Water Extract of Angelica dahurica Inhibits Osteoclast Differentiation and Bone Loss

Angelica dahurica radix has a long history of traditional use in China and Korea for treating headaches, cold-damp pain and skin diseases. Despite various pharmacological studies on A. dahurica, its impact on bones remains unclear. Hence, this study investigated the inhibitory effect of A. dahurica's radix water extract (WEAD) on osteoclast differentiation. In vitro experiments showed that WEAD effectively suppresses osteoclast differentiation. Treatment of an osteoclast precursor with WEAD significantly suppressed the expression of nuclear factor of activated T-cells 1 (NFATc1), essential transcription factor for osteoclastogenesis, while increasing the expression of negative regulators, interferon regulatory factor 8 (Irf8) and v-maf musculoaponeurotic fibrosarcoma oncogene homolog B (MafB). Consistent with the in vitro findings, the oral administration of WEAD (100 and 300 mg/kg/day) to mice subjected to surgical ovariectomy for a duration of six weeks alleviated bone loss, while also mitigating weight gain and liver fat accumulation. In addition, we also identified phytochemicals present in WEAD, known to regulate osteoclastogenesis and/or bone loss. These results suggest the potential use of WEAD for treating various bone disorders caused by excessive bone resorption.

Network medicine framework identified drug-repurposing opportunities of pharmaco-active compounds of Angelica acutiloba (Siebold & Zucc.) Kitag. for skin aging

Increasing incidence of skin aging has highlighted the importance of identifying effective drugs with repurposed opportunities for skin aging. We aimed to identify pharmaco-active compounds with drug-repurposing opportunities for skin aging from Angelica acutiloba (Siebold & Zucc.) Kitag. (AAK). The proximity of network medicine framework (NMF) firstly identified 8 key AAK compounds with repurposed opportunities for skin aging, which may exert by regulating 29 differentially expressed genes (DGEs) of skin aging, including 13 up-regulated targets and 16 down-regulated targets. Connectivity MAP (cMAP) analysis revealed 8 key compounds were involved in regulating the process of cell proliferation and apoptosis, mitochondrial energy metabolism and oxidative stress of skin aging. Molecular docking analysis showed that 8 key compounds had a high docked ability with AR, BCHE, HPGD and PI3, which were identified as specific biomarker for the diagnosis of skin aging. Finally, the mechanisms of these key compounds were predicted to be involved in inhibiting autophagy pathway and activating Phospholipase D signaling pathway. In conclusion, this study firstly elucidated the drug-repurposing opportunities of AAK compounds for skin aging, providing a theoretical reference for identifying repurposing drugs from Chinese medicine and new insights for our future research.

Angelica gigas NAKAI and Its Active Compound, Decursin, Inhibit Cellular Injury as an Antioxidant by the Regulation of AMP-Activated Protein Kinase and YAP Signaling

Natural products and medicinal herbs have been used to treat various human diseases by regulating cellular functions and metabolic pathways. Angelica gigas NAKAI (AG) helps regulate pathological processes in some medical fields, including gastroenterology, gynecology, and neuropsychiatry. Although some papers have reported its diverse indications, the effects of AG against arachidonic acid (AA)+ iron and carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) have not been reported. In HepG2 cells, AA+ iron induced cellular apoptosis and mitochondrial damage, as assessed by mitochondrial membrane permeability (MMP) and the expression of apoptosis-related proteins. On the other hand, AG markedly inhibited these detrimental phenomena and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production induced by AA+ iron. AG activated the liver kinase B1 (LKB1)-dependent AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which affected oxidative stress in the cells. Moreover, AG also regulated the expression of yes-associated protein (YAP) signaling as mediated by the AMPK pathways. In mice, an oral treatment of AG protected against liver toxicity induced by CCl₄, as indicated by the plasma and histochemical parameters. Among the compounds in AG, decursin had antioxidant activity and affected the AMPK pathway. In conclusion, AG has antioxidant effects in vivo and in vitro, indicating that natural products such as AG could be potential candidate for the nutraceuticals to treat various disorders by regulating mitochondrial dysfunction and cellular metabolic pathways.

