A spectrum-activity relationship is established with high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) fingerprints and the in vitro antioxidant activity to improve the quality evaluation system of Aralia taibaiensis. The HPLC profiles of 12 batches of samples were collected, and the similarity evaluation, heat map analysis and principal component analysis were conducted for the chemometric study of the fingerprint data. Combined with grey correlation analysis, the contributions of the common peaks in the fingerprints to the antioxidant activity were clarified, and the important peaks reflecting the efficacy were identified. The results showed that 17 common peaks were found in 12 batches of A. taibaiensis samples, and 6 of them were identified as saponins. Similarity evaluation, heat map analysis and principal component analysis roughly classified the A. taibaiensis herbs into two categories, i.e.,(1) S1-S10, S12 and(2) S11. Twelve batches of samples showed different antioxidant activities in a dose-dependent manner. In particular, S9 had the strongest antioxidant activity, while S11 was the weakest in antioxidant capacity, which was basically consistent with the overall score results. The results of grey correlation analysis demonstrated that the 17 common peaks scavenged DPPH radicals in the following order: X_3>X_(17)>X_4>X_8>X_7>X_(13)>X_2>X_6>X_(11)>X_(10)>X_(16)>X_(12)>X_9>X_5>X_(14)>X_1>X_(15), and scavenged ABTS radicals in the order of X_4>X_3>X_7>X_8>X_2>X_(17)>X_(13)>X_6>X_(16)>X_(11)>X_5>X_(12)>X_(10)>X_9>X_(14)>X_1>X_(15). Among them, X_3, X_4, X_7(araloside C), X_8 and X_(17) were the important peaks reflecting the efficacy of A. taibaiensis, which were basically consistent with those contained in the principal component 1. In this study, the correlation between the HPLC fingerprints of 12 batches of A. taibaiensis and its antioxidant activity provides a reference for the Q-marker screening and quality control of A. taibaiensis.
Antioxidants ; Aralia ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Saponins

The traditional Chinese medicine Aralia elata (Miq.) Seem., also known as Aralia mandshurica, has the effect of "tonifying Qi and calming the mind, strengthening the essence and tonifying the kidneys, and dispelling wind and invigorating blood circulation". It is used in the treatment of neurasthenia, Yang deficiency and Qi deficiency, kidney Qi deficiency, spleen Yang deficiency, water-dampness stagnation, thirst, and bruises. Aralia elata saponins are the main components for the pharmacological effects. From the perspective of modern pharmacological science, Aralia elata has a wide range of effects, including anti-myocardial ischaemia and alleviation of secondary myocardium ischemic reperfusion injury by regulating ionic homeostasis, anti-tumor activity by inhibiting proliferation, promoting apoptosis and enhancing immunity, hypoglycemia and lipid lowering effects by regulating glucose and lipid metabolism, and hepato-protective, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory/analgesic effects. The studies on pharmacological mechanisms of Aralia elata will be conducive to its development and application in the future. This article reviews the research progress of Aralia elata domestically and internationally in the last two decades and proposes new directions for further research.
Aralia ; Yang Deficiency ; Apoptosis ; Saponins/pharmacology* ; Myocardial Ischemia

