Achyranthes bidentata Blume is widely used as a traditional Chinese medicine with the effects of nourishing the liver and kidneys and strengthening muscles and bones. In this work, a rapid and simple strategy was developed for characterizing phytoecdysteroids by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with liner ion trap-Orbitrap mass spectrometry using electrospray ionization in the negative mode. As a result, 47 phytoecdysteroids were unambiguously or tentatively characterized. Among them, seven known compounds were identified according to the reference standards along with molecular formula, retention time and fragmentation patterns, while others were mostly potential new compounds. Through targeted isolation, the structures of three new compounds were determined by NMR spectra, which were consistent with LC-MS characterization. The present study provides an efficient method to deeply characterize phytoecdysteroids.
Achyranthes/chemistry* ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods* ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Mass Spectrometry ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization/methods*

To investigate the " drug-guide" effect of Achyranthes bidentata saponins( ABS) and geniposide( GE) in the treatment on adjuvant arthritis( AA) rats. A UHPLC-MS/MS method for the quantitative determination of GE,zingibroside R1,ginsenoside Ro and chikusetsu saponin Ⅳa in rat blood and joint dialysate was established. After single or combined administration with ABS and GE was given to AA rat model,a microdialysis sampling method for rat joint cavity and jugular vein blood vessels was established to collect microdialysis samples. Waters Acquity HSS C_(18) column was used to separate the above four components,with mobile phase as acetonitrile-0. 1% formic acid water as mobile phase for gradient elution. ESI source was adopted for mass spectra in a negative ion scanning mode. Multiple reaction monitoring( MRM) mode was applied to detect the above four components. The methodological results showed that GE,zingibroside R1,ginsenoside Ro and chikusetsu saponin Ⅳa demonstrated a good linear relationship within the concentration ranges of 2-4 000,16-4 096,14-3 584,23-5 888 μg·L-1 respectively. The precision,accuracy,stability and matrix effect of these four ingredients reached the requirements of quantitative analysis of biological samples. The pharmacokinetic results demonstrated that the combined administration of ABS and GE( 60 mg·kg~(-1)+60 mg·kg~(-1)) can increase the degree of GE in joint cavity distribution,and the AUCjoint/AUCplasmwere twice of that of single administration of GE( 60 mg·kg~(-1)),which indicated that ABS might played a vital role in GE's distribution to joint cavity. Moreover,there was no significant difference between the distribution trend of total three ABS and GE in rats. The pharmacodynamics results showed that the combined administration of ABS and GE has stronger effects on paw swelling,arthritis index and synovial pathomorphology of AA rats than single administration of GE,which suggested that ABS might improve GE's anti-inflammatory effect in AA rats. Based on the above results,ABS has a targeting effect in increasing GE's concentration in joint cavity,with a synergy in efficacy.
Achyranthes ; chemistry ; Animals ; Arthritis, Experimental ; drug therapy ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacokinetics ; Iridoids ; pharmacokinetics ; Microdialysis ; Rats ; Reproducibility of Results ; Saponins ; pharmacokinetics ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

To study on the effects of Achyranthes bidentata on Tongsaimai pellets main active ingredients chlorogenic acid, isoliquiritin, harpagoside and glycyrrhizin in rats in vivo pharmacokinetic behaviors, a method for the simultaneous determination of chlorogenic acid, isoliquiritin, harpagoside and liquiritigenin in rat plasma was established by UPLC-MS/MS. The analysis was performed on a waters Acquity BEH C18 column (2.1 mm x 100 mm, 1.7 microm) with the mixture of acetonitrile and 0.1% formic acid/water as mobile phase, and the gradient elution at a flow rate of 0.3 mL x min(-1). The analytes were detected by tandem mass spectrometry with the electrospray ionization (ESI) source and in the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. It turned out that the analytes of Tongsaimai pellets groups C(max) and AUC(Q-infinity) values were higher than that with A. bidentata group, and the C(max) values of chlorogenic acid had significantly difference (P < 0.05), the AUC(0-infinity) values of chlorogenic acid and glycyrrhizin had significantly difference (P < 0.05); The T(max) and CL values of two groups had no significantly difference. Results showed that the established method was specific, rapid, accurate and sensitive for the studies of Tongsaimai pellets four main active ingredients in rat in vivo pharmacokinetic, and A. bidentata have varying degrees of effects on Tongsaimai pellets four main active ingredients in rat in vivo pharmacokinetic behaviors.
Achyranthes ; chemistry ; Animals ; Chalcone ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Chlorogenic Acid ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Glucosides ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Glycosides ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Glycyrrhizic Acid ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Herb-Drug Interactions ; Male ; Pyrans ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Achyranthes bidentata polysaccharides (ABPS) was extracted from the root of A. bidentata. Dendritic cells (DC), which were stimulated with ABPS and/or tumor antigen SW480, were co-cultured with cytokine induced killer cells (CIK) to test the cytotoxic effect on colon cancer cell line SW480. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNCs) which were separated from human peripheral blood were cultured to DC and CIK separately. (1) DC were divided into four groups: pure DC served as control group; ABPS (50 mg x L(-1)) stimulated DC served as experimental group; SW480 tumor antigen stimulated DC served as the second experimental group; ABPS (50 mg x L(-1)) and SW480 tumor antigen co-stimulated DC served as the third experimental group. Flow cytometry was used to detect the difference of the positive rate of molecules in the cell surface of DC, include CD80, CD86, CD1c, CD40, HLA-DR (6 samples for each group). (2) The four DC groups were mixed with CIK at the ratio 1:5 and acted as effect cells (DC + CIK groups), and the colon cancer cell line SW480 acted as target cells. The effect cells and the target cells were mixed together at the ratio 30: 1, 20:1 and 10:1 separately, and the CCK-8 kit was used to test the cytotoxic effect on colon cancer cell line SW480. (3) At the mixing ratio 30:1 of effect cells and target cells, ELISA was used to test the level of cytokines secretion, including IL-2, IL-12p70, IL-17 and TNF-alpha, in the liquid supernatant of every test group (3 duplication per sample). The results showed as following: (1) The positive rates of CD80, CD11c, HLA-DR, in the cell surface of DC which was co-stimulated by ABPS (50 mg x L(-1)) and SW480 tumor antigen, were obviously higher than the other DC groups (P < 0.05), and the positive rates of CD86, CD40 were obviously higher than the pure DC group (P < 0.05), and there was no remarkable difference with the other two DC groups. (2) At the mixing ratio 30:1, 20:1 and 10:1 of the effect cells and the target cells, the cytotoxic effect of ABPS stimulated DC + CIK group and SW480 tumor antigen stimulated DC + CIK group was obviously higher than DC + CIK group (P < 0.05), the cytotoxic effect of ABPS and SW480 tumor antigen co-stimulated DC + CIK group was obviously higher than all the other groups. (3) At the mixing ratio 30:1 of the effect cells and the target cells, the secretion levels of IL-12p70 and TNF-alpha in the liquid supernatant of the ABPS and SW480 tumor antigen co-stimulated DC + CIK group were obviously higher than all the other groups (P < 0.05), the secretion levels of IL-2 and IL-17 in the liquid supernatant of every test group have no remarkable difference. The cytotoxic effect of ABPS stimulated DC + CIK on SW480 was obviously increased. The cytotoxic effect of ABPS and SW480 tumor antigen co-stimulated DC + CIK group was obviously higher than all the other.
Achyranthes ; chemistry ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Colonic Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; immunology ; physiopathology ; Cytokine-Induced Killer Cells ; drug effects ; immunology ; Cytotoxicity, Immunologic ; drug effects ; Dendritic Cells ; drug effects ; immunology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; immunology ; Interleukin-2 ; immunology ; Polysaccharides ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Huogu II Formula (II) with medicinal guide Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae (Ach) on bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) homing to necrosis area after osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) frozen by liquid nitrogen in rabbit as well as to explore the mechanism of prevention and treatment for ONFH.

METHODSThe animal model of ONFH was established by liquid nitrogen frozen on the rabbit left hind leg. Forty-eight Japanese White rabbits were randomly assigned to sham-operated group, model group, Huogu II group, and Huogu II plus Ach group, with 12 rabbits in each. During the course of ONFH animal model establishment, all rabbits were subcutaneously injected with recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor [rhG-CSF, 30 μg/(kg·day) for continuous 7 days]. Meanwhile, normal saline and decoction of the two formulae were administrated by gavage, respectively. White blood cells (WBC) were counted in peripheral blood before and after injection of rhG-CSF. Materials were drawn on the 2nd and 4th weeks after model built; bone glutamine protein (BGP) and bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) levels in serum were tested. Histopathologic changes were observed by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. BMP2 mRNA levels were detected with in situ hybridization (ISH) staining. 5-Bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) and stromal cell derived factor 1 (SDF-1) were measured by immunohistochemical assay in femoral head of the left hind leg.