Wound Healing-Promoting and Melanogenesis-Inhibiting Activities of Angelica polymorpha Maxim. Flower Absolute In Vitro and Its Chemical Composition

Angelica polymorpha Maxim. (APM) is used in traditional medicine to treat chronic gastritis, rheumatic pain, and duodenal bulbar ulcers. However, it is not known whether APM has epidermis-associated biological activities. Here, we investigated the effects of APM flower absolute (APMFAb) on responses associated with skin wound healing and whitening using epidermal cells. APMFAb was obtained by solvent extraction and its composition was analyzed by GC/MS. Water-soluble tetrazolium salt, 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine incorporation, Boyden chamber, sprouting, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and immunoblotting were used to examine the effects of APMFAb on HaCaT keratinocytes and B16BL6 melanoma cells. APMFAb contained five compounds and induced keratinocyte migration, proliferation, and type IV collagen synthesis. APMFAb also induced the phosphorylations of ERK1/2, JNK, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, and AKT in keratinocytes. In addition, APMFAb decreased serum-induced B16BL6 cell proliferation and inhibited tyrosinase expression, melanin contents, and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor expression in α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone-stimulated B16BL6 cells. These findings demonstrate that APMFAb has beneficial effects on skin wound healing by promoting the proliferation, migration, and collagen synthesis of keratinocytes and on skin whitening by inhibiting melanin synthesis in melanoma cells. Therefore, we suggest that APMFAb has potential use as a wound healing and skin whitening agent.

Decursinol Angelate Mitigates Sepsis Induced by Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Infection by Modulating the Inflammatory Responses of Macrophages

The herbal plant Angelica gigas (A. gigas) has been used in traditional medicine in East Asian countries, and its chemical components are reported to have many pharmacological effects. In this study, we showed that a bioactive ingredient of A. gigas modulates the functional activity of macrophages and investigated its effect on inflammation using a sepsis model. Among 12 different compounds derived from A. gigas, decursinol angelate (DA) was identified as the most effective in suppressing the induction of TNF-α and IL-6 in murine macrophages. When mice were infected with a lethal dose of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), DA treatment improved the mortality and bacteremia, and attenuated the cytokine storm, which was associated with decreased CD38⁺ macrophage populations in the blood and liver. In vitro studies revealed that DA inhibited the functional activation of macrophages in the expression of pro-inflammatory mediators in response to microbial infection, while promoting the bacterial killing ability with an increased production of reactive oxygen species. Mechanistically, DA treatment attenuated the NF-κB and Akt signaling pathways. Intriguingly, ectopic expression of an active mutant of IKK2 released the inhibition of TNF-α production by the DA treatment, whereas the inhibition of Akt resulted in enhanced ROS production. Taken together, our experimental evidence demonstrated that DA modulates the functional activities of pro-inflammatory macrophages and that DA could be a potential therapeutic agent in the management of sepsis.

Angelica dahurica promoted angiogenesis and accelerated wound healing in db/db mice via the HIF-1α/PDGF-β signaling pathway

Impaired angiogenesis is crucial for impeding the wound healing process in diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). In this study, we found that Angelica dahurica (A. dahurica) stimulated angiogenesis and benefited wound healing in genetic mouse models of diabetes. In HUVECs, A. dahurica promoted cell proliferation and tube formation, which was accompanied by increased nuclear translocation of HIF-1α under hypoxic conditions and led to elevated PDGF-β protein expression. A. dahurica activated the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), which was abrogated by the PI3K inhibitor LY294002. Furthermore, the cellular expression of PDGF-β decreased significantly after treatment with a HIF-1α-siRNA, and PDGF-β expression was increased in HIF-1α-overexpressing cells. In a full-thickness cutaneous wound healing db/db mouse model, A. dahurica accelerated wound closure, which was reflected by a significantly reduced wound area and an increase in neovascularization, as well as by elevated PDGF-β expression and increased capillary formation. In addition, A. dahurica activated the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and enhanced HIF-1α synthesis in wounds. In summary, A. dahurica promoted angiogenesis of HUVECs in vitro by promoting signaling via the HIF-1α/PDGF-β pathway, efficiently enhancing vascularization in regenerated tissue and facilitating wound healing in vivo. The results revealed that A. dahurica has potential as a therapy for vessel injury-related wounds.

