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13 pages, 3677 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Untargeted Metabolomics Approach for the Differentiation between Panax vietnamensis var. vietnamensis and Panax vietnamensis var. fuscidiscus

by Huy Truong Nguyen, Long Ke Phan, Kim-Long Vu Huynh, Thuc-Huy Duong, Huong Thuy Le, Nguyen Trang Hai-Yen, Nguyen Thi Hai Yen, Nguyen Phuoc Long and Minh Duc Nguyen

Metabolites 2023, 13(6), 763; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo13060763 - 19 Jun 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4680

Abstract

Panax vietnamensis var. vietnamensis (PVV) and Panax vietnamensis var. fuscidiscus (PVF) both belong to Panax vietnamensis species and are chemically and morphologically similar, making it hard to distinguish for the consumer. Herein, 42 PVF and 12 PVV samples were collected in Quang Nam and Lai Chau Province, respectively, and subsequently characterized by ITSr-DNA sequence data to verify their origins. Next, untargeted metabolomics combined with multivariate statistical analysis was developed to differentiate PVV and PVF. The metabolic profiles of PVV and PVF were found to be distinct and classified well using Partial Least-Squares Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA) in the training set. Among them, seven ginsenosides were of high abundance in PVV, while six were of high abundance in PVF. Next, the test set was used to validate 13 putative differential markers found in the training set, illustrating a complete match with the expression patterns of these ginsenosides in the training set. Finally, PLS-DA and linear Support Vector Machine models both indicated distinct ginsenoside profiles of PVV and PVF without misclassification in the test set. Conclusively, the developed untargeted metabolomics approach might serve as a powerful tool for the authentication of PVV and PVF at the metabolome level. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products: Chemical Profiling, Computational Studies and Bioactivities)

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11 pages, 2635 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of the Saponin Content in Panax vietnamensis Acclimatized to Lam Dong Province by HPLC–UV/CAD

by Huy Truong Nguyen, Kim Long Vu-Huynh, Hien Minh Nguyen, Huong Thuy Le, Thi Hong Van Le, Jeong Hill Park and Minh Duc Nguyen

Molecules 2021, 26(17), 5373; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26175373 - 3 Sep 2021

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 5252

Abstract

Panax vietnamensis, or Vietnamese ginseng (VG), an endemic Panax species in Vietnam, possesses a unique saponin profile and interesting biological activities. This plant is presently in danger of extinction due to over-exploitation, resulting in many preservation efforts towards the geographical acclimatization of VG. Yet, no information on the saponin content of the acclimatized VG, an important quality indicator, is available. Here, we analyzed the saponin content in the underground parts of two- to five-year-old VG plants acclimatized to Lam Dong province. Nine characteristic saponins, including notoginsenoside-R1, ginsenoside-Rg1, -Rb1, -Rd, majonoside-R1, -R2 vina-ginsenoside-R2, -R11, and pseudoginsenoside-RT4, were simultaneously determined by HPLC coupled with UV and with a charged aerosol detector (CAD). Analyzing the results illustrated that the detection of characteristic ocotillol-type saponins in VG by CAD presented a superior capacity compared with that of UV, thus implying a preferential choice of CAD for the analysis of VG. The quantitative results indicating the saponin content in the underground parts of VG showed an increasing tendency from two to five years old, with the root and the rhizome exhibiting different saponin accumulation patterns. This is the first study that reveals the preliminary success of VG acclimatization and thereby encourages the continuing efforts to develop this valuable saponin-rich plant. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Saponin-Rich Plant Extracts: Properties and Application)

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23 pages, 7743 KiB

Open AccessReview

Recent Advances in the Semisynthesis, Modifications and Biological Activities of Ocotillol-Type Triterpenoids

by Yucheng Cao, Kaiyi Wang, Si Xu, Lingtan Kong, Yi Bi and Xiaopeng Li

Molecules 2020, 25(23), 5562; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25235562 - 27 Nov 2020

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3751

Abstract

Ginseng is one of the most widely consumed herbs in the world and plays an important role in counteracting fatigue and alleviating stress. The main active substances of ginseng are its ginsenosides. Ocotillol-type triterpenoid is a remarkably effective ginsenoside from Vietnamese ginseng that has received attention because of its potential antibacterial, anticancer and anti-inflammatory properties, among others. The semisynthesis, modification and biological activities of ocotillol-type compounds have been extensively studied in recent years. The aim of this review is to summarize semisynthesis, modification and pharmacological activities of ocotillol-type compounds. The structure–activity relationship studies of these compounds were reported. This summary should prove useful information for drug exploration of ocotillol-type derivatives. Full article

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12 pages, 1759 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Accumulation of Saponins in Underground Parts of Panax vietnamensis at Different Ages Analyzed by HPLC-UV/ELSD

by Kim Long Vu-Huynh, Huy Truong Nguyen, Thi Hong Van Le, Chi Thanh Ma, Gwang Jin Lee, Sung Won Kwon, Jeong Hill Park and Minh Duc Nguyen

Molecules 2020, 25(13), 3086; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25133086 - 7 Jul 2020

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 5936

Abstract

Panax vietnamensis (PV), a wild Panax species discovered in Vietnam in 1973, has been increasingly overexploited due to its economic value and therapeutic uses. This resulted in the development of PV cultivation to meet the market demand. There is little information on the accumulation of saponins in PV during cultivation, but this information could serve as an indication of the appropriate harvest time. In this study we developed an HPLC-UV/ELSD method to simultaneously determine the content of 10 characteristic saponins in PV from 2–7 years old, including G-Rb1, G-Rd, G-Rg1, G-Re, N-R1, M-R1, M-R2, V-R2, V-R11, and p-RT4. The result indicated that from 2 to 5 years, the content of saponins in PV rhizome and radix increase 3.02 and 4.2 times, respectively, whereas from 5 to 7 years, no significant changes were observed. Hence, our study suggests that after 5 years of growth could be considered as an appropriate time for PV to be harvested. Among the analyzed saponins, G-Rg1, G-Rb1, G-Rd, and especially M-R2 were the major saponins that contributed to the change of PV’s saponin content through the years. In addition, the developed and validated HPLC method was proven to be reliable and effective for quality control of PV. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Saponins: From Diversity to Structural Modification and Bioactive Responses in Model Systems)

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13 pages, 6653 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Protective Effect of Panaxynol Isolated from Panax vietnamensis against Cisplatin-Induced Renal Damage: In Vitro and In Vivo Studies

by Dahae Lee, Jaemin Lee, Kim Long Vu-Huynh, Thi Hong Van Le, Thi Hong Tuoi Do, Gwi Seo Hwang, Jeong Hill Park, Ki Sung Kang, Minh Duc Nguyen and Noriko Yamabe

Biomolecules 2019, 9(12), 890; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom9120890 - 17 Dec 2019

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 4930

Abstract

Polyacetylenic compounds isolated from Panax species are comprised of non-polar C17 compounds, exhibiting anti-inflammatory, antitumor, and antifungal activities. Panaxynol represents the major component of the essential oils of ginseng. We investigated whether panaxynol isolated from Panax vietnamensis (Vietnamese ginseng, VG) could prevent cisplatin-induced renal damage induced in vitro and in vivo. Cisplatin-induced apoptotic cell death was observed by staining with annexin V conjugated with Alexa Fluor 488, and western blotting evaluated the molecular mechanism. Panaxynol at concentrations above 0.25 μM prevented cisplatin-induced LLC-PK1 porcine renal proximal tubular cell death. LLC-PK1 cells treated with cisplatin demonstrated an increase in apoptotic cell death, whereas pretreatment with 2 and 4 μM panaxynol decreased this effect. Cisplatin demonstrated a marked increase in the phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), P38, and cleaved caspase-3. However, pretreatment with 2 and 4 μM panaxynol reversed the upregulated phosphorylation of JNK, P38, and the expression of cleaved caspase-3. We confirmed that the protective effect of panaxynol isolated from P. vietnamensis in LLC-PK1 cells was at least partially mediated by reducing the cisplatin-induced apoptotic damage. In the animal study, panaxynol treatment ameliorated body weight loss and blood renal function markers and downregulated the mRNA expression of inflammatory mediators. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemical Constituents of Medicinal Plants for the Treatment of Chronic Inflammation)

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12 pages, 1140 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Increase in Protective Effect of Panax vietnamensis by Heat Processing on Cisplatin-Induced Kidney Cell Toxicity

by Kim Long Vu-Huynh, Thi Hong Van Le, Huy Truong Nguyen, Hyung Min Kim, Ki Sung Kang, Jeong Hill Park and Minh Duc Nguyen

Molecules 2019, 24(24), 4627; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24244627 - 17 Dec 2019

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 6114

Abstract

Cisplatin is a platinum-based anticancer agent used for treating a wide range of solid cancers. One of the side effects of this drug is its severe nephrotoxicity, limiting the safe dose of cisplatin. Therefore, many natural products have been studied and applied to attenuate the toxicity of this compound. In this study, we found that steamed Vietnamese ginseng (Panax vietnamensis) could significantly reduce the kidney damage of cisplatin in an in vitro model using porcine proximal tubular LLC-PK1 kidney cells. From processed ginseng under optimized conditions (120 °C, 12 h), we isolated seven compounds (20(R,S)-ginsenoside Rh2, 20(R,S)-ginsenoside Rg3, ginsenoside Rk1, ginsenoside-Rg5, and ocotillol genin) that showed kidney-protective potential against cisplatin toxicity. By comparing the 50% recovery concentration (RC₅₀), the R form of ginsenoside, Rh2 and Rg3, had RC₅₀ values of 6.67 ± 0.42 µM and 8.39 ± 0.3 µM, respectively, while the S forms of ginsenoside, Rh2 and Rg3, and Rk1, had weaker protective effects, with RC₅₀ ranging from 46.15 to 88.4 µM. G-Rg5 and ocotillol, the typical saponin of Vietnamese ginseng, had the highest RC₅₀ (180.83 ± 33.27; 226.19 ± 66.16, respectively). Our results suggest that processed Vietnamese gingseng (PVG), as well as those compounds, has the potential to improve kidney damage due to cisplatin toxicity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Saponins)

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