HPTLC Fingerprints of Total Saponins of Aralia elata Leaves / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective: To establish high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) fingerprint of the total saponins from Aralia elata leaves, and compare the difference of components in A. elata leaves from different harvest time and different regions.Method: High efficiency silica gel G thin sheet (20 cm×20 cm) was used,with chloroform-methanol-ethyl acetate-water (9.5:10:20:0.5:5) as developing system,ethanol solution of 10% concentrated sulfuric acid as chromogenic reagent,heating at 100℃ in constant-temperature air dry oven until clear spots. The fluorescence HPTLC chromatogram fingerprints were obtained under 365 nm ultraviolet light. Speckle patterns were obtained by software processing and the common pattern was established for similarity analysis and cluster analysis.Result: The HPTLC fingerprints with good separation and clear spots were obtained and the common pattern of fingerprints was established. The common pattern was composed of 10 common speckled peaks,4 of which were identified for components. The results showed that samples in early August to mid September from different regions had good similarity. 11 samples of different batches were clustered into one class.Conclusion: The HPTLC method is simple, fast and reliable, and can be used for the identification and quality evaluation of medicinal materials of A. elata leaves. The A. elata leaves collected in August conform to the quality standard, so they can be used as medicinal materials.

Structural modification and anti-inflammatory biological evaluation of monomeric compounds from Aralia elata / 中草药

Objective: Based on structural modification of monomeric compound calenduloside E from Aralia elata, to evaluate anti-inflammatory activity of the analogues. Methods: Applying oleanolic acid as starting material, the target compounds were prepared by seven steps reactions and evaluated for anti-inflammatory effects by RAW264. 7 cells in vitro. Results: Ten analogues G1-G5 and H1-H5 were synthesized. The structures of the target compounds were identified by spectrum. Pharmacological results showed that all of the compounds had different levels potency of anti-inflammatory effects in cells. In particular, compounds G1-G4 and H1-H3 showed significant anti-inflammatory activity comparing wiht lead compounds. Conclusion: The new compounds G1-G5 and H1-H5 which showed potential of anti-inflammatory biological activity, had not been reported in any literatures and deserved further research.

Technology Optimization of Hydrolyzing Aralia Saponins from Alcohol Extracts of Aralia elata / 中国中医药信息杂志

Objective To optimize process of hydrolyzed oleanolic acid from Aralia elata medicinal alcohol extract. Methods Plackett-Burman combined with CCD response surface design method (method 1) and orthogonal experimental design method (method 2) were used to optimize process of hydrolyzed oleanolic acid from Aralia elata medicinal alcohol extract. In method 1, the content of oleanolic acid was the dependent variable, and the hydrolysis time, the hydrochloric acid concentration, and the ratio of material to liquid were set as the independent variables; In method 2, the content of oleanolic acid was the dependent variable, and the hydrolysis time, hydrolysis temperature, the hydrochloric acid concentration, and the ratio of material to liquid were set as the independent variables. Design expert 8.0.6 Trial software was used to analyze the data. Results Considering the actual production situation, method 1 determined the optimum process was to add 15–18 times the amount of 10% to 12% hydrochloric acid, reflux hydrolysis 45–70 min; method 2 determined the optimum process was 15 times the amount of 10% hydrochloric acid, reflux hydrolysis 60 min. Conclusion By comparing method 1 and method 2, the optimum process was selected, and the difference of the content of oleanolic acid is not great. However, the former is more intuitive and convenient, with high precision repeatability, and predictability.

Effects of ETS on Apoptosis of Human Colorectal Cancer HT-29 Cells / 中国中医药信息杂志

Objective To study the apoptosis of human colorectal cancer HT-29 cells induced by Aralia elata Seem leaf total saponin (ETS) and its effects on the expression of relevant proteins. Methods MTT assay was used to detect the proliferation of human colorectal cancer HT-29 cells cultivated with different concentrations (6.25, 12.5, 25, 50, 100, 200 mg/kg) of ETS. Hoechst33258 staining and laser confocal imaging were used to detect the apoptotic cells. Morphological changes were observed. The expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax were detected by immuno-histochemistry. Results ETS could induce apoptosis of HT-29 cells and apoptosis was in a dose-dependent manner in a certain range. ETS could decrease the expression of Bcl-2 and increase the expression of Bax in HT-29 cells (P<0.05, P<0.01), showing a significant dose-effect relationship. Conclusion ETS can induce the apoptosis of HT-29 cells, and the mechanism may be related to reducing the expression of Bcl-2 and increasing the expression of Bax.

