Search Results (62)

This comprehensive review focuses on Eleutherococcus senticosus (ES), examining the phytochemical composition, traditional medicinal roles, ecological traits, and pharmacological effects. Native to Northeast Asia, ES is used in traditional Chinese, Korean, and Japanese medicine. The rhizomes and bark are utilized medicinally and valued for their adaptogenic properties that enhance stress resistance, boost mental and physical endurance, and exhibit immunostimulatory effects that strengthen the immune system. Its pharmacological potential stems from a variety of bioactive compounds, including eleutherosides, lignans, saponins, flavonoids, and polysaccharides, which contribute to health benefits such as neuroprotective, antidiabetic, anticancer, and antioxidative activities. Neuroprotective properties may aid in the management of neurodegenerative conditions, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, while antidiabetic effects support glucose regulation and insulin sensitivity. With increasing demands and conservation concerns, sustainable cultivation practices are essential, as ES is endangered in some areas. Plant biotechnology techniques offer solutions to enhance secondary metabolite yields while ensuring genetic stability and minimizing environmental impacts. ES is a promising natural resource for various industries because of its extensive benefits. Still, its conservation and sustainable production are critical and require ongoing research and innovative cultivation strategies. Full article

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive degenerative disease of the nervous system that affects older adults. Its main clinical manifestations include memory loss, cognitive dysfunction, abnormal behaviour, and social dysfunction. Neuroinflammation is typical in most neurodegenerative diseases, such as AD. Therefore, suppressing inflammation may improve AD symptoms. This study investigated the neuroprotective effects of Acanthopanax senticosus saponins (ASS) in an AD model induced by streptozotocin (STZ). Here, we characterised a rat model of STZ-induced AD with the parallel deterioration of memory loss and neuroinflammation. Following the end of the treatment with ASS (50 mg/kg for 14 consecutive days), behavioural tests (Morris water maze test, Y-maze test) were performed on the rat, and the molecular parameters (DAPK1, Tau5, p-Tau, NF-κB, IL-1β, TNF-α, and NLRP3) of the rat hippocampus were also assessed. We demonstrated that ASS, which has potent anti-inflammatory effects, can reduce neuroinflammation and prevent cognitive impairment. In the water maze test, ASS-treated groups exhibited significantly increased average escape latency (p < 0.05), the percentage of stay in the target quadrant (p < 0.05), and the number of times each group of rats crossed the platform (p < 0.05) compared to the negative control. And ASS could reduce the phosphorylation of the Tau protein (p < 0.001) and death-associated protein kinase 1 (DAPK1, p < 0.001) in the hippocampal tissue, improving cognitive impairment in STZ-treated rats by suppressing the inflammatory response; the molecular analysis showed a significant reduction in pro-inflammatory markers like NLRP3, IL-1β, TNF-α, and NF-κB (p < 0.001). It was also discovered that the NF-κB inhibitor SN50 had the same effect. Therefore, the present study used ASS through its anti-inflammatory effects to prevent and treat AD. This study highlights the potential efficacy of ASS in alleviating cognitive dysfunction in AD. Full article

In this study, we sought to evaluate the potential availability of 30% ethanol extract of Acanthopanax sessiliflorus fruit (ASE) as a prebiotic and compare the immune enhancement effect of ASE and its fermented products, which were fermented with three probiotic bacteria, namely, Lactobacillus plantarum (ASE-LPF), Streptococcus thermophilus (ASE-STF), and Lactobacillus helveticus (ASE-LHF). RAW264.7 and BV2 cells were treated with various concentrations of ASE and its fermented products. The level of nitric oxide was evaluated using a Griess reagent, and the levels of inflammatory cytokines were determined through an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Western blot analysis was employed to determine the expression of various proteins related to immune responses. Our results show that fermentation with ASE significantly improved the probiotic growth of S. thermophilus and L. helveticus. Compared with ASE, treatment with only ASE-LHF increased the level of nitric oxide. Compared with ASE, treatment with ASE-LHF augmented the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, and the production of inflammatory cytokines. It was confirmed that these enhancement effects were due to the activation of the nuclear factor kappa B and extracellular signal-regulated kinase mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways. Additionally, secondary metabolite profiling of ASE and its fermented products was performed using UPLC-QTOF/MS to identify ASE’s promising compounds. Through metabolomic analysis, 23 metabolites showing significant differences between ASE and its fermented products were compared. Therefore, this study demonstrates the possibility of ASE-LHF as a potential material for immune-enhancing agents. Full article

