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The 1 H NMR-guided fractionation of a cyclohexane soluble portion of the 75% ethanolic extract of the roots of Angelica dahurica cv. Hangbaizhi led to the isolation of two coumarins, namely, 5-(3″-hydroxy-3″-methylbutyl)-8-hydroxyfuranocoumarin, and isobyakangelicin hydrate-3″-ethyl ether, and ten coumarins with short- or long-chain hydrophobic groups, namely, andafocoumarins A–J. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analyses. The absolute configurations of the C-2″ secondary alcohols in ten of these compounds were deduced via the circular dichroism data of the in situ formed [Rh 2 (OCOCF 3 ) 4 ] complex, and oxidation reactions were utilized to determine location of the double bonds in the lipid chain of andafocoumarins H and I, respectively. The long-chain hydrophobic group of andafocoumarin J was determined by the method of chemical degradation and GC–MS analysis. It was the first time that coumarins with short- or long-chain hydrophobic groups in this plant had been comprehensively investigated. All isolates were assayed for their inhibitory effect against nitric oxide (NO) production in a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated RAW264.7 macrophage cell line, among which andafocoumarins A and B exhibited a potent inhibition on LPS-activated NO production with IC 50 values of 19.7 and 13.9 μM, respectively, indicating their stronger inhibitory activity than l -N 6 -(1-iminoethyl)-lysine (IC 50 = 23.7 μM), a selective inhibitor of inducible nitric oxide synthase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Angelicae Dahuricae Radix has been used for the treatment of headaches, rhinitis, and colds in traditional medicine. Methanol, ethanol, and water extracts of Angelicae Dahuricae Radix were collected. A statistically significant reduction in the cellular viability of the mouse leukemic monocyte macrophage cell line was noted after treatment with water extracts of Angelicae Dahuricae Radix. Stimulation with lipopolysaccharides (LPS) for 24 h led to a robust increase in nitric oxide production, but Angelicae Dahuricae Radix at 400 μg/mL concentration significantly suppressed nitric oxide produced by the LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells in 70% ethanol, absolute ethanol, 70% methanol, absolute methanol, and boiling water groups (P < 0.05). Pretreatment with absolute ethanol extract of Angelicae Dahuricae Radix suppressed the LPS-stimulated inducible nitric oxide synthase, interleukin-1β, and cycloxygenase-2 expression. Angelicae Dahuricae Radix showed significant cytotoxic effects on the human adenocarcinoma cell line and keratin-forming cell line. (J Oral Sci 58, 125-131, 2016). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims Acne is a common skin disease that originates in the sebaceous gland. The pathogenesis of acne is very complex, involving the increase of sebum production and perifollicular inflammation. In this study, we screened the anti-lipogenic material and demonstrated its effect using cultured human sebocytes. Main methods Normal human sebocytes were cultured by explanting the sebaceous glands. To evaluate the anti-lipogenic effect, sebocytes were treated with test materials and 14 C-acetate incorporation assay was performed. Key findings To screen the anti-lipogenic materials, we tested the effect of many herbal plant extracts. We found that Angelica dahurica extract inhibited the insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1)-induced sebum production in terms of squalene synthesis in sebocytes. Furthermore, imperatorin isolated from A. dahurica showed remarkable inhibitory effect on squalene production as well as squalene synthase promoter activity. To investigate the putative action mechanism, we tested the effect of imperatorin on intracellular signaling. The results showed that imperatorin inhibited IGF-1-induced phosphorylation of Akt. In addition, imperatorin significantly down-regulated PPAR-γ and SREBP-1, the important transcription factors for lipid synthesis. Significance These results suggest that imperatorin has a potential for reducing sebum production in sebocytes, and can be applicable for acne treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A combination of extracts from chamomile, silverweed, licorice, angelica, blessed thistle and wormwood, Gastritol(®) Liquid, is registered for the use of indigestion and gastrointestinal spasmodic complaints. To gain data on the experience in practice, a non-interventional open study was conducted in ambulatory patients including diabetics which were treated for 2 weeks. The efficacy of treatment was assessed by medical examination and evaluation of typical symptoms by patients. A total of 149 patients was enrolled, 90 without and 59 with diabetes. The treatment led to relevant improvements in all symptoms in both study groups. The most notable improvements were seen for the symptoms vomiting (-66.7%; diabetics: -63.9%) and retching (-52.2%; diabetics: -53.6%). An overall improvement was rated by about 90% in both study groups. In seven patients adverse events had been reported (5 times temporary nausea after intake, one time gastric spasm and one time oral burning sensation), all of them of mild nature. The global tolerability was assessed as good or very good in more than 80% by practitioners and patients. Under the conditions of this open study method Gastritol(®) Liquid had been shown to be safe and effective in the treatment of mild gastrointestinal disorders, including diabetic patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radix Angelicae dahuricae is a well-known medicinal herb in a number of herb preparations for medical uses. In this study, a rapid and selective method using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry was developed for the separation and simultaneous quantitation of nine furanocoumarins from Radix A. dahuricae, namely imperatorin, isoimperatorin, oxypeucedanin hydrate, bergapten, oxypeucedanin, xanthotoxol, xanthotoxin, isopimpinellin, and psoralen. Chromatographic separation was achieved on a CAPCELL PAKMG II C18 analytical column. Detection was performed using positive electrospray ion source in the multiple reactionmonitoring mode. The method was fully validated for analyzing these principles in rat plasma with a lower limit of quantification from 0.5 to 5 ng/mL. The intra- and interbatch precisions were less than 10%, and the accuracies ranged from -7.5 to 8.0%. The extraction recovery of the analytes was above 70% without a significant matrix effect. The method was used to determine the oral and intravenous pharmacokinetic profiles of these furanocoumarins after dosing with Radix A. dahurica extract. The bioavailability of these furanocoumarins ranged from 10.1 to 82.8%. These data provide critical information for a better understanding of the pharmacological mechanisms and herb-drug interaction potential of Radix A. dahurica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to