Effects of Angelica gigas Nakai on the production of decursin- and decursinol angelate-enriched eggs

BACKGROUND

The livestock industry requires high-quality products, as well as improved productivity. There have been many studies regarding the utilization of feed additives aiming to increase productivity, enhance immune functions and prevent infectious diseases in livestock. Biofunctional feed additives would be beneficial not only for animal health, but also for consumers. In the present study, we utilized root and byproduct (stem and leaf) powders of Angelica gigas Nakai (AGN, Korean Danggui) as feed additives and examined the deposition of biofunctional compounds, such as decursin and decursinol angelate, into egg white and yolk.

RESULTS

We optimized the detection system for decursin and decursinol angelate, and determined the amounts of decursin and decursinol angelate derived from AGN byproducts (stem and leaf) as well as root. In Experiment 1, laying hens were fed with the dried AGN root powder and the effective compounds were detected in egg white and yolk. Subsequently, in Experiment 2, we examined AGN byproducts as an alternative feeding supplement. Additionally, biochemical parameters were analyzed to evaluate changes in the health of the hens by feeding AGN root powder. The results obtained indicated that decursin and decursinol angelate were stably transferred into egg white and yolk by feeding AGN byproducts as well as root. Intriguingly, plasma cholesterol levels were significantly decreased in a dose-dependent manner, and those of interleukin-1β, as an immune-related biomarker, were considerably increased in the treated hens.

CONCLUSION

These results indicated that AGN root and byproducts (stem and leaf) could be utilized for the production of value-added eggs and improving the health of hens in the poultry industry. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

Triple herbal extract DA-9805 exerts a neuroprotective effect via amelioration of mitochondrial damage in experimental models of Parkinson's disease

Moutan cortex, Angelica Dahurica root, and Bupleurum root are traditional herbal medicines used in Asian countries to treat various diseases caused by oxidative stress or inflammation. Parkinson's disease (PD) has been associated with mitochondrial dysfunction, but no effective treatment for mitochondrial dysfunction has yet been identified. In this study we investigated the neuroprotective effects of the triple herbal extract DA-9805 in experimental models of PD. DA-9805 was prepared by extracting three dried plant materials (Moutan cortex, Angelica Dahurica root, and Bupleurum root in a 1:1:1 mixture) with 90% ethanol on a stirring plate for 24 h at room temperature and fingerprinted using high-performance liquid chromatography. 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) and its active metabolite 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+), which both exert neurotoxic effects on dopaminergic neurons by inhibiting mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) complex I, were used to make experimental models of PD. In MPP+-treated SH-SY5Y cells, DA-9805 ameliorated the suppression of tyrosine hydroxylase expression and mitochondrial damage on OXPHOS complex 1 activity, mitochondrial membrane potential, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and oxygen consumption rate. In the MPTP-induced subacute PD model mice, oral administration of DA-9805 recovered dopamine content as well as bradykinesia, as determined by the rotarod test. DA-9805 protected against neuronal damage in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) and striatum. In both in vitro and in vivo models of PD, DA-9805 normalized the phosphorylation of AKT at S473 and T308 on the insulin signaling pathway and the expression of mitochondria-related genes. These results demonstrate that the triple herbal extract DA-9805 showed neuroprotective effects via alleviating mitochondria damage in experimental models of PD. We propose that DA-9805 may be a suitable candidate for disease-modifying therapeutics for PD.

Chinese Angelica Polysaccharide (CAP) Alleviates LPS-Induced Inflammation and Apoptosis by Down-Regulating COX-1 in PC12 Cells

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Chinese angelica polysaccharide (CAP) is the main effective ingredient of angelica sinensis and exerts anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects on many diseases. This study aimed to explore the pharmacological potential of CAP on spinal cord injury (SCI).

METHODS

PC12 cells were pretreated by CAP and were subjected to LPS. Transfection was performed to alter the expression of COX-1. Cell viability and apoptotic cell rate were measured by CCK-8 and flow cytometry respectively. qRT-PCR and western blot analysis were performed to assess the expression changes of pro-inflammatory cytokines, apoptosis-related factor and core kinases in PI3K/AKT pathway.

RESULTS

LPS stimulation induced significant cell damage in PC12 cells as cell viability was repressed, apoptosis was induced and the expression levels of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α were increased. CAP pretreatment protected PC12 cells against LPS-induced cell damage. Meanwhile CAP treatment reduced the expression of COX-1 even in LPS-stimulated PC12 cells. More importantly, COX-1 overexpression abolished the protective effects of CAP on LPS-injured PC12 cells. Finally, Western blot analytical results showed that CAP activated PI3K/AKT pathway also in a COX-1-dependent manner.

