mature fruits, were prepared, and their antithrombosis and antioxidant activities were evaluated. The extraction yield and pH of stem extracts were 3.99% and 5.5, respectively. The stem extracts contained 89.2 ㎎/g of total polyphenols and 28.3 ㎎/g of total flavonoids. The hot water extracts prepared from the leaf, stem, immature, and mature fruit of S. commixta exhibited no hemolytic activity against human red blood cells, up to a concentration of 0.5 ㎎/ml. In an anticoagulation assay, the stem extracts showed strong extension in thrombin, prothrombin, and activated partial thromboplastin times, whereas the other extracts had no anticoagulation activity. In a platelet aggregation inhibitory activity assay, all the extracts tested had no inhibitory activity against human platelets. With regard to antioxidation activity, the stem extracts showed stronger radical scavenging activity and reducing power activity than the other extracts. The calculated RC 50 s, the concentration required for 50% radical scavenging activity, for DPPH anions, ABTS cations, and nitrite of the crude stem extracts were 119.7, 53.3, and 117.5 ㎍/ml, respectively, whereas they were 13.7, 5.2, and 14.9 ㎍/ml for DPPH anions, ABTS cations, and nitrite, respectively, for vitamin C. The results suggest that the stem extracts of S. commixta have strong potential for use as a novel resource for antithrombosis agents.

Lupeol Isolated from Sorbus commixta Suppresses 1α,25-(OH)2D3-Mediated Osteoclast Differentiation and Bone Loss in Vitro and in Vivo.

Lupeol is a lupane-type triterpene isolated from Sorbus commixta, an oriental medicine used to treat arthritis and inflammatory diseases. However, the antiosteoporotic effects of S. commixta or any of its constituents have not been studied yet. In the present study, we have examined the effect of lupeol (a major active triterpenoid isolated from S. commixta) on osteoclastogenesis and sought to elucidate its underlying molecular mechanisms. We evaluated whether lupeol antagonized osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption. Lupeol markedly inhibited osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption activity through its effects on MAP kinases and transcription factors (NF-κB, NFATc1, and c-Fos) downstream of the osteoclast differentiation factor receptor RANK. Furthermore, in vivo efficacy of lupeol was confirmed by using an animal model of hypercalcemic mediated bone loss. Taken together, lupeol showed strong inhibitory effects on osteoclastogenesis. Supplementation with S. commixta and lupeol could be beneficial for bone health or osteoclast-related diseases such as osteoporosis, Paget's disease, osteolysis associated with periodontal disease, and multiple myeloma.

Analysis on Growth Characteristics of Landscape Trees in Apartment Complex

The purpose of this study is to offer the raw data for improving the method of landscape planting in apartment complex by objective surveying and analysing the growth ratio by type and ground planted in landscape tree. The results are as follows. In the survival ratio of tree, Pinus densiflora was the highest and Abies koreana was the lowest in evergreen tree. In case of deciduous tree, the species of the highest survival ratio were Diospyros kaki, Zelkova serrata, Prunus mume, Lagerstroemia indica and Ginkgo biloba. There showed that Sorbus commixta and Chaenomeles sinensis had the lowest survial ratio. In case of tree growth by types, Pinus strobus was the highest and Pinus densiflora var. globosa was the lowest among evergreen trees. Among deciduous trees, the growth ratio of Zelkova serrata was the highest, and the trees showed the lowest growth were Lagerstroemia indica, Magnolia denudata and Cornus officinalis. Pinus strobus, Cornus kousa, Ginkgo biloba, Chionanthus retusa and Acer palmatum were good growth in natural ground, and Zelkova serrata and Prunus armeniaca var. ansu were good in artificial ground. In the future, if you study the growth characteristics and shrubs that are excluded from the study of landscape trees in various locations are expected to derive objective data.

In Vivo Screening of Traditional Medicinal Plants for Neuroprotective Activity against Aβ42 Cytotoxicity by Using Drosophila Models of Alzheimer's Disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by progressive neuronal loss with amyloid β-peptide (Aβ) plaques. Despite several drugs currently used to treat AD, their beneficial effects on AD progress remains under debate. Here, we established a rapid in vivo screening system using Drosophila AD models to assess the neuroprotective activities of medicinal plants that have been used in traditional Chinese medicine. Among 23 medicinal plants tested, the extracts from five plants, Coriandrum sativum, Nardostachys jatamansi, Polygonum multiflorum (P. multiflorum), Rehmannia glutinosa, and Sorbus commixta (S. commixta), showed protective effects against the Aβ42 neurotoxicity. We further characterized the neuroprotective activity of ethanol extracts from P. multiflorum and S. commixta. Aβ42-expressing flies that we used showed AD neurological phenotypes, such as decreased survival and motility and increased cell death and reactive oxygen species level. However, feeding these flies extracts from P. multiflorum or S. commixta showed strong suppression of such phenotypes. Similar results were observed in human cells, so that the treatment of P. multiflorum and S. commixta extracts increased the viability of Aβ-treated SH-SY5Y cells. Moreover, 2,3,5,4'-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-β-D-glucoside, one of the main constituents of P. multiflorum, also showed similar protective activity against Aβ42 cytotoxicity in both Drosophila and human cells. Taken together, our results suggest that both P. multiflorum and S. commixta have therapeutic potential for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, such as AD.