investigate the additive or synergistic effects and mechanism of intestinal absorption of extracts from two commonly used 'dispelling-wind' TCM botanical drugs [roots of Angelica dahurica (Hoffm.) Benth. & Hook. f. ex Franch. & Sav. (RAD) and Saposhnikovia divaricata (Turcz.) Schischk. (RSD)] using chlorogenic acid as a marker substance. Ex vivo everted intestinal sac and in situ single pass perfusion methods using rats were employed to investigate the effects of two TCM botanical drugs extracts on the intestinal absorption of chlorogenic acid. Both the extracts of RAD and RSD showed synergistic properties on the intestinal absorption of chlorogenic acid. The verapamil (a P-gp inhibitor) and intestinal dysbacteriosis model induced by norfloxacin increased the P(app) and K(a) of intestinal absorption of chlorogenic acid. These synergistic effects on intestinal absorption in a rat model can be correlated with the inhibition of P-gp and regulation of gut microbiota. This experimental approach has helped to better understand changes in the absorption of chlorogenic acid under different conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, the resources of medicinal plants have been exhausting. The root of Angelica acutiloba is one of the most important ingredients in Japanese Kampo medicine for the treatment of gynecological diseases. In our search for alternative medicinal plant resources of the root of A. acutiloba, we found that its aerial part has the anti-inflammatory potency as well as the root. Phytochemical investigation of the aerial part resulted in the isolation of four compounds including a new dimeric phthalide, namely tokiaerialide (2), along with Z-ligustilide (1), falcarindiol (3), and bergaptol (4). Next, we investigated the in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of 1-4 in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264 macrophages. Among the isolated compounds, 1 exhibited the most potent inhibition against lipopolysaccharide-induced production of prostaglandin E2 , nitric oxide, and pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α). Compounds 3 and 4 also inhibited all inflammatory mediators, but their inhibitory abilities were weaker than those of 1. Furthermore, 1, 3, and 4 strongly also induced heme oxygenase-1. These results suggest that 1, 3, and 4 potentially exert anti-inflammatory activity, and the aerial part of A. acutiloba may be considered to be a useful medicinal resource for inflammatory diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decursin, purified from Angelica gigas Nakai, has been proven to exert neuroprotective property. Previous study revealed decursin protected the PC12 cells from Aβ-induced oxidative cytotoxicity. The present study aimed to investigate whether decursin could protect PC12 cells from apoptosis caused by Aβ. Our results indicated that pretreatment of PC12 cells with decursin significantly inhibited Aβ-induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis. The mechanism of action is likely to reverse Aβ-induced mitochondrial dysfunction, including the reduction of mitochondrial membrane potential, the inhibition of reactive oxygen species production, and the decrease of mitochondrial release of cytochrome c in PC12 cells. In addition, decursin significantly suppressed the activity of caspase-3 and moderated the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax induced by Aβ. These findings indicate that decursin exerts a neuroprotective effect against Aβ-induced neurotoxicity in PC12 cells, at least in part, via suppressing the mitochondrial pathway of cellular apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a well-known traditional medicine, Angelica gigas (AG) and its active constituents, including decursin and decursinol, have been shown to possess several health beneficial properties such as anti-bacterial, immunostimulating, anti-tumor, neuroprotective, anti-nociceptive and anti-amnestic activities. However, there is lack of toxicity studies to assess potential toxicological concerns, especially long-term toxicity and genotoxicity, regarding the AG extract. Therefore, the safety of AG extract was assessed in subchronic toxicity and genotoxicity assays in accordance with the test guidelines published by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. In a subchronic toxicity study for 13 weeks (125, 250, 500, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg body weight, delivered by gavage), data revealed no significant adverse effects of the AG extract in food consumption, body weight, mortality, hematology, biochemistry, necropsy, organ weight and histopathology throughout the study in male and female rats. These results suggest that no observed adverse effect level of the AG extract administered orally was determined to be greater than 2000 mg/kg/day, the highest dose tested. In addition, a battery of tests including Ames test, in vitro chromosome aberration assay and in vivo micronucleus assay suggested that the AG extract was not genotoxic. In conclusion, the AG extract appears to be safe as a traditional medicine for oral consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oral solid formulations based on Angelica gigas Nakai (AGN) and Soluplus were prepared by the hot-melting extrusion (HME) method. AGN was pulverized into coarse and ultrafine particles, and their particle size and morphology were investigated. Ultrafine AGN particles were used in the HME process with high shear to produce AGN-based formulations. In simulated gastrointestinal fluids (pH 1.2 and pH 6.8) and water, significantly higher amounts of the major active components of AGN, decursin (D) and decursinol angelate (DA), were extracted from the HME-processed AGN/Soluplus (F8) group than the AGN EtOH extract (ext) group (p < 0.05). Based on an in vivo pharmacokinetic study in rats, the relative oral bioavailability of decursinol (DOH), a hepatic metabolite of D and DA, in F8-administered mice was 8.75-fold higher than in AGN EtOH ext-treated group. In scopolamine-induced memory-impaired mice, F8 exhibited a more potent cognitive enhancing effect than AGN EtOH ext in both a Morris water maze test and a passive avoidance test. These findings suggest that HME-processed AGN/Soluplus formulation (F8) could be a promising therapeutic candidate for memory impairment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Co-administration of Angelicae gigantis radix (AGR) and Lithospermi radix (LR) has been commonly applied to patients to treat cardiac and hepatic disorders. Individual bioactivities of these herbal medicines have been widely investigated, but the hepatoprotective effects of co-treatment of AGR and LR have yet to be clarified. Objective: The present study investigated the protective effects of extracts of AGR and LR on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced hepatic injury. Materials and Methods: In this study, we measured the hepatoprotective activity of individual and co-treatment