RESULTSCompared with the shamoperated group, the ratio of empty lacuna, serum BGP, and SDF-1 level in the model group increased significantly, and BMP2 in both serum and femoral head decreased significantly. However, in comparison with the model group, the empty lacuna ratio of Huogu II group and Huogu II plus Ach group decreased obviously in addition to the levels of serum BGP and BMP2, and the expressions of BMP2 mRNA, BrdU, and SDF-1 increased significantly. Above changes were particularly obvious in Huogu II plus Ach group. BGP and SDF-1 on the 2nd week and empty lacuna rate and serum BMP2 level on the 4th week in Huogu II group significantly exceeded their counterparts. On the 2nd week, only in Huogu II plus Ach group that the BrdU counting rose significantly. On the 4th week, empty lacuna rate and serum BMP2 level in Huogu II plus Ach group exceeded those in Huogu II group distinctively.

CONCLUSIONSTo a certain extent, the medicinal guide Ach improves the preventive and therapeutic effects of Huogu II Formula on experimental ONFH model. The possible mechanism of this is related to its promoting effect on directional homing of BMSCs to the necrosis area.

Achyranthes ; Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 ; blood ; genetics ; Bromodeoxyuridine ; metabolism ; Cell Movement ; Chemokine CXCL12 ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Femur Head ; drug effects ; pathology ; Femur Head Necrosis ; blood ; genetics ; pathology ; therapy ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Leukocyte Count ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rabbits ; Radioimmunoassay ; Stem Cell Transplantation ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo develop the reproducible in vitro propagation protocols for the medicinally important plants viz., Achyranthes aspera (A. aspera) L. and Achyranthes bidentata (A. bidentata) Blume using nodal segments as explants.

METHODSYoung shoots of A. aspera and A. bidentata were harvested and washed with running tap water and treated with 0.1% bavistin and rinsed twice with distilled water. Then the explants were surface sterilized with 0.1% (w/v) HgCl2 solutions for 1 min. After rinsing with sterile distilled water for 3-4 times, nodal segments were cut into smaller segments (1 cm) and used as the explants. The explants were placed horizontally as well as vertically on solid basal Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 3% sucrose, 0.6% (w/v) agar (Hi-Media, Mumbai) and different concentration and combination of 6-benzyl amino purine (BAP), kinetin (Kin), naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and indole acetic acid (IAA) for direct regeneration.

RESULTSAdventitious proliferation was obtained from A. aspera and A. bidentata nodal segments inoculated on MS basal medium with 3% sucrose and augmented with BAP and Kin with varied frequency. MS medium augmented with 3.0 mg/L of BAP showed the highest percentage (93.60±0.71) of shootlets formation for A. aspera and (94.70±0.53) percentages for A. bidentata. Maximum number of shoots/explants (10.60±0.36) for A. aspera and (9.50±0.56) for A. bidentata was observed in MS medium fortified with 5.0 mg/L of BAP. For A. aspera, maximum mean length (5.50±0.34) of shootlets was obtained in MS medium augmented with 3.0 mg/L of Kin and for A. bidentata (5.40±0.61) was observed in the very same concentration. The highest percentage, maximum number of rootlets/shootlet and mean length of rootlets were observed in 1/2 MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/L of IBA. Seventy percentages of plants were successfully established in polycups. Sixty eight percentages of plants were well established in the green house condition. Sixty five percentages of plants were established in the field.

CONCLUSIONSThe results have shown that use of nodal buds is an alternative reproducible and dependable method for clonal propagation of A. aspera and A. bidentata. The high rate of direct shoot-root multiplication and their high rate of post-hardening survival indicate that this protocol can be easily adopted for commercial large scale cultivation.

Achyranthes ; growth & development ; Culture Media ; chemistry ; Plant Roots ; growth & development ; Plant Shoots ; growth & development ; Plants, Medicinal ; growth & development ; Survival Analysis