Acanthopanax senticosus (Rupr. and Maxim.; AS) fruit, an underutilized byproduct, possesses significant bioactive potential, yet its quality is highly influenced by drying methods. This study systematically evaluated the effects of five drying techniques, including vacuum freeze-drying (VFD), vacuum drying (VD), microwave drying (MD), hot-air drying (HD), and natural drying (ND), on the color retention, bioactive composition, volatile profile, and antioxidant activity of AS fruit. VFD preserved the highest levels of total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC), particularly chlorogenic acid, rutin, and quercitrin, leading to superior antioxidant activity. Amino acid analysis indicated that VFD retained the highest concentrations of key essential amino acids, minimizing thermal degradation. Correlation analysis revealed a strong association between TPC, TFC, and antioxidant activity, emphasizing their functional significance. Through multivariate statistical analysis, 12 volatile compounds were identified as potential biomarkers to distinguish AS fruit samples processed using different drying methods, highlighting significant metabolic differences between drying techniques. Overall, VFD emerged as the optimal method for preserving AS fruit’s bioactive integrity, offering valuable insights for post-harvest processing strategies in the nutraceutical industry. Full article

Individuals infected with COVID-19 often experience the distressing discomfort of pharyngitis. Thus, it is crucial to develop novel drugs to improve therapeutic options. In this study, we investigated the interaction between bioactive compounds isolated from Acanthopanax trifoliatus (L.) Merr and proteins associated with COVID-19 and pharyngitis through in silico analysis. Several molecules demonstrated high affinities to multiple targets, indicating significant potential for alleviating pharyngitis and other COVID-19-related symptoms. Among them, rutin and isochlorogenic acid C, two major components in Acanthopanax trifoliatus (L.) Merr ethanol extracts, were further experimentally demonstrated to exhibit strong inhibitory effects against SARS-CoV-2 and to possess significant anti-inflammatory activities. Inhibition of over 50% in several key genes was observed, demonstrating the efficacy of in silico methods in identifying high-affinity target binders. Our findings provide a theoretical foundation for the development of Acanthopanax trifoliatus (L.) Merr as a novel multi-target therapeutic agent for both COVID-19 and pharyngitis. Full article

Acanthopanax senticosus (ASC) contains a variety of bioactive compounds and serves as an important traditional Chinese medicinal resource. However, its prolonged growth cycle and reliance on wild populations limit its practical use. To explore the potential of Acanthopanax sessiliflorus (ASF) as an alternative, this study focused on optimizing the extraction process and assessing the bioactivity of stem extracts. The Analytic Hierarchy Process-Entropy Weight Method (AHP-EWM) was applied to comprehensively score five key active compounds in ASF stems, establishing a benchmark for evaluating extraction efficiency. Ultrasound-assisted enzymatic extraction (UAEE) was employed, and orthogonal and response surface experiments were conducted to refine the extraction parameters. The optimal conditions identified were an ultrasound temperature of 59 °C, a duration of 57 min, an ethanol concentration of 61%, and a liquid-to-material ratio of 39:1, resulting in an AHP-EWM composite score of 94.76. Comparative analysis of antibacterial and antioxidant activities revealed that ASC extracts exhibited superior antibacterial effects, while ASF extracts demonstrated enhanced antioxidant properties. These findings support the partial replacement of ASC with ASF, contributing to the conservation of wild resources and expanding the application of ASF in medicinal development. Full article

The geographic distribution patterns of soil microbial communities associated with cultivated Acanthopanax senticosus plants in Northeast China were investigated. High-throughput sequencing revealed that the diversity and community assembly of bacterial and fungal communities in the inter-root soil varied significantly with geographic location. The study found that bacterial communities were predominantly assembled through stochastic processes at most sites, while fungal communities showed greater variation, with both stochastic and deterministic processes involved. The complexity of bacterial–fungal co-occurrence networks also varied with longitude and latitude, demonstrating both positive and negative interactions. PICRUSt 2.0 and FUNGuild were used to predict the potential functions of soil bacterial and fungal microbiota, respectively, during different land use patterns. The average taxonomic distinctness (AVD) index indicated varying degrees of community stability across sites. Key microbial taxa contributing to community variability were identified through Random Forest modeling, with Bacteriap25 and Sutterellaceae standing out among bacteria, and Archaeorhizomyces and Clavaria among fungi. Soil chemical properties, including pH, TN, TP, EC, and SOC, significantly correlated with microbial diversity, composition, and co-occurrence networks. Structural equation modeling revealed that geographic distribution patterns directly and indirectly influenced soil chemical properties and microbial communities. Overall, the study provides insights into the geographic distribution patterns of soil microbial communities associated with A. senticosus and highlights the need for further research into the underlying mechanisms shaping these patterns. Full article