CONCLUSION

CAP exerted anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory effects on LPS-injured PC12 cells via down-regulation of COX-1.

A DOC coagulant, gypsum treatment can simultaneously reduce As, Cd and Pb uptake by medicinal plants grown in contaminated soil

The efficiency of gypsum, as a dissolved organic carbon (DOC) coagulator, for the simultaneous immobilization of two heavy metals (Cd and Pb) and one metalloid (As) in agricultural soils near an abandoned mining site was examined. The agricultural soil was defined as long-term contaminated as As (1540mgkg^-1), Cd (55mgkg^-1) and Pb (1283mgkg^-1) concentrations exceeded the Korean guideline values for As (25mgkg^-1), Cd (4mgkg^-1), and Pb (200mgkg^-1). Gypsum was incorporated into the contaminated soil at 3% (w/w). In comparison two commonly using immobilizing agents (lime and compost), together with a mixture (lime+gypsum) were also included in the pot trial for the cultivation of two medical plants (A. gigas and A. macrocephala) and to evaluate the effectiveness of gypsum on As, Cd and Pb immobilization. The results showed that even though pH change-induced immobilizing agents such as lime were more effective than gypsum at immobilizing Cd and Pb, addition of gypsum also effectively reduced heavy metal phytoavailability as indicated by decreases in the concentration of Cd and Pb in medicinal plants. Furthermore, gypsum and gypsum+ lime were also most effective in reducing As concentrations in both plants studied. This was mainly attributed to significant decreases in soil DOC (48-64%) when gypsum and gypsum+lime were applied to the soil. Consequently, it was concluded that enhanced DOC coagulation with gypsum, could be considered as a promising technique for the immobilization of both metals (Cd and Pb) and metalloids (As) in agricultural soils.

Angelica Dahurica ethanolic extract improves impaired wound healing by activating angiogenesis in diabetes

Abnormal angiogenesis plays an important role in impaired wound healing and development of chronic wounds in diabetes mellitus. Angelica dahurica radix is a common traditional Chinese medicine with wide spectrum medicinal effects. In this study, we analyzed the potential roles of Angelica dahurica ethanolic extract (ADEE) in correcting impaired angiogenesis and delayed wound healing in diabetes by using streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. ADEE treatment accelerated diabetic wound healing through inducing angiogenesis and granulation tissue formation. The angiogenic property of ADEE was subsequently verified ex vivo using aortic ring assays. Furthermore, we investigated the in vitro angiogenic activity of ADEE and its underlying mechanisms using human umbilical vein endothelial cells. ADEE treatment induced HUVECs proliferation, migration, and tube formation, which are typical phenomena of angiogenesis, in dose-dependent manners. These effects were associated with activation of angiogenic signal modulators, including extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), Akt, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) as well as increased NO production, and independent of affecting VEGF expression. ADEE-induced angiogenic events were inhibited by the MEK inhibitor PD98059, the PI3K inhibitor Wortmannin, and the eNOS inhibitor L-NAME. Our findings highlight an angiogenic role of ADEE and its ability to protect against impaired wound healing, which may be developed as a promising therapy for impaired angiogenesis and delayed wound healing in diabetes.

Improved Biological Activities of Isoepoxypteryxin by Biotransformation

Isoepoxypteryxin is the major coumarin of a Japanese medicinal plant Angelica shikokiana. This research was designed to study the effect of structural changes through fungal biotransformation on the reported biological activities of isoepoxypteryxin. Among the tested microorganisms, only Cordyceps sinensis had enzymes that could catalyze the ester hydrolysis and the reductive cleavage of the epoxide ring of isoepoxypteryxin, separately, to give two more polar metabolites (+)-cis-khellactone (P1) and a new coumarin derivative (+)-cis-3'-[(2-methyl-3-hydroxybutanoyl)oxy]-4'-acetoxy-3',4'-dihydroseselin (P2), respectively. The polar metabolite P2 showed stronger cytotoxicity and higher selectivity than isoepoxypteryxin. On the molecular level, P2 showed more in vitro inhibition of both tubulin polymerization and histone deacetylase 8 (HDAC8). Similarly, P2 showed more neuroprotection against amyloid beta fragment 1 - 42 (Aβ_{1 - 42} )-induced neurotoxicity in human neuroblastoma cells (SH-SY5Y) and exhibited more inhibition of the in vitro aggregation of Aβ_{1 - 42} . Both metabolites showed stronger antiplatelet aggregation by increased inhibition of thromboxane-A2 synthase (TXS) activity and thromboxane-A2 (TXA2) production. This study is the first to describe the improved cytotoxic, neuroprotective, and antiplatelet aggregation activities of isoepoxypteryxin through its biotransformation by C. sinensis.

