Search Results (7)

This study deals with the extraction of active compounds for a formula (Angelica gigas, Cornus officinalis, Ganoderma lucidum, Thymus vulgaris, and Asparagus cochinchinensis) and the evaluation of its skin anti-aging properties. This formulation was inspired by the oriental medicine Gongjin-dan (Angelica gigas, Cornus officinalis, deer antler, and musk), which has been used as a restorative drug for longevity. Enzyme-based extraction and chemical purification were used to obtain a mixed fraction (GEF) enriched in glycopeptides and glycoproteins from the five herbal materials. The chemical characteristics of GEF, including the carbohydrate groups attached to the peptides and proteins, the total carbohydrate and protein contents, and the composition of monosaccharides and amino acids were determined. The chemical characteristics that were significantly different from those of the extract, generally prepared in the same ratio, were the abundance of glycopeptides and glycoproteins and the high proportions of conditionally essential amino acids (51.0%) and acidic/basic amino acids (67.7%). These are necessary components for strengthening the skin layers against aging. The in vitro skin anti-aging properties of GEF on human fibroblasts (HS68), keratinocytes (HaCaT), and adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) were evaluated. It was found that MMP-1 gene expression was inhibited (18–28%) and fibrillin-1 protein (23–37%) was restored contrary to the effect of UV irradiation. COL1A1 and COL4A1 gene expression (25–35%), HAS2 gene expression (22–213%), and adipogenesis (15%) were facilitated. These results demonstrate the potential of GEF as a raw material for skin anti-aging and reinforce the scientific evidence supporting a traditional medicine with a long history. Full article

Radix asparagi is the dried root tuber of the Liliaceae plant Asparagus cochinchinensis (Lour.) Merr., which is a major Chinese medicinal herb with high medicinal and edible value in China. The planting area of A. cochinchinensis is extensive, and there is blind introduction in various regions, leading to confusion the origin of Radix asparagi and impure germplasm. This study conducted morphological and karyotype analyses on cultivated Asparagus resources from seven main production areas in China and developed SSR molecular markers suitable for the identification of Asparagus germplasm resources based on the transcriptome sequencing results. The morphological results indicate that in addition to A. cochinchinensis (Lour.) Merr., recorded in the Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China, there are also A. taliensis Wang et Tang and A. lycopodineus (Baker) Wang et Tang cultivated in China. All the tested Asparagus resources were diploid and had 20 chromosomes. A total of 8841 single genes containing SSR loci were identified using transcriptome sequencing of Neijiang Asparagus, including 761 SSR loci with trinucleotide repeat units. One hundred pairs of SSR primers were randomly designed from the trinucleotide repeat loci for PCR and polymorphism verification, and ten pairs were selected for identification of Asparagus germplasm resources. The genetic diversity results of ten pairs of primers in seven Asparagus-producing regions were consistent with the morphological identification. This study provides technical support for the comprehensive evaluation and utilization of Asparagus germplasm resources. Full article

Ammonia stress and nitrite stress can induce immune depression and oxidative stress in Litopenaeus vannami (L. vannamei). Earlier reports showed that L. vannamei immunity, resistance to ammonia stress, and resistance to nitrite stress improved after Tian–Dong–Tang–Gan Powder (TDTGP) treatment, but the mechanism is not clear. In this study, three thousand L. vannamei were fed different doses of TDTGP for 35 days and then subjected to ammonia and nitrite stress treatments for 72 h. Transcriptome and 16-Seq ribosomal RNA gene sequencing (16S rRNA-seq) were used to analyze hepatopancreas gene expression and changes in gut microbiota abundance in each group. The results showed that after TDTGP treatment, hepatopancreas mRNA expression levels of immunity- and antioxidant-related genes were increased, the abundance of Vibrionaceae in the gut microbiota was decreased, and the abundance of Rhodobacteraceae and Flavobacteriaceae was increased. In addition, after TDTGP treatment, the effects of ammonia and nitrite stress on the mRNA expression of Pu, cat-4, PPAF2, HO, Hsp90b1, etc. were reduced and the disruption of the gut microbiota was alleviated. In short, TDTGP can regulate the immunity and antioxidant of L. vannamei by increasing the expression levels of immunity- and antioxidant-related genes and regulating the abundance of Rhodobacteraceae and Flavobacteriaceae in the gut microbiota. Full article

Three undescribed phenylpropanoid derivatives, including two new bibenzyl constituents (1–2), one new stilbene constituent (3), together with five known compounds stilbostemin F (4), dihydropinosylvin (5), 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl benzoate (6), 1-(4-hydroxybenzoyl)ethanone (7), and 4-hydroxy-3-prenylbenzoic acid (8), were isolated from the tuber of Asparagus cochinchinensis. The structures of 1–8 were elucidated according to UV, IR, HRMS, 1D and 2D-NMR methods together with the published literature. All of the isolated compounds were assessed for anti-inflammatory activity by acting on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 macrophage cells in vitro. The results showed that compounds 2 and 5 were found to inhibit the production of nitric oxide (NO) with the IC₅₀ value of 21.7 and 35.8 µM, respectively. In addition, further studies found that compound 2 demonstrated concentration-dependent suppression of the protein expression of iNOS and exerted anti-inflammatory activity via the NF-κB signalling pathway. The present data suggest that phenylpropanoid derivatives from the tuber of A. cochinchinensis might be used as a potential source of natural anti-inflammatory agents. Full article

A new steroidal saponin, 26-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(25R)-furost-5-ene-3β,22α,26-triol 3-O-(1−4)-β-d-glucopyranosyl-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1−2)-[α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1−4)]-β-d-glucopyranoside [asparacochioside A (1)] was isolated from a hot water extract of the roots of Asparagus cochinchinensis, together with the known steroidal saponins protodioscin (2), methyl protodioscin (3), aspacochioside A (4), aspacochioside C (5), 15−hydroxypseudoprotodioscin (6), and chamaedroside E (7). The structure of the new compound 1 was determined by interpretation of its spectroscopic data (1D- and 2D-NMR and HR−Q−TOF−MS) and sugar analysis. The isolated compounds 1−7 were tested for their in vitro cytotoxicity against human ovarian cancer cell lines (A2780 and SKOV3). Asparacochioside A (1) exhibited a significant cytotoxicity against both A2780 and SKOV3 cells with IC50 values of 5.25 ± 2.2 and 46.82 ± 9.43 μM, respectively. Furthermore, asparacochioside A (1) significantly increased the percentage of Annexin V-positive cells (apoptotic cells), suggesting that asparacochioside A induces ovarian cancer cell death via apoptosis. Full article

Several types of saponins and herbal plants containing saponins have been reported to have anti-inflammatory or laxative activities. To verify the therapeutic effects of saponin-enriched extracts of Asparagus cochinchinensis (SPA) on the anti-inflammatory response and on the cholinergic regulation in the gastrointestinal system, an alteration on the constipation phenotypes, on the inflammatory responses, and on the muscarinic cholinergic regulation were investigated in the transverse colons of Sprague Dawley (SD) rats with loperamide (Lop)-induced constipation after the treatment of SPA. Significant increases were observed on the total number of stools, the gastrointestinal transit, the thickness of the mucosal layer, the flat luminal surface, the number of paneth cells, and the lipid droplets in the Lop + SPA-treated group as compared to the Lop + Vehicle-treated group. SPA treatment induced the recovery of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β) and IL-6), inflammatory mediators (NF-κB and iNOS), the total number of infiltered mast cells, and mucin secretion. Also, some similar improvements were observed on the levels of acetylcholine esterase (AChE) activity and on the phosphorylation of myosin light chains (MLC) as well as the expression of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors M2/M3 (mAChR M2/M3) and their mediators. The results presented herein provide the first strong evidence that SPA stimulates anti-inflammatory responses and the muscarinic cholinergic regulation when exerting its laxative effects in the chronic constipation of Lop-induced models. Full article

Introduction: Roots of Asparagus cochinchinensis, which have pharmacologically active ingredients, have received great attention because they show good therapeutic effects for various inflammatory diseases without specific toxicity. This study investigated the anti-asthmatic effects of a butanol extract of Asparagus cochinchinensis roots that had been fermented with Weissella cibaria (BAW) and its possible underlying cholinergic regulation. Methods: Alterations of the anti-asthmatic markers and the molecular response factors were measured in an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma model after treatment with BAW. Results: Treatment with BAW decreased the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in lipopolysaccharides (LPS) activated RAW264.7 cells. The results of the animal experiments revealed lower infiltration of inflammatory cells and bronchial thickness, and a significant reduction in the number of macrophages and eosinophils, concentration of OVA-specific IgE, and expression of Th2 cytokines in the OVA + BAW treated group. In addition, a significant recovery of goblet cell hyperplasia, MMP-9 expression, and the VEGF signaling pathway was observed upon airway remodeling in the OVA + BAW treated group. Furthermore, these responses of BAW were linked to recovery of acetylcholine esterase (AChE) activity and muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR) M3 downstream signaling pathway in epithelial cells, smooth muscle cells, and afferent sensory nerves of OVA + BAW-treated mice. Conclusion: Overall, these findings are the first to provide evidence that the therapeutic effects of BAW can prevent airway inflammation and remodeling through the recovery of cholinergic regulation in structural cells and inflammatory cells of the chronic asthma model. Full article