syringin and isofraxidin

Acanthopanax senticosus (previously classified as Eleutherococcus senticosus), commonly known as Ciwujia or Siberian Ginseng, is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), widely used for its high medicinal value, such as antifatigue, anti-inflammation, antistress, anti-ulcer and cardiovascular functions, in China, Korea, Japan and Russia. In the past decades, researchers worldwide have conducted systematic investigations on this herb, from chemistry to pharmacology, and a large number of chemical components have been characterized for their significant pharmacological effects. However, reports about the anticancer effects of this plant had been rare until recently, when considerable pharmacological experiments both in vitro and in vivo were conducted to study the anticancer effects of this herb. A. senticosus has been found to have inhibitory effects on malignant tumors, such as those in the lung and liver, suggesting that A. senticosus has potential to be developed as an effective anticancer drug. This paper reviews recent findings on the pharmacological properties of A. senticosus, with a focus on its anticancer effects.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; Antioxidants; Coumarins; Dioxoles; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Eleutherococcus; Glucosides; Humans; Immunologic Factors; Lignans; Medicine, Chinese Traditional; Mice; Phenylpropionates; Phytotherapy; Rats

Eleutherococcus senticosus or Siberian ginseng is a medicinal plant containing adaptogenic substances believed to regulate immune responses. Both, the root and stem bark are commonly used in traditional medicines.. The purpose of the present study is to chemically characterize E. senticosus root and bark extracts and to compare their effects on functions of human primary macrophages.. HPLC-DAD-MS analysis was used to characterize chemical constituents of alcoholic extracts from E. senticosus root and bark. The data obtained and available databases were combined for network pharmacology analysis. Involvement of predicted pathways was further functionally confirmed by using monocyte-derived human macrophages and endotoxin-free E. senticosus root and bark extracts.. Chemical analysis showed that the root extract contained more syringin, caffeic acid, and isofraxidin than the bark extract. At variance, bark extract contained more sesamin and oleanolic acid. Coniferyl aldehyde and afzelin were below the limit of quantification in both extracts. Network pharmacology analysis indicated that constituents of E. senticosus might affect the immune cell phenotype and signaling pathways involved in cell metabolism and cytoskeleton regulation. Indeed, both extracts promoted actin polymerization, migration, and phagocytosis of E. coli by macrophages pointing to macrophage polarization towards the M2 phenotype. In addition, treatment with E. senticosus root and bark extracts decreased phosphorylation of Akt on Ser473 and significantly reduced expression of the hemoglobin scavenger receptor CD163 by macrophages. Neither extract affected expression of CD11b, CD80, or CD64 by macrophages. In addition, macrophages treated with the bark extract, but not with the root extract, exhibited activated p38 MAPK and NF-κB and released increased, but still moderate, amounts of proinflammatory TNF-α and IL-6, anti-inflammatory IL-10, and chemotactic CCL1, which all together point to a M2b-like macrophage polarization. Differently, the root extract increased the IL-4-induced expression of anti-inflammatory CD200R. These changes in monocytes are in agreement with an increased M2a macrophage polarization.. The ability of E. senticosus root and bark extracts to promote polarization of human macrophages towards anti-inflammatory M2a and M2b phenotypes, respectively, might underlay the immunoregulatory activities and point to potential wound healing promoting effects of this medicinal plant.

Topics: Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Cell Polarity; Coumarins; Dioxoles; Eleutherococcus; Glucosides; Humans; Lignans; Macrophages; NF-kappa B; Phenylpropionates; Plant Bark; Plant Extracts; Plant Roots; Plants, Medicinal

To compare the pharmacokinetics of syringin, eleutheroside E and isofraxidin after intravenous administration of each monomer and Ciwujia injection. Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups and intravenously administrated with syringin, eleutheroside E, isofraxidin, and Ciwujia injection, respectively. The concentrations of the three components in rat plasma were determined by LC-MS/MS. DAS 2.0 software was applied to calculate the pharmacokinetic parameters while the SPSS 17.0 software was used for statistical analysis. Significant difference (P < 0.05) was found between each monomer and the injection on the main pharmacokinetic parameters such as AUC, CL and t1,/2. Compared with the injection, the group treated with the syringin has obvious decrease in AUC, and increase in CL while the group treated with eleutheroside E has obvious increase in AUC, and decrease in CL The t1/2 of isofraxidin was prolonged in Ciwujia injection. Pharmacokinetic characters of the ingredients in the injection varied greatly from the monomer. Other constituents in the injection may have an impact on the pharmacokinetic profiles of these three components.