AIM: To study the chemical constituents of the roots of Achyranthes bidentata Bl. METHODS: The chemical constituents were isolated and purified by macroporous adsorptive resin D101, silica gel, and ODS column chromatographies and preparetive HPLC. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR analyses. RESULTS: Two feruloyl tyramine glycosides and seven triterpenoid saponins were obtained and identified as N-trans-feruloyl-3-methoxytyramine-4'-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (1), N-trans-feruloyl-3-methoxytyra mine-4-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (2), PJS-1 (3), chikusetsusaponin IVa (4), oleanolic acid 3-O-[β-D-glucuronopy ranoside-6-O-methyl ester]-28-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (5), oleanolic acid 3-O-[β-D-glucuronopyran-oside-6-O-ethylester]-28-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (6), oleanolic acid 3-O-[β-D-glucuronopyranoside-6-O-butyl ester]-28-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (7), ginsenoside R(0) (8) and hederagenin-28-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester (9). CONCLUSION Compound 1 is a new feruloyl tyramine glycoside, while compounds 2 and 9 are reported from A. bidentata for the first time.
Achyranthes ; chemistry ; Glucosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Saponins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Triterpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Tyramine ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo study the therapeutic effects of saponins from Achyranthes bidentata (SAB) in stroke-prone sponyaneously hypertension rats (SHRsp).

METHODSixty SHRsp were randomly divided into five groups: SAB 0.10, 0.20, 0.40 g x kg(-1), Huatuo Zaizao pill group (positive control group) 2.5 g x kg(-1) and pathologic group (n=10). SAB and Huatuo Zaizao pill were used through filing stomach everyday for 20 days, pathologic group was given distilled water. The effects of SAB on blood pressure, changes of nerve state, death rate, brain index and the pathologic changes of hippocampal neuron of SHRsp were observed.

RESULTSAB could markedly decrease brain index, death rate of SHRsp after stroke. SAB could improve nerve state of SHRsp after stroke. Also SAB could prolong survival time and prevent pathologic change of hippocampal neuron of SHRsp after stroke.

CONCLUSIONSAB is advantageous of therapying the stroke in SHRsp.

Achyranthes ; chemistry ; Animals ; Antihypertensive Agents ; therapeutic use ; Hypertension ; drug therapy ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred SHR ; Saponins ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between tissue quantitative distribution and pharmacokinetics of 3H-achyranthes bidentata ecdysterone and the channel-tropism of herbal drugs in mice.

METHOD3H-achyranthes bidentata ecdysterone was used as a tracer agent and injected into mice by the caudal vein. In 36 hours, the contents of the tracer agent of samples involving 9 different tracing phases and organ or tissue were determined in order to observe the dynamic quantitative distribution and excretion and pharmacokinetics of 3H-achyranthes bidentata ecdysterone and to understand the channel-tropism of herbal drugs achyranthes bidentata.

RESULT3H-achyranthes bidentata ecdysterone of same organs in different tracing phases and the contents of 3H-achyranthes bidentata ecdysterone in same tracing phases of different organs were significantly different (P<0.01). 3H-achyranthes bidentata ecdysterone was mainly distributed, in the liver, kidney, adrenal gland, small intestine and lung. The concentration-time profiles of achyranthes bidentata ecdysterone in rats injected into mice by the caudal vein were shown to fit a two-compartment open model with half-lives of (778.65 +/- 12.36) min, the elimination of achyranthes bidentata ecdysterone from plasma was found to be in accord with linear kinetics.

CONCLUSIONThe above mentioned selective distribution of 3H-achyranthes bidentata ecdysterone basically coincides with the meridian affinity and zang fu selection of the traditional Chinese medicine drug Achyranthes bidentata. This study will provide a scientific basis for the channel-tropism of A. bidentata.

Achyranthes ; chemistry ; Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; metabolism ; pharmacokinetics ; Ecdysterone ; metabolism ; pharmacokinetics ; Isotope Labeling ; Male ; Meridians ; Mice ; Organ Specificity ; Tissue Distribution ; Tritium ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo study the seed quality of Achyranthes bidentata from different sources and establish a standard of seed quality grading.

METHODSeed weight and moisture content determination, germination test, purity analysis were carried out by 100 grains method, high-temperature drying, double deck filter paper and GB/T354. 3-Seed Testing for Crops methods respectively. Eight collections were planted in several field plots.

RESULTThe 1 000 grains weight of 33 collections is 0.69 to 3.54 g with a variance coefficient 24.83%, the germination rate between 19.02% to 99% with a variance coefficient 38.24%. Seed moisture content and purity showed no significantly difference. K-means cluster analysis showed that 33 collections were divided into 3 grades: the first grade including 23 collections, the second and third grade including 5 collections respectively. Eight collections showed different field growth and yield characters.

CONCLUSIONThere are significant differences in seed quality of A. bidentata, so the classification management is needed in medicinal materials market. Germination test is an effective method before cultivating.

Achyranthes ; embryology ; Germination ; physiology ; Quality Control ; Seeds ; physiology