To enhance the nutritional value of Acanthopanax senticosus leaves (AL), a fermentation process was conducted using a probiotic Bacillus mixture, and the changes in chemical constituents and biological activities before and after fermentation were compared. A response surface methodology was employed to optimize the liquid fermentation conditions of AL based on their influence on polyphenol content. Non-targeted metabolomics analysis was performed using LC-MS/MS to reveal the differing profiles of compounds before and after fermentation. The results indicated that Bacillus subtilis LK and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens M2 significantly influenced polyphenol content during fermentation. The optimal fermentation conditions were determined to be a fermentation time of 54 h, a temperature of 39.6 °C, and an inoculum size of 2.5% (v/v). In comparison to unfermented AL, the total polyphenol and flavonoid contents, as well as the free radical scavenging capacities measured by DPPH and ABTS assays, and the activities of β-glucosidase and endo-glucanase, were significantly increased. The non-targeted metabolomics analysis identified 1348 metabolites, of which 829 were classified as differential metabolites. A correlation analysis between the differential metabolites of polyphenols, flavonoids, and antioxidant activity revealed that 13 differential metabolites were positively correlated with antioxidant activity. Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis of the differential metabolites identified 82 pathways, with two of the top 25 metabolic pathways related to flavonoids. This study explores the potential for enhancing the active ingredients and biological effects of AL through probiotic fermentation using Bacillus strains. Full article

Previous studies have shown that Acanthopanax senticosus (AS) has a beneficial preventive and therapeutic effect on colitis. The fermentation of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) can alter the efficacy of AS by modifying or producing new compounds with potential bioactive properties. However, the specific components and mechanisms that enhance the efficacy are still unclear. In the present experiment, untargeted metabolomics was used to analyze the changes in active components before and after LAB fermentation of AS. The aim was to explain the mechanism of AS fermentation in treating colitis using a colitis model in mice. The results indicated that the fermentation of LAB could enhance the levels of total flavonoids and total polyphenols in FAS. Additionally, the beneficial components such as Delphinidin chloride, Diosmetin, Psoralidin, and Catechol significantly increased (p < 0.05). The colitis treatment experiment demonstrated that fermented AS could alleviate symptoms and improve the morphology of colitis in mice by enhancing antioxidant enzymes like CAT, T-SOD, and T-AOC. It also regulated the composition and abundance of intestinal flora species, such as Lactobacillus and Pseudogracilibacillus. The effectiveness of fermented AS was significantly superior to that of unfermented AS (p < 0.05). In conclusion, this study contributes to the application of lactic acid bacteria in AS fermentation and reveals the mechanism of fermentation AS for colitis. Full article

Acanthoic acid, a diterpene isolated from the root bark of Acanthopanax koreanum Nakai, possesses diverse pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, gastrointestinal protection, and cardiovascular protection. This study is the first to investigate the egg-hatching rates of Drosophila melanogaster affected by acanthoic acid. Notably, male flies supplemented with 10 μM acanthoic acid exhibited a strong increase in hatching rates compared with controls under adverse temperature conditions, suggesting a potential protective effect against environmental stressors. Molecular docking simulations revealed the binding affinities and specific interactions between acanthoic acid and proteins related to male infertility, including SHBG, ADAM17, and DNase I, with binding affinity values of −10.2, −6.8, and −5.8 kcal/mol, respectively. Following the docking studies, molecular dynamic simulations were conducted for a duration of 100 ns to examine the stability of these interactions. Additionally, a total binding energy analysis and decomposition analysis offered insights into the underlying energetic components and identified key contributing residues. Full article