Topics: Administration, Intravenous; Animals; Coumarins; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Glucosides; Lignans; Male; Phenylpropionates; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

A simple and reliable ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry method (UPLC-TOF-MS) was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of the major bioactive constituents in Acanthopanax senticosus and its extract. The separation of five compounds was performed on a UPLC™ HSS T3 column (100 mm × 2.1 mm, 1.7 μm) with gradient elution using a mobile phase consisting of 0.1% aqueous formic acid and acetonitrile containing 0.1% formic acid. All targeted compounds (syringin, chlorogenid acid, caffeic acid, eleutheroside E and isofraxidin) were baseline separated within 5.3 min in samples, which represented an approximate six-fold reduction in the analysis time in comparison to published HPLC method. Quantitation was carried out working in the V mode using the narrow widow extracted ion chromatograms (nwXICs) of each compound (extracted using a 20 mDa window). Furthermore, all calibration curves showed good linearity (r > 0.999) within the test ranges. The precision was evaluated by intra- and inter-day tests, which revealed relative standard deviation (RSD) values of less than 3.88%. The recoveries for the quantified compounds were between 96.3% and 103.7%, with RSD values below 2.89%. According to the literature, this study represents the first investigation of the simultaneous analysis of multiple components and the method can be applied to determine the amounts of the major compounds in Acanthopanax senticosus and its extract by UPLC-TOF-MS.

Topics: Caffeic Acids; Calibration; Chlorogenic Acid; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Coumarins; Eleutherococcus; Glucosides; Lignans; Limit of Detection; Organic Chemicals; Phenylpropionates; Plant Extracts; Principal Component Analysis; Reference Standards; Reproducibility of Results; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

In order to screen a suitable resin for the preparative simultaneous separation and purification of syringin, eleutheroside E and isofraxidin from Acanthopanax senticosus, the adsorption and desorption properties of 17 widely used commercial macroporous resins were evaluated. According to our results, HPD100C, which adsorbs by the molecular tiers model, was the best macroporous resin, offering higher adsorption and desorption capacities and higher adsorption speed for syringin, eleutheroside E and isofraxidin than other resins. Dynamic adsorption and desorption tests were carried out to optimize the process parameters. The optimal conditions were as follows: for adsorption, processing volume: 24 BV, flow rate: 2 BV/h; for desorption, ethanol-water solution: 60:40 (v/v), eluent volume: 4 BV, flow rate: 3 BV/h. Under the above conditions, the contents of syringin, eleutheroside E and isofraxidin increased 174-fold, 20-fold and 5-fold and their recoveries were 80.93%, 93.97% and 93.79%, respectively.

Topics: Adsorption; Coumarins; Eleutherococcus; Glucosides; Lignans; Phenylpropionates

Not only neuronal death but also neuritic atrophy and synaptic loss underlie the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease as direct causes of the memory deficit. Extracts of Siberian ginseng (the rhizome of Eleutherococcus senticosus) were shown to have protective effects on the regeneration of neurites and the reconstruction of synapses in rat cultured cortical neurons damaged by amyloid β (Aβ)(25-35), and eleutheroside B was one of the active constituents. In this study, a comprehensive evaluation of constituents was conducted to explore active components from Siberian ginseng which can protect against neuritic atrophy induced by Aβ(25-35) in cultured rat cortical neurons. The ethyl acetate, n-butanol and water fractions from the methanol extract of Siberian ginseng showed protective effects against Aβ-induced neuritic atrophy. Twelve compounds were isolated from the active fractions and identified. Among them, eleutheroside B, eleutheroside E and isofraxidin showed obvious protective effects against Aβ(25-35)-induced atrophies of axons and dendrites at 1 and 10 μM.