Fukushima derived radiocesium in subsistence-consumed northern fur seal and wild celery

In July 2014, our investigative team traveled to St. Paul Island, Alaska to measure concentrations of radiocesium in wild-caught food products, primarily northern fur seal (Callorhinus ursinus). The 2011 Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident released radiocesium into the atmosphere and into the western Pacific Ocean; other investigators have detected Fukushima-derived radionuclides in a variety of marine products harvested off the western coast of North America. We tested two subsistence-consumed food products from St. Paul Island, Alaska for Fukushima-derived radionuclides: 54 northern fur seal, and nine putchki (wild celery, Angelica lucida) plants. Individual northern fur seal samples were below minimum detectable activity concentrations of (137)Cs and (134)Cs, but when composited, northern fur seal tissues tested positive for trace quantities of both isotopes. Radiocesium was detected at an activity concentration of 37.2 mBq (134)Cs kg(-1) f.w. (95% CI: 35.9-38.5) and 141.2 mBq (137)Cs kg(-1) f.w. (95% CI: 135.5-146.8). The measured isotopic ratio, decay-corrected to the date of harvest, was 0.26 (95% CI: 0.25-0.28). The Fukushima nuclear accident released (134)Cs and (137)Cs in roughly equal quantities, but by the date of harvest in July 2014, this ratio was 0.2774, indicating that this population of seals has been exposed to small quantities of Fukushima-derived radiocesium. Activity concentrations of both (134)Cs and (137)Cs in putchki were below detection limits, even for composited samples. Northern fur seal is known to migrate between coastal Alaska and Japan and the trace (134)Cs in northern fur seal tissue suggests that the population under study had been minimally exposed Fukushima-derived radionuclides. Despite this inference, the radionuclide quantities detected are small and no impact is expected as a result of the measured radiation exposure, either in northern fur seal or human populations consuming this species.

[Dynamic studies on photosynthetic and growth characteristics of Angecila dahurcia]

Photosynthetic and growth characteristics of Angelica dahurica were studied in order to clarity the relations of photosynthesis, growth and root dry weight, and provide a theoretical basis for its cultivation. Photosynthesis and growth indexes were meas- ured every 25 days. The contents of chlorophyll a, b, a + b, soluble protein and the activities of Hill reaction, Ca(2+)-ATPase, Mg(2+)-ATPase had an increasing trend; They had the highest value in leaf high-speed growth period. Then, they were decreased in root high- speed growth period. The root dry weight showed negative corelation with photosynthetic characteristics indexes except stomatal con- ductance, however, the negative corelation only from net photosynthetic rate and Ca(2+)-ATPase were significant. The vegetative growth period of spring sowing A. dahuricia was divided into three phases: seedling period, leaf high-speed growth period and root high-speed growth period. The root dry weight showed a significantly positive corelation with the root diameter, leaf dry weight, shoot dry weight, aboveground dry weight. There was the competitive relation between aboveground and underground, so underground growth could be es- timated from leaf area and shoot dimeter.