of the two herbal medicines on hepatic injury induced by CCl4 by measuring different biochemical parameters such as serum aspartate aminotransaminase (AST) and serum alanine aminotransaminase (ALT). Microarray technology also used to compare ontological difference with individual and co-treatment of these two. Results: Combined treatment with AGR and LR (AGR + LR) decreased AST and ALT level in serum which demonstrate hepatoprotective effect of the therapy. When the effect of AGR and LR according to treatment conditions was measured, co-treatment showed the most prominent effect on hepatic injury by CCl4 rather than individual treatment condition. We further defined gene set that could be the molecular target of herbal effect on hepatic injury by CCl4 using bioinformatical analysis of interaction network. Highly recovered genes by treating AGR + LR play significant roles in response to hepatic injury induced by CCl4. Conclusion: Combined treatment with AGR and LR showed synergistic protective effects on the CCl4-induced rat hepatic tissue injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DNA barcodes have been increasingly used in authentication of medicinal plants, while their wide application in materia medica is limited in their accuracy due to incomplete sampling of species and absence of identification for materia medica. In this study, 95 leaf accessions of 23 species (including one variety) and materia medica of three Pharmacopoeia-recorded species of Angelica in China were collected to evaluate the effectiveness of four DNA barcodes ( rbcL, matK, trnH-psbA and ITS). Our results showed that ITS provided the best discriminatory power by resolving 17 species as monophyletic lineages without shared alleles and exhibited the largest barcoding gap among the four single barcodes. The phylogenetic analysis of ITS showed that Levisticum officinale and Angelica sinensis were sister taxa, which indicates that L. officinale should be considered as a species of Angelica. The combination of ITS + rbcL + matK + trnH-psbA performed slight better discriminatory power than ITS, recovering 23 species without shared alleles and 19 species as monophyletic clades in ML tree. Authentication of materia medica using ITS revealed that the decoction pieces of A. sinensis and A. biserrata were partially adulterated with those of L. officinale, and the temperature around 80 °C processing A. dahurica decoction pieces obviously reduced the efficiency of PCR and sequencing. The examination of two cultivated varieties of A. dahurica from different localities indicated that the four DNA barcodes are inefficient for discriminating geographical authenticity of conspecific materia medica. This study provides an empirical paradigm in identification of medicinal plants and their materia medica using DNA barcodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radix Angelica sinensis (Danggui, DG), derived from the dry root of Angelicae sinensis , is popularly used for its antioxidant, hematinic and immuno-enhancement. However, DG from different origins possess different quality, and difficult to identity. In this study, we used electronic nose technique to investigate DG from different producing areas for monitoring the correlation of origin and quality. The electronic nose was employed to establish classification model of DG originated from four main producing areas of Gansu, Yunnan, Sichuan and Hubei in China. Principal component analysis (PCA) and discriminant function analysis (DFA) were performed to differentiate DG samples from four main producing areas. The content of phthalides of DG were determined to confirm the quality changes and investigate its correlation with the odor response values by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS). The results of PCA and DFA analysis showed that the electronic nose could accurately distinguish DG from four main producing areas. The method of electronic nose for identification could be verified by GC-MS technology, and the main ingredient content was consistent with its odor of DG. In conclusion, electronic nose could effectively identify different origins of DG, and could be applied for rapid identification and quality control of genuine Angelica herbs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid and efficient identification of the geographical origin of Angelica gigas roots (dang-gui) was performed using DART-TOF-MS (direct analysis in real time-time of flight-mass spectrometry) based metabolomics. As an ambient desorption/ionization technique, DART-TOF-MS can provide soft ionization and rapid analysis of samples with little sample preparation so it has been advantageously applied to high-throughput metabolomics analysis. In order to develop an efficient tool for discriminating, particularly geographical origin of raw herbal medicine, we employed DART-TOF-MS fingerprinting on dang-gui from Korean and Chinese markets. Principal component analysis of DART-TOF-MS fingerprints gave distinctive clustering information among two species of A. gigas and A. sinensis so that we used only A. gigas species for the sequential experiment. Orthogonal projections to latent structures-discriminant analysis of A. gigas samples revealed the separation between samples cultivated in two countries. Major discriminating components were elucidated as decursin/decursinol angelate, unidentified molecular ion of m/z 247 (protonated ions of molecular formula of CHO) and another molecular ion of m/z 432. DART-TOF-MS based chemical fingerprinting with the multivariate analysis of dang-gui was shown to be efficient and accurate way to identify its geographical origin, between Korea and China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the effects of polysaccharide from Angelica and Astragalus (AAP) on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced liver damage in mice. A total of 120 Kunming mice were randomly distributed among 6 groups comprising ( i) the normal control mice, ( ii) the CCl4 treatment group, ( iii) the bifendate treatment group, ( iv) the AAP treatment group, ( v) the Angelica sinensis polysaccharide (ASP) treatment group, and ( vi) the Astragalus membranaceus polysaccharide (AMP) treatment group. AAP, ASP and AMP were administered to mice treated with CCl4. The activities of alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) in the serum, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the liver tissues were quantified, as well as the liver index. Hepatic histological changes were observed by staining liver sections with hematoxylin and eosin. Our results show that bifendate, AAP, ASP, and AMP significantly decreased the activities of MDA, AST, and ALT, and enhanced the activity of SOD in CCl4-treated mice. Bifendate, AAP, ASP, and AMP consistently ameliorated the liver injuries induced with CCl4. Notably, the hepatoprotective effect of AAP was stronger than that of bifendate, ASP, or AMP. In addition, AAP alleviated liver inflammation and decreased the liver indexes