Topics: Amyloid beta-Peptides; Animals; Atrophy; Axons; Benzaldehydes; Cells, Cultured; Cerebral Cortex; Coumarins; Dendrites; Eleutherococcus; Fatty Acids; Female; Glucosides; Lignans; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Neurites; Neurons; Phenylpropionates; Plant Extracts; Pregnancy; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Sitosterols; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization; Stigmasterol

Shigoka (SGK), the rhizome of Eleutherococcus senticosus, is a traditional medicine used as a tonic in northeastern Asia and far eastern Russia. We analyzed the nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence of the medicine available on the Japanese and Chinese markets and found that at least 3 species were used as the source plant of the commercial SGKs and that only 70% of all samples was made from the correct species. Furthermore, we performed the quantitative determination of 3 marker compounds, eleutheroside B (EB), syringaresinol diglucoside (Syr), and isofraxidin (Iso) by ultraperformance liquid chromatography (UPLC)/mass spectrometry (MS). We found that EB and Iso are specific to the correct source plant of SGK. Of them, EB is thought to be the best marker compound for quality assurance of the SGK from the viewpoint of its pharmacological activity.

Topics: Coumarins; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer; Eleutherococcus; Glucosides; Lignans; Phenylpropionates; Plant Preparations; Plants, Medicinal; Rhizome

(+)-Syringaresinol-di-O-beta-D-glucoside (SR), syringin, and isofraxidin isolated from the stem bark of Acanthopanax senticosus Harms are its major constituents. The present work was undertaken to analyze effects of these compounds on inflammatory functions in SW982 human synovial sarcoma cell system. When cells were exposed to SR, syringin, or isofraxidin, only isofraxidin had significant inhibitory effects on cell growth, although a slight inhibition was observed at the highest concentration of SR. SR suppressed the production of IL-6 at lower concentrations than syringin and isofraxidin. SR and syringin significantly suppressed the production of prostaglandin E(2), while isofraxidin suppressed only slightly. SR was more potent than syringin and isofraxidin at inhibiting the expression of IL-1beta, IL-6, cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-1 mRNA, but was less potent than syringin at inhibiting the expression of MMP-2. We further demonstrated that SR significantly reduced MMP-1 promoter luciferase activity and DNA-binding activity of transcriptional factors AP-1 and NF-kappaB. Taken together, these results suggest that SR, an active component of the stem bark of A. senticosus, modulates the inflammatory process involved in arthritis by suppressing various gene expression through inhibiting AP-1 and/or NF-kappaB activities.

Topics: Cell Line, Tumor; Coumarins; Cyclooxygenase 2; Dinoprostone; Eleutherococcus; Gene Expression Regulation; Glucosides; Humans; Interleukin-1beta; Lignans; NF-kappa B; Phenylpropionates; RNA, Messenger; Sarcoma; Synovial Membrane; Transcription Factor AP-1

A high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was developed for the first time to quantify simultaneously the six major active ingredients in Acanthopanax senticosus (Rupr. et Maxim.) Harms, namely protocatechuic acid, syringin, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, liriodendrin and isofraxidin. The analysis was performed by a reverse phase gradient elution with an aqueous mobile phase (containing 0.05% phosphoric acid) modified by acetonitrile and diode-array multiple-wavelength UV detector (DAD). Six regression equations showed good linear relationships between the peak area of each marker and concentration. The recoveries of the markers listed above were 92.3%, 93.9%, 90.3%, 93.1%, 94.3% and 90.7%, respectively. The relative standard deviation of intra-day and inter-day were less than 2.7% and 3.1%, respectively. This method was validated for specificity, accuracy, precision and limits of quantification. Medicinal materials of ten commercial brands were analyzed and found to contain different amounts of the six bioactive markers. The method developed can be used for the quality control of Acanthopanax senticosus (Rupr. et Maxim.) Harms.

Topics: Caffeic Acids; Calibration; Chlorogenic Acid; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Coumarins; Eleutherococcus; Furans; Glucosides; Hydroxybenzoates; Indicators and Reagents; Phenylpropionates; Quality Control; Reference Standards; Solutions; Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet