The saponins extracted from the stem of Asparagus officinalis L., is a glucoside. In the mean time, it solved the problem of environment pollution about wastes of Asparagus officinalis L., and made the waste useful. The factors affected extractive efficiency of the saponin from Asparagus officinalis L. was investigated. The optimal conditions were 95% alcohol; V/W = 6:1; 90 degrees C; 4h. The saponins average abstraction rate from fresh and dry wastes of Asparagus officinalis L. was 1.70% and 4.01% respectively. The saponins were dissociated with Al2O3 column. The eluent was 40% alcohol, the elute curves showed a symmetrical peak. The compound structure was determined by UV, IR and HPLC spectra et al. The results indicated that it belonged to the furostanol saponins and its glycosyl composed of xylose, fucose, arabinose, as well as the mole ratio was Xyl: Fuc : Ara = 1.0:0.13:19.42, Mw 18 500. In this paper, the saponins were extracted from wastes of Asparagus officinalis L. and analyzed glycosyl component in detail.
Asparagus Plant ; chemistry ; Monosaccharides ; analysis ; Saponins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

AIM: To study the chemical constituents of the roots of Asparagus cochinchinensis (Asparagaceae). METHODS: The compounds were isolated with Diaion HP20, silica gel, and ODS chromatography, and their structures were determined on the basis of chemical methods, HR-ESI-MS, and 1D- and 2D-NMR techniques. RESULTS: Seven compounds were isolated from the n-butanol fraction of the roots of A. cochinchinensis, and their structures were elucidated as (25S)-26-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-5β-furostan-3β, 22α, 26-triol-12-one-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (1), (25S)-26-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-22α-methoxy-5β-furostan-3β, 26-diol-12-one-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (2), (25S)-26-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-5β-furostan-3β, 22α, 26-triol (3), (25S)-26-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-5β-furstan-3β, 22α, 26-triol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (4), (25S)-26-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-5β-furostan-3β, 22α, 26-triol-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1, 4)-β-D-glucopyranoside (5), (25S)-5β-spirostan-3β-ol-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (6), and (25S)-5β-spirostan-3β-ol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (7). CONCLUSION Compounds 1 and 2 were two new furostanol saponins.
Asparagus Plant ; chemistry ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Saponins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

Some samples of Asparagi Radix were collected from medical markets.Colors of Asparagi Radix were observed by human vision and recorded to judge whether samples were degenerative.Water content of Asparagi Radix was determined by a drying method.The chroma value and color difference were determined and calculated by a colorimeter.With the deepening of color,the L*value was decreased and a*and ΔE*values were increased.It showed that the results determined by colorimeter can replace the results of visual observation.An HPLC method was established and used to determine the contents of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural(5-HMF) in Asparagi Radix.The results showed the 5-HMF contents were from 0.002 255 to 0.049 14 mg·g-1 in some samples with yellowish-white or yellowish-brown color,significantly increased from 0.080 80 to 0.105 1 mg·g-1 in some samples with brown color,and up to 1.033 mg·g-1 in an oil-spilling sample with dark brown color.This result demonstrated that the 5-HMF contents were significantly increased by accompanied with the deepening of color.There were the significant negatively correlation between the 5-HMF content and the L*value(P<0.01) and positively correlation between the 5-HMF content and the a*or ΔE*value(P<0.01) by the spearman analysis.The oil-spilling and qualified samples were clustered into two alone categories by the cluster analysis.That the limited standards of the 5-HMF content is not higher than 0.02% by HPLC method and of the L*value is not less than 50 by colorimeter method were suggested for Asparagi Radix.It is firstly reported the multiple-factor analysis about oil-spilling and discoloration and the establishment of limited standard of Asparagi Radix.
Asparagus Plant ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Color ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; standards ; Plant Roots ; chemistry

OBJECTIVEConsuming botanical dietary supplements or herbal drugs along with prescription drugs may lead to potential pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) herb-drug interactions (HDI). The present study focuses on the importance of and novel approach for assessing HDI in integrative medicine with case examples of two frequently-used Ayurvedic Rasayana botanicals.

METHODSThe aqueous extracts of Asparagus racemosus (ARE) and Gymnema sylvester (GSE) were prepared as per Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. Chemoprofiling of these extracts was done using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Additionally, ARE was characterized for the presence of shatavarins IV and I using HPLC & mass spectroscopy respectively. Effects of ARE and GSE were investigated on rat liver microsome using testosterone probe drug assay. The changes in formation of metabolite (6-β hydroxy testosterone) were monitored on incubation of testosterone alone, testosterone with ketoconazole, ARE and GSE using HPLC. Half inhibitory concentration (IC50) was used to predict plausible HDI.