of mice induced with CCl4. These effects were at least partly due to the antioxidant properties of AAP in scavenging free radicals to ameliorate oxidative stress and to inhibit lipid peroxidation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emulsion or foam templating applied in the preparation of porous materials have been widely studied. As the enhancement of the green and environmental protection awareness in preparation process, the stabilization of the emulsion or foam with the natural matter has been attracted extensive attention. In this work, a high stable Pickering water-based foams was stabilized by the natural plant Angelica sinensis, and a novel porous material of Polyacrylic acid-Angelica sinensis (PAA-AS) was fabricated from the Pickering foam via a thermally-initiated polymerization. Duo to the amphiphilic organic molecules was rich in AS, such as phenolic acids, saponins, etc., the water-based foam can be stabilized by the AS particles alone. The as-prepared porous materials had sufficient pore structure, and the pore size could be controlled by changing the dosage of AS. PAA-AS was applied to remove heavy metal ions from water, and the adsorption capacities for Cd2+ and Cu2+ could be reached to 372.74 mg/g and 186.83 mg/g, respectively. In brief, this research provided a new approach to prepare environmentally friendly porous materials, and the materials has the applications potential in water treatment. [Display omitted] • Novel aqueous Pickering foam stabilized with the natural plant particles solely was prepared conveniently. • The foam was stabilized with the leached organic small molecule and AS particles synergistically. • The polymeric materials with sufficient porous structure were obtained from the Pickering foam. • The porous materials had the excellent adsorption capacities for Cd2+ and Cu2+. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dioscorea bulbifera L., a traditionally used medicinal plant in China, is reported to induce hepatotoxicity. The present study is designed to investigate the protection of an ethanol extract of Angelica sinensis (Oliv) Diels (AE) against an ethyl acetate fraction of D. bulbifera (EF)-induced liver injury and its engaged mechanism. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis showed that the amount of diosbulbin B in EF was 16.03% and ferulic acid in AE was 0.18%. EF (350 mg/kg) increased serum alanine/ aspartate aminotransferase (ALT/AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities and total bilirubin (TB) amount, while AE inhibited such an increase. Liver histological evaluation showed that AE prevented development of severe hepatic lesions induced by EF. Further results showed that EF decreased the expression of Bcl-2 and induced the cleaved activation of caspase-9 and -3, and all those effects were reversed by AE. AE also reversed EF-induced decreased expression of the inhibitor of kappa B (IκB), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Taken together, our results demonstrate that AE can prevent EF-induced hepatotoxicity via preventing apoptosis, meanwhile IκB, SOD, and GPx may be involved in such protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the effect of Ermiao Recipe (二妙方, EMR) with medicinal guide Angelicae Pubescentis Radix (APR) on the homing of bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) to focal zone in osteoarthritis (OA) rats. Methods: Forty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to the sham-operated, model, EMR, and EMR plus APR groups (12 rats in each group). The OA rat model was induced by anterior cruciate ligament transection and medial meniscus resection. All rats were injected with recombinant human granulocyte colonystimulating factor [rhG-CSF, 30 μg/(kg·d) for continuous 7 days], and rats in the EMR and EMR plus APR groups were treated with EMR or EMR plus APR at 1.6 or 1.9 g/(kg·d) for 3 or 6 weeks, respectively. Cartilage histopathologic changes were observed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Chondrocytes apoptosis and cartilage matrix components were tested by transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate-biotin nick end labeling assay and special staining. Interleukin-1β (IL-1 β), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2), and transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β) in serum were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay or radioimmunoassay assay. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-13, tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1, bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU), cluster of differentiation 34 (CD34), and stromal cell derived factor 1 (SDF-1) were measured by immunohistochemistry assay. Results: EMR and EMR plus APR significantly inhibited articular cartilage damage and synovium inflammation in OA rats at 3 or 6 weeks of treatment, the most obvious changes in these parameters were found in the EMR plus APR group. At 6 weeks, compared with EMR treatment, EMR plus APR remarkably inhibited chondrocytes apoptosis and the release of IL-1β and TNF-α, obviously decreased MMP-13 expression, and significantly increased expressions of proteoglycan, collagen, type II collagen and TIMP-1, serum levels of BMP-2 and TGF-β as well as expressions of BrdU, CD34 and SDF-1 in cartilage articular ( P<0.01 or P<0.05). Conclusion: The medicinal guide APR improved the therapeutic effects of EMR on OA rats by promoting directional homing of BMSCs to focal zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Imperatorin is a small molecule nature compound isolated from the root of Angelica dahurica, and has been shown to exhibit multiple bioeffector functions, including anti-cancer activity. However, the molecular mechanism underlying imperatorin in suppression of tumor growth is unknown. In this study, we aimed at elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying imperatorin function and determining the efficacy of imperatorin in suppression of drug-resistant human liver cancer. We observed that imperatorin suppresses tumor cell growth through inducing apoptosis, and imperatorin is more effective in induction of multidrug-resistant human liver cancer cells in vitro. We further determined that imperatorin induces apoptosis through both extrinsic and intrinsic apoptosis pathway. At the molecular level, we identified Mcl-1 as the molecular target of imperatorin and determined that imperatorin induces protesome-dependent Mcl-1 degradation to release Bak and Bax to trigger apoptosis in liver cancer cells. Consistent with its in vitro apoptosis induction activity, imperatorin exhibited potent activity against multidrug-resistant liver cancer xenograft growth in vivo. Taken together, we determined that imperatorin is a Mcl-1 degradation inducer that can effectively suppress multidrug-resistant human liver cancer growth in vivo, and thus holds great promise for development as an effective small molecule anti-cancer agent in human liver cancer therapy to overcome drug resistance. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] This study present the quantitative analysis of phenolic metabolites in A. keiskei. [•] Major component of in stems, chalcones also present abundantly in root barks. [•] The final output was to find that xanthine oxidase was inhibited by chalcones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Angelica dahurica ( Umbelliferae) is widely used as a herbal ingredient in functional foods and folk medicine. This study was designed to examine the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative activities of water and ethanol extracts of A. dahurica ( AD) root. Antioxidant properties of AD root extracts were studied using methods, including 2′-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl ( DPPH), 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) ( ABTS) and hydroxide radical-scavenging activity at a dose of 0.12-2.0 mg/mL. The IC50 values for DPPH and ABTS radical-scavenging activity were 0.32 and 0.20 mg/mL, respectively, for water extract and 0.24 and 0.13 mg/mL, respectively, for ethanol extract. Lipid peroxidation was also determined as an indicator of oxidative stress. The extracts also showed strong reducing power, superoxide dismutase activity, catalase activity and DNA damage prevention. AD root extracts inhibited the production of nitric oxide in a dose-dependent manner in lipopolysaccharide-treated RAW264.7 cells. The water and ethanol extracts of AD root also showed significant antiproliferative activity against HT-29 and CMT-93 cell lines. Practical Applications In this study, the biological potentials of different extracts from Angelica dahurica roots (water and ethanol extracts) were evaluated. The roots could be useful as antioxidants and for treatment of chronic inflammatory pathologies associated with overproduction of nitric oxide. The results suggest that A. dahurica contains excellent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative properties that can provide opportunities for application of A. dahurica root extracts in areas such as food, pharmacy, alternative medicine and natural therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] The photo-cytotoxic, -mutagenic, and -clastogenic properties in V79 cells of thirteen furocoumarins (FCs), were analyzed. [•] Nine FC mixtures including one mixture ‘representing’ FCs in Angelica archangelica extract were tested. [•] The concept of relative potency factors for photo-cytotoxicity, -mutagenicity, and -clastogenicity was applicable to all congeners. [•] The concept was applied successfully to binary mixtures of 5- and 8-methoxypsoralen and to complex FC mixtures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Furanocoumarin imperatorin is a major active component of Angelica dahurica root extracts exhibiting analgesic properties. Results: Imperatorin inhibited formalin- and capsaicin-induced nocifensive responses, facilitated TRPV1 desensitization, and sensitized TRPV1 to acid activation. Conclusion: Furanocoumarins represent a novel class of TRPV1 partial agonists exhibiting analgesic potential. Significance: Imperatorin is a lead compound for drug discovery aimed at developing new analgesics. Furanocoumarin imperatorin is the major active component of Angelica dahurica root extracts, widely used in traditional medicine to treat headache, toothache, and orbital eye pain. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms that may underlie the pain-relieving effects of the compound. We found that imperatorin significantly inhibited formalin- and capsaicin-induced nocifensive responses but did not alter baseline thermal withdrawal thresholds in the rat. We established that imperatorin is a weak agonist of TRPV1, a channel implicated in detecting several noxious stimuli, exhibiting a 50% effective concentration (EC50) of 12.6 ± 3.2 μM. A specific TRPV1 antagonist, JNJ-17203212 (0.5μM), potently inhibited imperatorin-induced TRPV1 activation. Site-directed mutagenesis studies revealed that imperatorin most likely acted via a site adjacent to or overlapping with the TRPV1 capsaicin-binding site. TRPV1 recovery from desensitization was delayed in the presence of imperatorin. Conversely, imperatorin sensitized TRPV1 to acid activation but did not affect the current amplitude and/or the activation-inactivation properties of Na╟1.7, a channel important for transmission of nociceptive information. Thus, our data indicate that furanocoumarins represent a novel group of TRPV1 modulators that may become important lead compounds in the drug discovery process aimed at developing new treatments for pain management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical change during boiling of herbal mixture is a puzzle. By using Danggui Buxue Tang (DBT), a herbal decoction that contains Astragali Radix (AR) and Angelicae Sinensis Radix (ASR), we developed a model in analyzing the hydrolysis of flavonoid glycosides during the boiling of herbalmixture in water. A proper preparation of DBT is of great benefit to the complete extraction of bioactive ingredients. Boiling of DBT in water increased the solubility of AR-derived astragaloside IV, calycosin, formononetin, calycosin- 7-O-β-D-glucoside, and ononin in a time- and temperature-dependent manner: the amounts of these chemicals reached a peak at 2 h. The glycosidic resides of AR, calycosin-7-O-β-D-glucoside, and ononin could be hydrolyzed during the moderate boiling process to form calycosin and formononetin, respectively. The hydrolysis efficiency was strongly affected by pH, temperature, and amount of herbs. Interestingly, the preheated herbs were not able to show this hydrolytic activity. The current results supported the rationality of ancient preparation of DBT in boiling water by moderate heat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. The purpose of this study is to determine the antifungal and antioxidant activities of the essential oil from Angelica koreana. Methods. Essential oil was obtained from the dried roots of A. koreana by steam distillation, and its composition was identified by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the oil fraction and its main components were determined by broth dilution assay using common pathogenic Aspergillus and Trichophyton species. The combined effects of the oils with itraconazole were evaluated using a checkerboard titer test. In addition, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazil (DPPH) free radical scavenging, nitrite inhibition, and reducing power were determined to assess the antioxidant activity of this oil. Results. The essential oil fraction and its main components showed inhibitory activity against all of the tested fungi, with minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 250-1000 μg/mL. Furthermore, this oil exhibited synergism when combined with itraconazole. Conclusion. In the treatment of infections caused by Aspergillus and Trichophyton species, combining itraconazole with either A. koreana essential oil or its main components may reduce the minimum effective dose of itraconazole required and, thus, minimize its side effects. In addition, this oil is a promising source of natural antioxidant agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: High hydrostatic pressure (HHP) is an effective nonthermal food processing method for microbial inactivation with minimal change to sensory and nutritional values. However, the resistance of endospores to high pressure hinders application of HHP to freshly squeezed vegetable juice, especially from leafy vegetables that are susceptible to contamination of soil bacteria, such as endospore-forming Bacillus cereus. A combination of TiO2–UV photocatalysis and HHP was used in the processing of freshly squeezed Angelica keiskei juice, and inactivation of naturally occurring microbes, especially B. cereus, was investigated. Yeasts and molds, coliform bacteria, and Pseudomonas were inactivated by HHP to levels below the detection limit, but B. cereus survived HHP and grew during 8 days of subsequent refrigerated storage (4 °C). However, no colonies of yeasts and molds, coliform bacteria, Pseudomonas, or B. cereus were detected in A. keiskei juice after processing with a combination of TiO2–UV photocatalysis and HHP. Although B. cereus in juice processed with the combination treatment recovered and grew to 2.02 log CFU/mL on day 6 of storage, this level was less than the population of B. cereus in unprocessed Angelica keiskei juice immediately after squeezing. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The effects of the plant growth promoter gibberellic acid (GA3) and plant growth retardant chlormequat chloride (CCC) on biomass and quality of Angelica dahurica var. formosana plants were investigated employing physiological and biochemical methods. Plants were sprayed with GA3 or CCC at rosette stage and coumarin content was analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) after harvest. Two coumarins in root were detected: isoimperatorin and imperatorin. The root content of imperatorin was not affected by application either GA3 or CCC, while isoimperatorin was increased to 127% after treatment with CCC (400 mg L-1). The lowest concentrations of GA3 (50 mg L-1) and CCC (400 mg L-1) increased root yield to 157 and 139%, respectively. We note here that GA3 and CCC might be used in improving the yield of A. dahurica var. formosana and maintaining the coumarin content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] The extract from Angelica archangelica against Acyrthosiphon pisum. [•] No significant negative effect of the extract on Harmonia axyridis. [•] Furanocoumarins as active ingredients of botanical insecticides. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Angelicae Sinensis radix (ASR) and Chuanxiong Rhizoma (CR) are two commonly used herbs with different blood-related bioactivities for tonic and medicinal purpose, respectively. However, current available scientific evidences indicate that they share similar chemical profiles in which volatile components are the majority. In order to figure out the decisive chemical differences and then establish their individual quality control methods, comprehensive comparison on chemical ingredients between ASR and CR was carried out in this study. First, volatile components between ASR and CR were determined and compared by GC–MS (gas chromatography–mass spectrometry). Then, carbohydrates and polysaccharides in ASR and CR were qualitatively and quantitatively characterized using HPGPC (high performance gel permeation chromatography) and HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography). Furthermore, these components in different botanical parts and processed products of ASR were also investigated. The results not only confirmed that ASR and CR contain similar profiles of volatile components, but also suggested that the volatile components might not be the nutrient ingredients of ASR and that the polysaccharides make the real differences between ASR and CR. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article discusses the effectiveness of important herbal formulas from Chinese medicine including rokumijiogan, gingyo-san, and sansounin-tö that can be helpful in Western medicine. It mentions that rokumijiogan containing carcinogenic unsaturated pyrrolizidine alkaloids can be helpful for patients having chronic renal diseases. It reveals that gingyo-san can be effective for treating acute viral bronchitis disorders.

Angelica gigas Nakai and its components are known to have neuroprotective, antiplatelet, and anticancer activities. The present study evaluated the in vitro and in vivo biopharmaceutical characterization of Angelica gigas component substances, including decursin (the main substance), decursinol angelate (decursin isomer), JH714 (ether form of decursin) and epoxide decursin (epoxide form of decursin). Decursin, decursinol angelate and JH714 exhibited acceptable metabolic stability (>50%) in liver microsomes from human and higher bound fraction (>90%) in human plasma operating ultrafiltration. Decursin and decursinol angelate in CYP1A2 and CYP2C19 indicated less than 50% CYP activity, suggesting inhibition of the CYP isoforms using Vivid® CYP screening kit. JH714 only showed an apparent permeability coefficient of <10 × 10−6 cm/s in MDCK cells, suggesting that it is poorly absorbed. Blood brain barrier permeability was examined after oral administration to male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, and pharmacokinetic studies were performed after oral and intravenous administration of 10 mg/kg compounds. Decursin, decursinol angelate and JH714 showed ratios of compound concentration in brain with respect to plasma (Cbrain/Cplasma) of >1.5, suggesting good brain/plasma ratio at 0.5, 1, 3, and 5 h. In contrast, Cbrain/Cplasma was <0.5 for epoxide decursin. For all test compounds, >1.5% of the dose remained in GI tract after 8 h, and the excretion rate in urine was <0.5% which suggests that gastro intestinal tract may be major site of disposition following oral administration. Finally, these results may be useful for the design of dosage regimens of decursin and its derivatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Three selenizing Chinese angelica polysaccharide, sCAP2, sCAP6 and sCAP8, were prepared. [•] Three sCAPs’ immune-enhancing activities were compared taking non-modified CAP as control. [•] Selenylation modification could significantly raise CAP's immune-enhancing activity. [•] sCAP2 presented best effect and would be as a component drug of new-type immunoenhancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Angelica dahurica is an important Chinese herbal medicine plant, and its rhizome is of high medicinal value. In recent years, a severe decline in yield has been observed in Bozhou City ( China's largest A. dahurica producing area), Anhui province, China. It showed symptoms of decline, stunting, yellowing and many galls in the roots, which was the characterization of infestation by root-knot nematodes. A survey of root-knot nematodes on its roots was conducted in this area from June to September, 2011. Based on our results, the nematode species on A. dahurica was identified as Meloidogyne arenaria by the morphological, biochemical and molecular methods. To our knowledge, this is the first report of M. arenaria on A. dahurica in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Angelica dahurica is used in functional foods for the prevention and treatment of various diseases, such as inflammation and cancer. In the present study, we examined the effect of A. dahurica polysaccharide (ADP) on dendritic cell (DC) maturation. ADP increased the expressions of CD86 and MHC-II molecules, the production of IL-12, IL-1β, and TNF-α, and allogeneic T cell activation ability of DCs, and reduced DC endocytosis. As a mechanism of action, the knockdown of TLR4 with small interfering RNA decreased the ADP-induced production of nitric oxide and IL-12 by DCs, suggesting the membrane receptor candidate of ADP. After binding to TLR4, ADP increased the phosphorylation of ERK, JNK, and p38 MAPKs, and the nuclear translocation of NF-κB p50/p65. These results indicate that ADP activates DCs through TLR4 and downstream signalings. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose: The aim of this study was to study the effect of ionizing radiation on apoptosis-related protein concentrations as well as the radio-protective role of Ginkgo biloba and Angelica archangelica. The experiments were performed on 68 adult Wistar rats weighing 175 g (±10 g). Animals were subdivided into control group in which the animals received neither the protector nor the isotopes. The second group represents the animals that received 1 mCi of 99mTc only. The third group represents the animals that received A. archangelica for 7 days. The fourth group represents the animals that received G. biloba for 7 days. The fifth group represents the animals that received 1 mCi of 99mTc once after receiving A. archangelica for 7 days. The sixth group represents the animals that received mCi of 99mTc once after receiving G. biloba for 7 days. Radiation was administered as intravenous injection by 1 mCi of 99mTc with the legend methoxyisobutylisonitrile for 24 h. The concentration of p53, Bcl2 and malondialdehyde in liver as well as histopathological examination of liver cells were carried out. Results showed that apoptotic to anti-apoptotic protein ratio significantly (p < 0.05) returned to its normal ratio when radioisotopic injection was administered after the protection period for a week by both A. archangelica and G. biloba in a dose based on the animal body weight. Electron microscope photographing supported this finding. Conclusion: It was concluded that both antioxidants can be used as radio-protective agents in cases of ionizing radiation exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: This study is to investigate the synergistic effect of Anglica polysaccharide sulfate (APS-1) and Combivir, an anti-AIDS drug, on murine leukemia virus in vivo. As the results shown, the virus replication was significantly decreased by the combination of APS-1 and Combivir, which tended to be further decreased (58% inhibition) when compared with that of Combivir alone (51% inhibition). Furthermore, both the percentage of CD4+ cells and CD4+/CD8+ ratio in peripheral blood cells were significantly enhanced by this combined administration, while the CD4+ cells was only slightly increased and CD4+/CD8+ ratio was not affected by Combivir alone. Additionally, combination of APS-1 and Combivir also alleviated the toxicity of Combivir. APS-1 not only increased the survival rate of mice administered with LD50 dose of Combivir, but also reduced the hematologic toxicity induced by Combivir, RBC, HGB and PLT were restored to normal level. These results suggest that APS-1 had synergistic effect with Combivir, which provided new insight into the potential clinical use of polysaccharide sulfate in anti-AIDS field. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Chinese angelica polysaccharide (CAP) was extracted by water decoction and ethanol precipitation, purified through eliminating protein by Sevage method and column chromatography of Sephadex G-200, then selenizingly modified by nitric acid–sodium selenite method according to L9(34) orthogonal design of three-factors, the usage amount of sodium selenite, reaction temperature and reaction time, at three level to obtain nine selenizing CAPs, sCAP1–sCAP9. Their effects on chicken peripheral lymphocytes proliferation in vitro were compared by MTT assay taking the non-modified CAP as control. The results showed that selenylation modification could significantly enhance the immune-enhancing activity of CAP, sCAP2 presented best effect and the optimal modification conditions were 200mg of sodium selenite for 500mg of CAP, the reaction temperature of 70°C and the reaction time of 6h. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Roots of Angelica sinensis (Danggui) have been used in promoting blood circulation as herbal medicine for over 2000 years in China. Another species of Angelica roots ailed A. gigas is being used in Korea. To reveal the efficiency of different Angelica roots, the chemical and biological properties of Angelica roots from different cultivated regions were compared. Roots of A. sinensis contained higher levels of ferulic acid, Z-ligustilide, and senkyunolide A, while high amounts of butylphthalide and Z-butylenephthalide were found in A. gigas roots. The extracts deriving from A. gigas roots showed better effects in osteogenic and estrogenic properties than that of A. sinensis from China. However, this difference was markedly reduced when the Angelica roots were being prepared in a Chinese herbal decoction together with Astragali Radix as Danggui Buxue Tang. In contrast, the herbal decoction prepared from A. sinensis roots showed better responses in cell cultures. In addition, the extracts of A. gigas roots showed strong cell toxicity both as single herb and as Danggui Buxue Tang. This result revealed the distinct properties of Angelica roots from China and Korea suggesting the specific usage of herb in preparing a unique herbal decoction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents information on a study conducted to develop a densitometric method for quantitative analysis of ferulic acid in microemulsion of Angelica sinensis extract. In the study, a microemulsion system was prepared by using clove oil and oil phase, and distilled water as water phase. Microemulsion of Angelica sinensis was made by adding clove oil to Angelica sinensis extract. The study included the quantitative analysis of ferulic acid in microemulsion of Angelica sinensis extract by using chromatographic analysis. The study concluded that the densitometric method was accurate for the quantitative analysis of ferulic acid in herbal extracts and herbal products.