Metabonomic analysis of water extracts from different angelica roots by ¹H-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Angelica Radix, the roots of the genus Angelica, has been used for more than 2,000 years as a traditional medicine in Eastern Asia. The Chinese Pharmacopoeia records more than 100 herbal formulae containing Angelica roots. There are two common sources of Angelica roots, Angelica sinensis from China and A. gigas from Korea. The two species of Angelica roots differ in their chemical compositions, pharmacological properties and clinical efficacy. ¹H-NMR metabolic profiling has recently emerged as a promising quality control method for food and herbal chemistry. We explored the use of ¹H-NMR metabolic profiling for the quality control of Angelica Radix. Unlike previous work, we performed the metabolic profiling on hot water extracts, so as to mimic the clinically relevant preparation method. Unsupervised principle component analyses of both the full spectral profile and a selection of targeted molecules revealed a clear differentiation of three types of Angelica roots. In addition, the levels of 13 common metabolites were measured. Statistically significant differences in the levels of glucose, fructose and threonine were found between different sources of Angelica. Ferulic acid, a marker commonly used to evaluate Angelica root, was detected in our samples, but the difference in ferulic acid levels between the samples was not statistically significant. Overall, we successfully applied ¹H-NMR metabolic profiling with water extraction to discriminate all three sources of Angelica roots, and obtained quantitative information of many common metabolites.

Biotransformation of columbianadin by rat hepatic microsomes and inhibition of biotransformation products on NO production in RAW 264.7 cells in vitro

Columbianadin (CBN, 1), 1-[(8S)-8,9-dihydro-2-oxo-2H-furo[2,3-h]-1-benzopyran-8-yl]-1-methylethyl-[(2Z)-2-methyl-2-butenoic acid]ester is a coumarin-type compound and one of the main bioactive constituents of the underground part of Angelica pubescens Maxim. f. biserrata Shan et Yuan. Although numerous investigations have been undertaken to study the biological activities of CBN, such as analgesic, anti-inflammatory, calcium-channel blocking, and platelet aggregation inhibiting functions, little attention has been paid to its metabolism and/or biotransformation. Biotransformation of CBN by rat liver microsomes in vitro was studied, and thirteen biotransformation products including eight hitherto unknown compounds [columbianadiratimetins A-H (3-10)] and five known compounds [columbianadin oxide (2), (+)-2,3-dihydro-4-hydroxy-2-(1-hydroxy-1-methylethyl)-5-benzofurancarboxaldehyde (11), oroselol (12), columbianetin (13), and vaginol (14)] were produced by liver microsomes from rats pre-treated with sodium phenobarbital. The structures of these compounds were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analyses which included IR, UV, EIMS, HRESIMS, 1D NMR and 2D NMR, respectively. The inhibition of CBN and its main biotransformation products on nitric oxide production induced by lipopolysaccharide was assayed in RAW 264.7 cells at concentrations ranging from 10 to 200 μM to evaluate the biological significance of biotransformation.

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry based metabolic profiling for the identification of discrimination markers of Angelicae Radix and its application to gas chromatography-flame ionization detector system

Gas chromatography (GC)-based metabolomics technologies were applied for quality control of Angelicae Radix, an herbal medicine commonly used in Japan and China. Since Angelica roots are priced and graded differently based on their species and cultivation area, there is a need for a simple and reproducible method to discriminate Angelica roots. Here, we used GC-MS profiling data to construct a discrimination method for species and cultivation area of A. Radix. Seventy-six primary metabolites were identified. The quality factors of A. Radix were successfully classified using metabolic profiling and the orthogonal projections to latent structures-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) technique. Sorbitol and a glucose/4-aminobutyric acid combination were chosen as bio-markers from S-plot of OPLS-DA. Application of these selected bio-markers to a more practical and cost-efficient system, namely gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC-FID) system were also assessed. As a result, the same separations of sorbitol, glucose and 4-aminobutyric acid in box plots were obtained from GC-FID data. Our results demonstrate that GC-based metabolic markers can be readily applied for the establishment of a practical quality control method for A. Radix.

[Physiological and biochemical changes of angelica seeds during storage with different moisture contents]

OBJECTIVE

To study the physiological and biochemical changes during storage of angelica seeds with different moisture contents.

METHOD

The dynamic changes of percentage and index of seeds germination, relative conductivity, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, contents of soluble sugar and protein were determined at an interval of every two months.

RESULT

Under the conditions stored in sealed paper cups at 15 degrees C for 10 months, the germination percentage of angelica seeds with 2.85% of moisture content was kept above 85%. With moisture content reducing, the increase rate of relative conductivity decreased, the down trend of SOD activity and protein content were weakened, and soluble sugar content kept stable.

CONCLUSION

In cool conditions, a modest low moisture content of seeds can be beneficial to prolong the longevity of angelica seeds, while high moisture content will accelerate the deterioration process of the seeds.