RESULTSARE and GSE showed no inhibition with IC50 values >1 000 μg/mL while the standard inhibitor ketoconazole completely abolished CYP3A4-dependent activity at 0.531 μg/mL and IC50 was found to be 0.036 μg/mL.

CONCLUSIONARE and GSE prepared as per Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India were found to be safe for CYP3A4-mediated inhibitory HDI in rats. Our in vitro study suggests the need of further in vivo investigation for HDI in order to provide clinical relevance.

Animals ; Asparagus Plant ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A ; metabolism ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Gymnema sylvestre ; Herb-Drug Interactions ; Isoenzymes ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

BACKGROUND: Heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) exhibits protective effects against ultraviolet (UV)-induced premature skin aging. A standardized extract of Asparagus officinalis stem (EAS) is produced as a novel and unique functional food that induces HSP70 cellular expression. To elucidate the anti-photoaging potencies of EAS, we examined its effects on HSP70 expression levels in UV-B-irradiated normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDFs). METHODS: NHDFs were treated with 1 mg/mL of EAS or dextrin (vehicle control) prior to UV-B irradiation (20 mJ/cm). After culturing NHDFs for different time periods, HSP70 mRNA and protein levels were analyzed using real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blotting, respectively. RESULTS: UV-B-irradiated NHDFs showed reduced HSP70 mRNA levels after 1-6 h of culture, which were recovered after 24 h of culture. Treatment with EAS alone for 24 h increased HSP70 mRNA levels in the NHDFs, but the increase was not reflected in its protein levels. On the other hand, pretreatment with EAS abolished the UV-B irradiation-induced reduction in HSP70 expression at both mRNA and protein levels. These results suggest that EAS is capable to preserve HSP70 quantity in UV-B-irradiated NHDFs. CONCLUSIONS EAS exhibits anti-photoaging potencies by preventing the reduction in HSP70 expression in UV-irradiated dermal fibroblasts.
Asparagus Plant ; Cells, Cultured ; Female ; Fibroblasts ; drug effects ; radiation effects ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins ; biosynthesis ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Skin ; drug effects ; radiation effects ; Skin Aging ; drug effects ; radiation effects ; Telomere ; metabolism ; Ultraviolet Rays ; adverse effects

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of the water extract of Rehmannia glutionsa, Scrophularia ningpoensis, Asparagus cochinchinensis and Ophiopogon japonicas, which are the drug from Tianwang Buxin Wan from nourishing vin, on the content of cytohrome P450 (CYP450) in rat and the activities of CYP3A, CYP2E1 and CYP1A2 to investigate the role of CYP450 in the biotransformation of Tianwang Buxin Wan.

METHODThe rats were killed after administrated with extracts once daily for consecutive 7 days, the livers were removed rapidly and weighed, liver microsomes were prepared with ultra-centrifuge method, the contents of liver microsomal CYP450, cytochrome b5 (Cytb5) and the activities of CYP3A were examined by ultraviolet spectrophotometry, the activities of CYP2E1 and CYP1A2 were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

RESULTAll groups had no difference in the levels of liver indexe compared with normal sodium group. The water extract of R. glutionsa obviously decreased the contents of P450 (P < 0.01) and increased the activity of CYP3A (P < 0.01) and CYP1A2 (P <0.05). The water extract of S. ningpoensis decreased the contents of P450 (P < 0.05) and significantly increased CYP3A and CYP1A2 activities (P < 0.01). A. cochinchinensis increased content of Cytb5 (P < 0.05) in rat and increased the activity of CYP2E1 (P < 0.05) and CYP1A2 (P < 0.01). O. japonicas had no significant difference on the contents of CYP450 and Cytb5 while increased the activities of CYP3A (P < 0.05), CYP2E1 (P < 0.05) and CYP1A2 (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONR. glutionsa and S. ningpoensis could decrease the content of CYP450 enzyme in rat liver and induct the activities of CYP3A and CYP1A2. A. cochinchinensis could induct the activities of CYP2E1 and CYP1A2. O. japonicus could induction the activities of CYP3A, CYP2E1 and CYP1A2 in Tianwang Buxin Wan. By inhibiting CYP450 activity to decrease the metabolism of other drugs, the effect of other functional groups in the compatibility of Tianwang Buxin Wan can be enhanced, and a theoretical basis on studying the compatible mechanism can be provided.

Animals ; Asparagus Plant ; chemistry ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A2 ; metabolism ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP2E1 ; metabolism ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A ; metabolism ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Enzyme Activation ; drug effects ; Humans ; Liver ; drug effects ; enzymology ; Male ; Microsomes, Liver ; drug effects ; enzymology ; Ophiopogon ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rehmannia ; chemistry ; Scrophularia ; chemistry