Study on the anatomical and morphological features of Acanthopanax gracilistylus W.W. Smith and A.trifoliatus (L.) Merr. collected in Sa Pa district, Lao Cai province and Pho Bang district, Ha Giang province. Results: scientific name of 2 collected samples had been identified as Acanthopanax gracilistylus W.W. Smith and Acanthopanax trifoliatus var. setosus Li. The anatomical features of these 2 species were detailed described. The morphological features of leaf, stem and root of A.trifoliatus (L.) Merr. collected in Sa Pa and Pho Bang was detailed described firstly. The morphological characteristics of 2 species were similar
Acanthopanax ; Anatomy ; Plants, medicinal

Phytochemical constituents were isolated from the fruits of Acanthopanax chiisanensis by repeated column chromatography. Their structures were identified as beta-sitosterol (1), daucosterol (2), sesamin (3), chiisanogenin (4), and 22alpha-hydroxy chiisanogenin (5) by spectroscopic analysis (MS, 1H-, and 13C-NMR). Compounds 1 - 5 were isolated for the first time from the fruits of A. chiisanensis.
Eleutherococcus* ; Araliaceae ; Chromatography ; Fruit* ; Terpenes*

OBJECTIVETo study the community characteristics of Acanthopanax giraldii and its role and adaptability in the community.

METHODThe methods of community ecology were used to investigate vegetation composition in different sample plots and the number of the clumps and clonal ramets. The importance value of species and biodiversity index of each plot was calculated. The life form spectra in different community were counted. The chi-square test was applied to analyze the dependence degree of A. giraldii to other main shrub species in the community.

RESULTThe investigation had showed that A. giraldii community could be divided into three types. The number of A. giraldii population in each type had great difference. Statistical analysis had shown that there's no correlation between the growth of A. giraldii with biodiversity and no significant interspecific association between A. giraldii and other main shrub species in the community yet.

CONCLUSIONThe population growth of A. giraldii was sensitive to Sunshine. A. giraldii maybe has the biological characteristics for artificial planting as a single population.

China ; Ecosystem ; Eleutherococcus ; classification ; growth & development

OBJECTIVETo isolate and elucidate the chemical constituents of the fruits of Acanthopanax sessiliflorus.

METHODIsolation and purification were carried out on the column chromatography of silica gel and Sephadex LH-20. Their structures were elucidated on basis of physicochemical properties and spectral data.

RESULTNine compounds were isolated and identified as oleanolic acid-3-O-6'-O-methyl-beta-D-glucuronopyranoside (1), 22-alpha-hydroxychiisanogenin (2), oleanolic acid-3-O-beta-D-glucuronopyranoside (3), oleanolic acid-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (4), oleanolic acid (5), chiisanogenin (6), (-)-sesamin (7), daucosterol (8), beta-sitosterol (9).

CONCLUSIONCompound 1 is obtained from the genus Acanthopanax genus for the first time. Compounds 2-5 are isolated from this plant for the first time.

Eleutherococcus ; chemistry ; Fruit ; chemistry ; Organic Chemicals ; analysis ; isolation & purification

The growth parameters,clonal propagation parameters and sexual reproduction parameters of Acanthopanax giraldii population were systematically investigated and analyzed by means of population ecology in this study. The correlation among the above mentioned parameters and the correlation among canopy density,topography and soil fertility factors were analyzed. It is clear that there was a significant correlation among the clonal ramets,the fruit production capacity of the cluster and the new shoot production capacity of the A. giraldii. Sexual reproduction and clonal reproduction played an important role in the continuation of the population. Illumination was the key ecological factor that determined growth type. The increase in canopy density changed the population from " group clonal growth" to " guerrilla clonal growth",and the higher stand closure degree and low-strength herb layer competition was a necessary condition for seed germination and colonization. Under the background of natural forest protection and sustainable development of resources,the reproductive characteristics of wild A. giraldii resulted in the decrease of its recoverable quantity.
Ecosystem ; Eleutherococcus ; growth & development ; physiology ; Forests ; Reproduction ; Soil

PURPOSE: This study was performed to investigate the effects of immune cell activation and the antitumor effect for the combination of treatment with X-irradiation and Eleutherococcus senticosus Maxim Root (ESMR) on mouse tumor cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: ESMR (250g) was extracted with 80% methanol, concentrated under decompression and lyophilized. To determine whether ESMR is able to activate the immune cells or not, the proliferation of splenocytes in vitro and the number of B cells and T cells in splenic lymphocytes in ESMR-pretreated mice were evaluated. X-irradiation was given to the mouse fibrosarcoma tumor cells (FSa II) by 250 kv X-irradiation machine. The cytotoxicity of ESMR was evaluated from its ability to reduce the clonogenecity of FSa II cells. In X-irradiation alone group, each 2, 4, 6 and 8 Gy was given to FSa II cells. In X-irradiation with ESMR group, 0.2 mg/ml of ESMR was exposed to FSa II cells for 1 hour before X-irradiation. RESULTS: The proliferation of cultured mouse splenocytes and thymocytes were enhanced by the addition of ESMR in vitro. The number of B cells and T cells in mouse splenic lymphocytes was significantly increased in ESMR pretreated mice in vivo. In FSa II cells that received a combination of 0.2 mg/ml of ESMR with X-irradiation exposure, the survival fraction with a dose of 2, 4 and 6 Gy was 0.39+/-0.005, 0.22+/-0.005 and 0.06+/-0.007, respectively. For FSa II cells treated with X-irradiation alone, the survival fraction with a dose of 2, 4 and 6 Gy was 0.76+/-0.02, 0.47+/-0.008 and 0.37+/-0.01. The difference in the survival fraction of the mouse FSa II cells treated with and without ESMR was statistically significant (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Treatment with ESMR increased cell viability of mouse splenocytes in vitro and especially the subpopulation of B cells and T cells in splenocytes in ESMR-pretreated mice. However, treatment with ESMR did not increase the level of Th and Tc subpopulations in the thymocytes. Treatment with the combination of ESMR and X-irradiation was more cytotoxic to mouse tumor cells than treatment with X-irradiation alone; this finding was statistically significant.
Animals ; B-Lymphocytes ; Cell Survival ; Decompression ; Eleutherococcus* ; Fibrosarcoma ; Lymphocytes ; Methanol ; Mice ; T-Lymphocytes ; Thymocytes

The activities on the inhibition of NO on LPS-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages were investigated in this work. A simple and sensitive method has been developed and validated for fingerprinting analysis of leaves of Acanthopanax gracilistylus W.W. Smith (AGS). The cytotoxicity and inhibition of NO on LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells of the extract and triterpenoids were determined. Optimal conditions of HPLC analysis were established as follows. The separation was performed with an ODS-C18 column at 30 degrees C, the detected wavelength was 210 nm, the flow rate was 1 mL/min, and the mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile (0.05% phosphoric acid) -0.05% phosphoric acid solution with gradient elution. Our results showed that impressic acid and acankoreaogenin was more effective on the inhibition of NO than the methanol extract and other compounds. There were seventeen peaks coexisted with similarities above 0.95 and nine lupane-triterpenoids including acankoreaogenin and impressic acid detected and identified. The result of anti-inflammatory activities provides a potential explanation for the use of AGS leaves as a herbal medicine in the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Our results also show that acankoreanogenin and impressic acid may be potentially useful in developing new anti-inflammatory agents. In addition, the fingerprint chromatography clearly illustrated and confirmed the material basis for the anti-inflammatory activities of this plant.
Eleutherococcus* ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; Chromatography ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Dermatoglyphics* ; Herbal Medicine ; Macrophages ; Methanol ; Plants

High-performance liquid chromatography was performed in order to analyze the changes in the flavonoid content (rutin, hyperin, afzelin, quercetin, and kaempferol) of Acanthopanax divaricatus and A. koreanum, in response to different cultivation methods (pinching height, planting time, and top dressing). The total flavonoid content of A. divaricatus and A. koreanum ranged from 0.201 to 0.690 mg/g with different pinching heights, 0.143 to 1.001 mg/g for different planting times, and 0.156 to 1.074 mg/g depending on the rate of fertilizer application. In both A. divaricatus and A. koreanum, the total flavonoid content in the upper section of the plant was greater than that in the lower section. These results demonstrate which cultivation methods maximize the flavonoid content of A. divaricatus and A. koreanum, and thus help to optimize flavonoid yields to improve production for nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, and cosmeceutical applications.
Eleutherococcus* ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Dietary Supplements ; Flavonoids* ; Methods* ; Plants ; Quercetin

OBJECTIVETo study age structure and medicinal parts biomass accumulation of Acanthopanax giraldii population in West Sichuan Plateau.

METHODThe methods of plant population ecology were applied to the study. The ramets of A. giraldii were collected in sample plot, survey the age, height, basal diameter and biomass of ramets,and also survey the number,stem bark height and length of the one-year-shoot growing in clonal ramets. Then statistically analyzed the survey data.

RESULTThe article revealed growth rule of A. giraldii population. The mortality rate of clonal ramets reached a peak after six years growth. The power exponential fuction could reflect the correlation of age to the height, basal diameter and biomass of ramets. The production of medicinal parts was stable between two to six years growth of clonal ramets.

CONCLUSIONSuggested to harvest medicinal parts after three years growth of the clonal ramets. The study could provide biologic basis to population management and sustainable harvest of A. giraldii.

Biomass ; Ecosystem ; Eleutherococcus ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Plant Extracts ; analysis ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo analyze the codon usage of chloroplast genome and the influencing factor in Eleutherococcus senticosus.

METHODCodon of 52 genes, which were selected from the chloroplast genome sequence of E. senticosus, was multivariate statistical and correspondence analyzed using CodonW and SPSS software.

RESULTGC content at the three position of codons by turns was 46.46%, 38.26%, 29.88%, whereas GC1 and GC2 had a significant correlation coefficient (P < 0.01). The correlation coefficient with GC12, and GC3 was 0.205 and was not significant correlated. There were 30 codons which relative synonymous codon usage was greater than 1 and 29 codons end with A and T. In the corresponding analysis, the first axis shows 10.35% variation. And there was significant correlation coefficient between ENC and GC3. The correlation coefficients with GC3 and ENC were -0.288 and 0.353, respectively. We defined 16 codons from 16 amino acids as the major preference codons in chloroplast genome of E. senticosus.

CONCLUSIONThe third positions for all codon are preferred to ending with A and T. The codon usage bias is formed under effect of mutation and selection, as well as other factors. But the selection will have a far greater impact than others.

Amino Acids ; genetics ; Chloroplasts ; genetics ; Codon ; genetics ; Eleutherococcus ; genetics ; Genome, Plant ; genetics ; Genomics ; Multivariate Analysis ; Mutation