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of mixed extracts of aralia cortex and phellodendron cortex (P55A) on activities of human gingival fibroblasts and periodontal ligament cells in vitro. First experiment was done to evaluate the effect of PS5A in normal condition. In control group, die cells(4.5 x 10(4)cells/ml) were cultured with Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium contained with 10% fetal bovine serum. In experimental groups, P55A was added to the above culture condition at the final concentrations of 0.1 microgram/ml(Test group 1),1 microgram/ml(Test group 2) and 10 microgram/ml(Test group3). Then each group was tested for the cell proliferation rate at 1/2 , 2 , 5 days, protein levels at 2, 5 days, and alkaine phosphatase activity at 2 , 5 days. Second experiment was done to evaluate the effect of P55A in high glucose condition. 200 mg/dl glucose was added to the same culture condition of all groups in first experiment. Then each group was tested for the cell proliferation rate at 1/2 , 2 , 5 days, protein levels at 2 , 5 days, and alkaline phoaphatase activity at 2, 5 days. The results were as follows ; 1. First experiment 1) As P55A concentration increased, cell proliferation rate increased significantly in test group 2 at 2 days, and test group 2 and 3 at 5 days in human gingival fibroblasts and periodontal ligament cells(P<0.05). 2) In human gingival fibroblasts, all test groups showed significantly increased protein levels as compared to control group at 5 days. In periodontal ligament cells, test group 2 and 3 showed significantly increased protein levels as compared to control group at 2 , 5 days(P<0.05). 3) Alkaline phosphatase activity of human periodontal ligament cells increased as P55A concentration increased. The test group 2 and 3showed significant increase as compared to control group at 5 days(P<0.05). 2. Second experiment 1) As P55A concentration increased, cell proliferation rate increased significantly in test group 2 at 2 days, and test group 2 and 3 at 5 days in human gingival fibroblasts and periodontal ligament cells(P<0.05). 2) In human gingival fibroblasts, all test group 3 showed significantly increased protein levels as compared to control group at 2 days, and all test groups at 5 days. In periodontal ligament cells, test group 2 and 3 showed significantly increased protein levels as compared to control group at 2, 5 days(P<0.05). 3) Alkaline phosphatase activity of human periodontal ligament cells increased as P55A concentration increased. The test group 2 and 3 showed significant increase as compared to control group 2 at 2 days, and all test groups at 5 days(P<0.05). From the above results, mixed extracts of aralia cortex and phellodendron cortex appeared to enhance cellular activities including cell proliferation rate, protein levels and alkaline phosphatase activity of human gingival fibroblasts and periodontal ligament cells in normal and high glucose condition. This study suggests that mixed extracts of aralia cortex and phellodendron cortex seem to be able to subside the inflammation of periodontal tissue and regenerate the destructed periodontal tissue.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Aralia* ; Cell Proliferation ; Fibroblasts ; Glucose ; Humans* ; Inflammation ; Periodontal Ligament ; Phellodendron*

In our present study, we investigated the effects of continentalic acid on Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) biofilm. Methanol extract of Aralia continentalis (A. continentalis) was suspended in water and sequentially partitioned with CHCl3, ethyl acetate (EtOAc), and n-butanol (n-BuOH). The CHCl3 fraction showed the highest activity and an antibacterial compound against S. mutans was isolated from this preparation through various chromatography methods by bioassay guided fractionation. MS, 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR analysis showed that the active principle was continentalic acid which was confirmed to show significant inhibitory effects against S. mutans biofilm. These results may provide some scientific rationale for the traditional use these extracts for the treatment of dental diseases.
1-Butanol ; Acetates ; Aralia ; Biofilms ; Biological Assay ; Chromatography ; Dental Caries ; Diterpenes ; Methanol ; Stomatognathic Diseases ; Streptococcus ; Streptococcus mutans ; Water

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.
Aralia* ; Ascorbic Acid ; Blotting, Western ; Catalase ; Ethanol* ; Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing) ; Humans* ; Keratinocytes* ; Natural Resources ; Oxidative Stress* ; Phenol ; Phytochemicals ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Skin ; Superoxide Dismutase

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.
Acetylcholine ; Administration, Oral ; Amlodipine ; Animals ; Aorta ; Aralia* ; Blood Pressure ; Ethanol* ; Hypertension ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Malondialdehyde ; Nitroprusside ; Norepinephrine ; Organ Size ; Plasma ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred SHR*

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.
Aralia* ; Blotting, Western ; Collagen ; Cytokines ; Dinoprostone ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Ethanol* ; Extracellular Matrix ; Fibroblasts* ; Humans* ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-6 ; Interleukin-8 ; Keratinocytes* ; Procollagen ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Skin Aging ; Skin*