Intercropping is an effective cultivation strategy for promoting soil health, changing microbial community, reducing fertiliser application and enhancing the quality of medicinal plants. Nevertheless, the interaction effect of intercropping between Arisaema amurense and Acanthopanax senticosus remains unknown. Herein, we investigated the difference in soil properties, soil enzyme activities, microbial community diversity and active ingredients of A. senticosus in monoculturing versus intercropping of A. senticosus/A. amurense in a field experiment. High-throughput sequencing and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry were employed to explore the growth promotion effect in the intercropping mode. Results revealed that intercropping benefitted the accumulation of ammonium nitrogen and total nitrogen in soil; total nitrogen and ammonium nitrogen increased by 33% (rhizosphere) and 65% (inter-row) and by 123% (rhizosphere) and 124% (inter-row) at 0–20 cm soil depths, respectively. Furthermore, intercropping increased the soil carbon/nitrogen ratio at the soil from 20 to 40 cm and promoted the growth of the root system of the deep-rooted plant A. senticosus. However, it exerted a certain inhibitory effect on the activities of urease, sucrase and neutral phosphatase on the soil surface. Intercropping increased bacterial diversity and inhibited fungal diversity in soil, potentially preventing the soil microflora changed from bacterial type to fungal type. In terms of community composition, intercropping exhibited a greater effect on bacteria than on fungi. At the phylum level, the relative abundance of microorganisms associated with nutrient cycling and increased ecosystem resistance increased in intercropped soils, such as those of Proteobacteria, Actinobacteriota and Bacteroidota. At the genus level, the bacterial genera that showed significantly increased relative abundance in intercropping soil included unclassified_Acidobacteriales, Sphingomonas, Gemmatimonas and Candidatus_Solibacter. Furthermore, the relative abundance of Cladosporium, a potential plant pathogen in intercropped rhizosphere soil, was 42% lower than that in monocultured rhizosphere soil. Additionally, intercropping can promote the accumulation of eleutheroside B, eleutheroside E, quercetin, protocatechuic acid and polysaccharide, which increased by 551%, 53%, 10%, 28% and 26%, respectively, compared with that after monoculturing. According to the Pearson correlation heat map, rapidly available phosphorus, rapidly available potassium, ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, total nitrogen and urease exhibited the greatest impact on the soil microbial community and on the active ingredients of A. senticosus. In conclusion, intercropping altered the composition of the soil microbial community and increased the content of the active ingredients of A. senticosus, consequently begetting economic and ecological benefits. Full article

Acanthopanax senticosus polysaccharide–nano-selenium (ASPS-SENPS) and A. selenopanax selenized polysaccharides (Se-ASPS) were synthesized, and their characterization and biological properties were compared. The acid extraction method was used to extract the polysaccharides of A. selenopanax, followed by decolorization using the hydrogen peroxide method and deproteinization based on the Sevage method, and the purification of A. senticosus polysaccharides (ASPS) was carried out using the cellulose DEAE-52 ion column layer analysis method. An A. senticosus polysaccharide–nano-selenium complex was synthesized by a chemical reduction method using ASPS as dispersants. The selenization of polysaccharides from A. selenopanax was carried out using the HNO₃-Na₂SeO₃ method. The chemical compositions, scanning electron microscopy images, infrared spectra, and antioxidant properties of ASPS-SENPS and Se-ASPS were studied, and they were also subjected to thermogravimetric analysis. The results indicated that the optimal conditions for the synthesis of ASPS-SENPS include the following: when ASPS accounts for 10%, the ratio of ascorbic acid and sodium selenium should be 4:1, the response time should be 4 h, and the reaction temperature should be 50 °C. The most favorable conditions for the synthesis of Se-ASPS were as follows: m (Na₂SeO₃):m (ASPS) = 4:5, response temperature = 50 °C, and response time = 11.0 h. In the in vitro antioxidant assay, when the mass concentration of Se-ASPS and ASPS-SENPS was 5 mg/mL, the removal rates for DPPH free radicals were 88.44 ± 2.83% and 98.89 ± 3.57%, respectively, and the removal rates for ABTS free radicals were 90.11 ± 3.43% and 98.99 ± 1.73%, respectively, stronger than those for ASPS. The current study compares the physiological and bioactivity effects of ASPS-SENPS and Se-ASPS, providing a basis for future studies on polysaccharides. Full article

A green extraction method was developed using deep eutectic solvent extraction for the polysaccharide from Acanthopanax senticosus (A. senticosus). Among the eight types of DES prepared, the DES with a ratio of 1:4 L-malic acid to L-proline was found to be a suitable extraction solvent based on the extraction efficiency. The extraction parameters were optimized by Plackett–Burman and response surface methodology (RSM). The best extraction conditions were found for L-malic acid. Under the conditions of an L-malic acid/L-proline ratio of 1:4, ultrasonic power of 240 W, material–liquid ratio of 31.068 g/mL, water content of 32.364%, extraction time of 129.119 min, and extraction temperature of 60 °C, the extraction rate of A. senticosus polysaccharides was 35.452 ± 0.388 mg-g⁻¹. This rate was higher than that of polysaccharides obtained by hot water extraction (13.652 ± 0.09 mg-g⁻¹). The experimental results were best fitted by the quasi-secondary kinetic model when compared to two other kinetic models. Electron microscopic observations showed that DESs were more destructive to plant cells. The polysaccharide extracted from DESs had more monosaccharide components, a lower molecular weight, a higher antioxidant capacity, and superior anti-glycation activity compared to polysaccharides extracted from water (ASPS-PW). This study demonstrates the effectiveness of DESs in obtaining polysaccharides from A. senticosus. Full article

Background and Objectives: The oral cavity is inhabited by pathogenic bacteria, whose growth can be inhibited by synthetic oral drugs, including antibiotics and other chemical compounds. Natural antimicrobial substances that elicit fewer negative side effects may serve as alternatives to synthetic agents for long-term use. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of edible mixed herbal extracts on the growth of oral pathogenic bacteria. Materials and Methods: The yield of each herbal extract was as follows: 5% Schizonepeta tenuifolia Briq (STB), 10.94% Mentha piperascens (MP), 5.47% Acanthopanax sessiliflorus Seem (AS), and 10.66% Glycyrrhiza uralensis (GU). The herbal extracts used included 0.5 mg/mL STB, 1.5 mg/mL MP, 1.5 mg/mL AS, and 2.0 mg/mL GU. Antimicrobial tests, morphological analyses (using scanning electron microscopy), microbial surface hydrophobicity measurements, and oral malodor reduction tests were performed using each extract. Statistical analyses were performed with IBM^® SPSS^® (version 24), using paired t-tests. Results: The mixed herbal extracts significantly inhibited the growth of Streptococcus mutans, Enterococcus faecalis, Candida albicans, and Porphyromonas gingivalis compared to the control (p < 0.001). Scanning electron microscopy results further revealed altered cellular morphology in the groups treated with the mixed herbal extracts. Additionally, the hydrophobicity assay results showed that the mixed herbal extracts reduced the oral adhesion capacities of bacteria (p < 0.001). Administration of the mixed herbal extracts also reduced the levels of volatile sulfur compounds, the main contributors to oral malodor (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Edible mixed herbal extracts can effectively eliminate oral pathogens and may be useful for improving oral health. The herbal extracts used were effective against all species of oral pathogens studied in this report. Full article

The degeneration of dopamine (DA) neurons is known to be associated with defects in mitochondrial biogenesis caused by aging, environmental factors, or mutations in genes, leading to Parkinson’s disease (PD). As PD has not yet been successfully cured, the strategy of using small molecule drugs to protect and restore mitochondrial biogenesis is a promising direction. This study evaluated the efficacy of synthetic chiisanoside (CSS) identified in the leaves of Acanthopanax sessiliflorus to prevent PD symptoms. The results show that in the 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) model, CSS pretreatment can effectively alleviate the reactive oxygen species generation and apoptosis of SH-SY5Y cells, thereby lessening the defects in the C. elegans model including DA neuron degeneration, dopamine-mediated food sensitivity behavioral disorders, and shortened lifespan. Mechanistically, we found that CSS could restore the expression of proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1-alpha (PGC-1α), a key molecule in mitochondrial biogenesis, and its downstream related genes inhibited by 6-OHDA. We further confirmed that this is due to the enhanced activity of parkin leading to the ubiquitination and degradation of PGC-1α inhibitor protein Zinc finger protein 746 (ZNF746). Parkin siRNA treatment abolished this effect of CSS. Furthermore, we found that CSS inhibited 6-OHDA-induced expression of miR-181a, which targets parkin. The CSS’s ability to reverse the 6-OHDA-induced reduction in mitochondrial biogenesis and activation of apoptosis was abolished after the transfection of anti-miR-181a and miR-181a mimics. Therefore, the neuroprotective effect of CSS mainly promotes mitochondrial biogenesis by regulating the miR-181a/Parkin/ZNF746/PGC-1α axis. CSS potentially has the opportunity to be developed into PD prevention agents. Full article