[Dynamic research of growth, N, P, K and active ingredients in Angelica dahurica var. formosana from Sichuan province]

OBJECTIVE

To study the absorption and transformation of N, P, K and plant growth as well as the accumulation of active ingredients in Angelica dahurica var. formosana from Sichuan province and provide basis for rational fertilization.

METHOD

Samples were collected in different growth phrases, and correlative morphological indexes, the contents and accumulations of N, P, K and active ingredients were determined.

RESULT

The vegetative growth period of A. dahurica var. formosana sowed in autumn could be preliminarily divided into three phases: seedling period, aerial-part peak growth period and root peak growth period. With the development, the plant height and aerial part dry weight increased at the earlier stage, and then decreased. But the root length, root diameter, and root dry weight increased. The absorptive capacity of N, P and K varied among different developing stages. In general, the absorptive capacity of N and K was the higher than that of P. The order of total nutrition accumulation was N > P > K, the accumulation of N, P and K in aerial part decreased gradually during the growth period, while the accumulation of N, P and K in root increased gradually. The concentration of imperatorin and isoimperatorin showed decreasing-increasing-decreasing-increasing trend, while the accumulation of them increased gradually. And the correlation analysis results showed that the accumulation of P and K in aerial part had positive correlation with the concentration of imperatorin in root, the accumulation of N, P and K in root had positive correlation with the concentration of isoimperatorin in root.

CONCLUSION

From late April, A. dahurica var. formosana from Sichuan province entered root peak growth period and the accumulation of N, P, K, imperatorin and isoimperatorin in root increased rapidly. So the balanced application of fertilizer should be considered.

Biotransformation of plant secondary metabolite decursin by Mycobacterium sp. PYR1001

Decursin and its structural isomer decursinol angelate are major secondary metabolites in the root of Angelica gigas Nakai which possess several chemotherapeutic properties. We isolated bacteria capable of transforming decursin and determined metabolites and biotransformation kinetics. Decursinol angelate was not metabolized to any significant extent. Resting cells of Mycobacterium sp. PYR1001 were able to transform decursin. After 24 h incubation, 5 mM of decursin was completely transformed to a metabolite, the structure of which was determined by NMR and mass spectral analyses to be decursinol. This conversion was shown to be catalyzed by an esterase activity, and the activity was found to be specific for decursin. These results suggest that strain PYR1001 can be successfully used to transform decursin for the production of decursinol, a compound known to have cancer chemopreventive activity.

Characterization of a cDNA coding for an extracellular calmodulin-binding protein from suspension-cultured cells of Angelica dahurica

In order to characterize a specific extracellular 21-kDa calmodulin-binding protein (named: ECBP21) from Angelica dahurica L. suspension-cultured cells, the cDNA coding for the protein has been cloned. Here, Southern blot analysis shows that there are at least two copies of ECBP21 gene in Angelica genome. Using truncated versions of ECBP21 and synthetic peptide in CaM binding assays, we mapped the calmodulin-binding domain to a 16-amino acid stretch (residues 200-215) at the C-terminal region. The ECBP21 was localized in the cell wall area by the immunogold electron microscopy and by GFP labeling method. These results define ECBP21 as a kind of an extracellular calmodulin-binding protein (CaMBP). Furthermore, using Northern blot analysis, we examined the expression dynamics of ecbp21 during the incubation of Angelica suspension-cultured cells and the treatments with some growth regulators. The above studies further provide the molecular evidence for the existence of the gene coding for extracellular CaMBPs and imply a possible role for ECBP21.

The effects of Chinese herb Angelica in focal cerebral ischemia injury in the rat

This experiment was designed to study the therapeutic mechanisms of Angelica on the focal cerebral ischemia injury of the rat. The ischemic area was determined by TTC stain. And terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TDT) mediated DUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) method was applied to detect neuronal apoptosis. The expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins were observed by immunohistochemical staining methods. Results show that the treatment with angelica reduced the volume of cerebral infarction (p < 0.05), and that the number of neuronal apoptosis cells decreased significantly (p < 0.01). Also the expression level of Bax protein decreased (p < 0.01). These results suggest that Angelica can reduce the number of apoptosis cells by decreasing the expression of Bax protein. This is maybe one of the mechanisms of the therapeutic effect of Angelica on focal cerebral ischemia injury.