Antihypertensive effect of ethanol extracts of Aralia elata in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Antihypertensive effects of ethanol extracts of Aralia elata (Miq.) Seem. (AE) were investigated in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). SHR aged 14 weeks were treated for 8 weeks with AE (10 or 50 mg/kg/day) or amlodipine besylate (Am; 10 mg/kg/day) orally. Hypertension results in injury to several organs and can produce a significant increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) content as a result of lipid peroxidation and endothelial dysfunction. In this study, oral administration of AE and Am significantly reduced systolic blood pressure, organ weight index, and MDA content in tissues but increased significantly the plasma nitrite and nitrate concentrations. The endothelium-dependent relaxant activities of acetylcholine (10⁻¹⁰–10⁻³ M) in norepinephrine (NE)-precontracted aorta were increased in AE- and Am-treated rats. Particularly strong endothelium-dependent relaxant activities were observed in AE-treated (50 mg/kg) rats. The endothelium-independent relaxant activities of sodium nitroprusside (10⁻¹⁰–10⁻³ M) in NE-precontracted aorta were not changed. The results of this study suggest that AE has both antihypertensive and end-organ protective effects in SHR.

Structural modification and biological evaluation of monomeric compounds from Aralia elata / 中草药

Objective: To modify the structure of natural monomeric compound based on oleanolic acid-3-O-β-D-glucuronide from medicinal plant Aralia elata and to evaluate the myocardial protection activity of the derivatives. Methods: Taking oleanolic acid or ursolic acid as material, the target compounds were prepared by five steps of reactions and evaluated for myocardial protection effects by H9c2 cells in vitro. Results: Ten derivatives F1-F10 were synthesized. The structures of the target compounds were identified by spectrum. Pharmacological results showed that all of the compounds had the different levels potency of myocardial protection effects in cells. In particular, compounds F3 showed the significant myocardial protection activity compared to lead compound. Conclusion: The new compounds F1-F10 which show the potential of biological activity in myocardial protection, have not been reported in any literature and deserved further research.

Inhibitory effect of Aralia elata ethanol extract against skin damage in UVB-exposed human keratinocytes and human dermal fibroblasts / 한국영양학회지

PURPOSE: Solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation causes inflammation and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) overexpression and extracellular matrix depletion, leading to skin photoaging such as wrinkle formation, dryness, and sagging. Activation of MMP is influenced by various molecules such as reactive oxygen species (ROS), proinflammatory cytokines, and transient receptor potential vanilloid type (TRPV)-1, which are increased in UV-irradiated skin cells. Aralia elata (AE) ethanolic extract was reported to inhibit ROS generation caused by UVB-irradiation in keratinocytes. In this study, we investigated the photoprotective effect of AE ethanolic extract on UVB-irradiated human keratinocytes (HaCaT) and human dermal fibroblasts (HDF). METHODS: AE was freeze-dried, extracted in 70% ethanol, and concentrated. Skin cells were treated with AE extract for 24 h and then exposed to UVB (55 mJ/cm2). After 48 h of incubation, proinflammatory cytokines, MMP-1, type-1 procollagen, and TRPV-1 levels were measured by ELISA or Western blotting. RESULTS: Treatment with AE extract (100 µg/mL) significantly inhibited UVB-induced IL-6, IL-8, and PGE2 production in HaCaT by 25.6%, 5.3%, and 70.2%, respectively, and also inhibited elevation of MMP-1 and TRPV-1 caused by UVB irradiation by 20.0% and 41.9%, respectively (p < 0.05). In HDF, AE extract treatment significantly inhibited both elevation of MMP-1 and reduction of type-1 procollagen caused by UVB irradiation (p < 0.05). In addition, type-1 procollagen was elevated by AE extract treatment in normal HDFs (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: AE 70% ethanol extract has photoprotective ability via reduction of proinflammatory mediators, TRPV-1 and MMP-1 production, and elevation of collagen synthesis. Our findings suggest that AE extract might be a good natural material to protect against UVB-induced premature skin aging.