This study is performed to compare the dietary intakes and food sources of copper (Cu) using the database of Cu content developed in this study between the elementary schoolchildren in remote rural areas (RA, n=58, 9.9+/-1.7 yrs) and those in urban area (UA, n=60, 9.4+/-1.8 yrs), and to analyze the relationship between serum Cu concentration and serum antioxidant status in the RA. The results obtained in this study were as followings: 1) Dietary intakes of calorie, calcium and iron in the RA were in the 3/5-4/5 of the Korean RDA while the UA were similar to or more than the Korean RDA, 7th ed. except iron. 2) More than 273 kinds of food consumed by the subjects were analyzed the content of Cu and database of Cu content were developed in the present study. The mean dietary intake of Cu per day in the RA was 0.99+/-0.07 mg/d (170.0+/-13.2% of the USA RDA) while it was 1.22+/-0.07 mg/d (203.4+/-13.1% of the RDA) in the UA. The percentage of dietary intakes of Cu less than 2/3 of the RDA was 8.6% in the RA in comparison to 0% in the UA. 3) The RA and the UA consumed more than 80% of total dietary intakes of Cu from plant foods. Thus, the RA and the UA consumed Cu from cooked rice, vegetables and fruits as a major source. However the RA had less Cu from meat and their products than did the UA (p < 0.05). 4) Crab stew including crab and juice was the highest food source of Cu for the total subjects, followed by seasoned bud of aralia, cooked; beef rib meat, roasted; soybean paste soup w/ mallow; and soybean paste soup w/ mallow & beef. Major food source of Cu was similar for the RA and the UA such as cooked rice, vegetables and fruits. 5) Mean concentration of serum Cu in the RA was 18.1+/-0.7 micrometer/L that was in the normal value, and all subjects in this group were in more than normal value. In the RA serum Cu concentration related positively with serum ceruloplasmin concentration, serum vitamin C concentration and EC SOD activity, respectively. However, serum Cu concentration did not relate with serum TBARS concentration in the RA. Above results showed that the RA had good status of Cu nutrition based upon dietary intake and serum concentration, however some of the RA had lower intake of Cu than the RDA. The overall children in the UA had good Cu nutrition. Therefore, the subgroup of the RA should be supported to improve their Cu nutrition, and this support could give them better antioxidant status based upon positive relationship between serum Cu concentration and serum antioxidant status in the RA.
Aralia ; Ascorbic Acid ; Calcium ; Ceruloplasmin ; Child ; Chungcheongnam-do* ; Copper* ; Fruit ; Humans ; Iron ; Korea* ; Meat ; Nutritional Status* ; Plants ; Reference Values ; Ribs ; Seasons ; Soybeans ; Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances ; Vegetables

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.
Animals ; Aralia ; Araliaceae* ; Biomarkers ; Blood Glucose* ; Diet ; Erythrocytes ; Heart ; Humans ; Insulin ; Kidney ; Leukocytes ; Liver ; Lymphocytes ; Male ; Rats* ; Rats, Wistar ; Streptozocin ; Ulmus ; Water* ; Weights and Measures

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of aqueous extract of Aralia echinocaulis Hand.-Mazz on the expression of fracture healing-ralated factor receptors.

METHODSSingle factor model was set up in SD rat. Selecting 14 and 28 days in the experiment. Immunohistochemistry was employed to determine the expression of Fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2), Fms-like tyrosine kinase (Flt-1) and Fetal licer kinase (Flk-1) at 14 and 28 days after model establishing.

RESULTSThe expression of Flt-1 and Flk-1 at 14 days (the latter was more remarkable) were obviously promoted in High dose group of aqueous extract of Aralia echinocaulis Hand.-Mazz, and higher than that in normal group and model group. The expression of FGFR2 in the high dose group of Aralia echinocaulis Hand -Mazz was also promoted visibility, close to that in the compare group (traditional Chinese medicine), but higher than than in the model group. There was no significant difference among them. At 28 days, the expression of FGFR2, Flt-1 and Flk-1 in all groups decreased except normal group, and got higher expression in model groups than each control groups.

CONCLUSIONAqueous extract of Aralia echinocaulis Hand.-Mazz can promote angiogenesis in fracture healing, improve the activity and aggregation of fibroblasts, osteoblasts and chondrocytes. It also helps to quicken ossification in the cartilage and promote fracture healing.

Animals ; Aralia ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Fibroblast Growth Factors ; metabolism ; Immunohistochemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism ; Wound Healing ; drug effects