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The article reports on a study regarding identification of the plant origin of Propolis collected on Jeju Island in Korea. The study involves observation of honeybee behavior and a comparative analysis of chemical and biological properties of the plant material with that of the Propolis by using the technique high performance liquid chromatography. The results obtained from the study showed the plant Angelica keiskei as the plant origin of Propolis collected from Jeju Island.

AbstractA novel polysaccharide named Angelica sinensispolysaccharide (ASP) was obtained from the powdered and defatted roots of A. sinensis(Oliv.) Diels. The molecular weight of ASP was determined to be 78 kDa and was 95.0% sugars consisting of mostly arabinose, glucose, and galactose with a molar ratio of 1:5.68:3.91. A previous study indicated that ASP may increase plasma iron levels by suppressing the expression of hepcidin, a negative regulator of body iron metabolism, in the liver. The present study aims to clarify the inhibitory effect of ASP on hepcidin expression in rat models of iron deficiency anemia (IDA), and clarify the mechanisms involved. It was demonstrated that ASP significantly reduced hepcidin expression by inhibiting the expression of mothers against decapentaplegic protein 4 (SMAD4) in liver and stimulating the secretion of erythropoietin, which further downregulated hepcidin by repressing CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α (C/EBPα) and the phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3/5. The results indicate that ASP can suppress the expression of hepcidin in rats with IDA, and may be useful for the treatment of IDA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe root of Angelica gigas(Korean angelica) is traditionally used to treat women's ailments that are caused by an impairment of menstrual blood flow and cycle irregularities. This study evaluated the effect particle size of Korean angelica powder on its efficacy for treating estrogen-related symptoms of menopause. Initially, Korean angelica roots were pulverized into ultrafine powder, and orally administered to the rats at a concentration of 500 mg/kg body weight for 8 weeks. The effects of Korean angelica powder particle size on extraction yield, contents of bioactive compounds (decursin and decursinol angelate), levels of serum ovarian hormones (estradiol and progesterone), reproductive hormones (luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone), and experimental osteoporosis parameters (mineral density, strength, and histological features) were determined. A significant increase (fivefold) in the contents of decursin and decursinol angelate in the extract of the ultrafine Korean angelica powder was observed compared to coarse Korean angelica powder. Rats were divided into sham-operated or ovariectomized (OVX) groups that were fed coarse (CRS) or ultrafine (UF) ground Korean angelica root. The serum levels of estradiol in the OVX_UF group were 19.2% and 54.1% higher than that of OVX_CRS group. Serum bone-alkaline phosphatase/total-alkaline phosphatase index in the OVX_UF group was half that of the OVX_CRS group. In addition, less trabecular bone loss and thick cortical areas were observed in rats administered ultrafine powder. Therefore, ultrafine grinding may enhance the bioactivity of herbal medicines and be especially useful when their extracted forms lose bioactivity during processing, storage, and oral intake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: 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 200μM to evaluate the biological significance of biotransformation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The root of Angelica acutiloba is a widely used herbal medicine which has been used as a typical therapeutic for allergic diseases in traditional medicine. This study was aimed to investigate the effects of A. acutiloba on allergic reactions in in vitro and in vivo models and its mechanism of action. A. acutiloba was extracted by maceration with 80% ethanol (AAE) and standardized by high-performance liquid chromatography. We investigated the effect of AAE on phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate plus calcium ionophore A23187 (PMACI)-induced cytokine release; phosphorylation of JNK, ERK, and p38 in human mast cell-1 (HMC-1); and compound 48/80-induced release of histamine in rat peritoneal mast cells (RPMCs). We also investigated the effects on Evans blue (EB) extravasation induced by anti-DNP IgE in rats. Treatment with 1, 10 and 100 μg/ml AAE concentration-dependently inhibited the release of cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL) -6, and IL-8) and phosphorylation of ERK and JNK induced by PMACI in HMC-1 cells, but it did not inhibit the phosphorylation of p38. It also inhibited compound 48/80-induced histamine release in RPMCs. Oral administration of 271 mg/kg AAE inhibited EB extravasation in a passive cutaneous anaphylaxis rat model. In conclusion, AAE inhibited mast cell-derived allergic reactions by inhibiting the release of histamine, the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and the phosphorylation of ERK and JNK. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses isolation of chalcones from an ethanol extract of traditional herb Angelica keiskei through octadecyl silyl (ODS) and silica gel chromatography. It reports that isolated chalcones shows anti-bacterial, anti-cancer and anti-diabetic properties. It mentions that chalcones are helpful in prevention of metabolic syndrome and also increases the expression of adiponectin gene that produces adipocytes.

The article discusses a study which analyses effects of edible plant Angelica keiskei on insulin resistance and hypertriglyceridemia in rats which were used as metabolic syndrome model. It reports that Angelica keiskei significantly reduces level of blood glucose, serum insulin and triglycerides. It discusses beneficiary effects of plants consumption mediated through enhanced expression of acyl-CoA oxidase 1, medium-chain acylCoA dehydrogenase (MCAD) and apolipoprotein A1 (Apo-A1) genes.

Abstract: Bioactivity-guided isolation of the methanolic extract of the roots of Angelica koreana led to the isolation of four new bisabolane-type sesquiterpenoids, osterivolones A–D (1–4) together with four known compounds, bisabolangelone (5), decursinol angelate (6), psoralen (7), and falcarindiol (8). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data interpretation, especially 2D NMR spectra such as HMQC, HMBC, and NOESY. All compounds were evaluated for their inhibitory effects of the melanogenesis against α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH)-activated B16 melanoma cells. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]