Suppressive effects of ethanol extract of Aralia elata on UVB-induced oxidative stress in human keratinocytes / 한국영양학회지

PURPOSE: Ultraviolet (UV)-induced oxidative stress contributes to several adverse biological effects on skin. Many phenolic phytochemicals have been shown to have antioxidant properties and protect skin cells from UV-induced oxidative damage. In this study, we investigated whether or not Aralia elata (AE) has a protective effect against UVB-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS), ultimately leading to photoaging. METHODS: Phenolic content of dried AE and antioxidant properties of AE extract in 70% ethanol weredetermined by measuring DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). The effect of AE extract on cellular ROS generation and expression levels of oxidative stress-response proteins such as superoxide dismutase (SOD)-1, catalase, nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf)-2,and heme oxygenase (HO)-1 in UVB-irradiated (75 mJ/cm²) human keratinocytes (HaCaT) were further determined by 2'-7'-dichlorofluoresceine diacetate assay and Western blotting, respectively. RESULTS: The total phenolic and flavonoid contents of dried AE were 20.15 mg tannic acid/g and 18.75 mg rutin/g, respectively. The IC₅₀ of AE extract against DPPH radical was 98.5 µg/mL, and ABTS radical scavenging activity and FRAP upon treatment with 1,000 µg/mL of AE extract were 41.8 µg ascorbic acid (AA) eq./mL and 29.7 µg AA eq./mL,m respectively. Pretreatment with AE extract significantly reduced (p < 0.05) ROS generation compared to that in UVB-irradiated control HaCaT cells. Pretreatment with AE extract reversed reduction of Nrf-2 and SOD-1 protein expression and induction of HO-1 protein expression caused by UVB exposure in HaCaT cells, whereas it did not affect catalase expression. CONCLUSION: AE extract in 70% ethanol demonstrated a protective effect against UVB-induced oxidative stress and decreased expression of Nrf-2 and SOD-1 in human keratinocytes. These findings suggest that AE ethanol extract might have potential as a natural resource for a skin antiphotoaging product in the food and cosmetic industry.

Effects of Araliaceae Water Extracts on Blood Glucose Level and Biochemical Parameters in Diabetic Rats

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Aralia elata, Acanthopanacis cortex and Ulmus davidiana water extracts on blood hemoglobin, HbA1c levels and biomarkers in the streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Male Wistar rats divided into normal and diabetic groups. The diabetic groups subdivided into the control group (DM) and Araliaceae water extracts supplemented groups: Aralia elata (AE), Acanthopanacis cortex (AC) and Ulmus davidiana (UD). The extracts were supplemented in diet base on 11.42 g of raw Araliaceae/kg diet for 7 weeks. The diabetes was induced by injecting STZ (55 mg/kg B.W., i.p.) once 2 weeks before sacrifying. Relative weights of liver were significantly lowered in the DM group compared to the normal group, whereas those of kidney and heart were significantly increased in the DM group. Supplementation of the Araliaceae water extracts improved reduced liver weights in STZ-induced diabetic rats. Blood glucose level was significantly higher in the DM group than in the normal group, whereas insulin contents were significantly lowered in the DM groups. However, these parameters were normalized in the AE, AC and UD supplemented groups, respectively. Blood hemoglobin and HbA(1c) levels were significantly higher in the DM group than in the normal group. When all of Araliaceae water extracts were supplemented to the diabetic rats lowered hemoglobin and HbAI(1c) levels. Red blood cell, white blood cell and lymphocyte were significantly higher in the DM group than in the normal group. The supplementation of Araliaceae family water extracts significantly lowered these parameters compared to the DM group. MCV, MCH contents were declined in the DM group, while the supplementation of Aralia elata, Acanthopanacis cortex and Ulmus davidiana water extracts elevated of these contents in STZ-induced diabetic rats. Accordingly, these results indicate that Aralia elata, Acanthopanacis cortex and Ulmus davidiana water extracts would seem to improve the blood biomarkers in STZ-induced diabetic rats.

Pharmacognosia Identification of Aralia elata / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE:To identify the root-bark of Aralia elata.METHODS:The origin,property,microscopic characteristics,thin-layer chromatography(TLC) of the root-bark of Aralia elata were identified,and the content of oleanolic acid in the root-bark of Aralia elata was determined by HPLC.RESULT:The identification method for the root-bark of Aralia elata has been established.CONCLUSION: The established method has been proved to be effective for the identification of the root-bark of Aralia elata.