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Abstract Rehmannia glutinosa (Gaertn.) DC., belonging to the family Scrophulariaceae, is an important medicinal herb cultivated in East Asia. Traditionally, R. glutinosa is steam processed to increase its efficacy in treating various ailments such as diabetes, hematinic deficiencies and adrenal disorder. However, standardization of processed R. glutinosa is highly needed to increase its quality to fulfill global market demand that is safe and possess high level of efficacy. Therefore, this study aimed to optimize the R. glutinosa steam processing methods by evaluating some key parameters such as steaming temperature, number of steaming times, steaming duration, and additive supplementation. R. glutinosa samples were steam processed at different temperatures (100 °C, 110 °C, and 120 °C), various steaming times (1 to 5 times), several steaming duration (1 to 4 h), and additives supplementation (rice wine, 5% EtOH, 10% EtOH, 20% EtOH, 30% EtOH, and 40% EtOH). As the result, 2 h, 3 replications, and supplementation with 20% EtOH at 120 °C were identified as the optimal conditions for R. glutinosa steam processing. Optimized processed R. glutinosa (SPRR 20%EtOH) resulted in significantly higher content of 5-HMF (7648.60 ± 150.08 µg/g) and iso-verbacoside (203.80 ± 10.72 µg/g) compared with unprocessed R. glutinosa (UPR). Compared to those of other samples, SPRR 20% EtOH samples had higher total flavonoid (55.36 ± 1.68 mg/g) and phenolic (69.24 ± 4.56 mg/g) contents and stronger DPPH antioxidant activity (56%). Furthermore, SPRR 20% EtOH had excellent anti-inflammatory activity, as evidenced by the suppression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) caused by activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) through p-p65 pathway in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. These findings will provide a basis towards industrialization of R. glutinosa processing technology that will be very helpful for oriental medication field.

Abstract Background Codonopsis pilosula (Franch.) Nannf. is a medicinal plant traditionally used in China, Korea, and Japan to treat many diseases including poor gastrointestinal function, low immunity, gastric ulcers, and chronic gastritis. The increasing therapeutic and preventive use of C. pilosula has subsequently led to depletion of the natural populations of this species thus necessitating propagation of this important medicinal plant. Here, we developed an efficient and effective in vitro propagation protocol for C. pilosula using apical shoot segments. We tested various plant tissue culture media for the growth of C. pilosula and evaluated the effects of plant growth regulators on the shoot proliferation and rooting of regenerated C. pilosula plants. Furthermore, the tissues (roots and shoots) of maternal and in vitro-regenerated C. pilosula plants were subjected to Fourier-transform near-infrared (FT-NIR) spectrometry, Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS), and their total flavonoids, phenolics, and antioxidant capacity were determined and compared. Results Full-strength Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium augmented with vitamins and benzylaminopurine (1.5 mg·L−1) regenerated the highest shoot number (12 ± 0.46) per explant. MS medium augmented with indole-3-acetic acid (1.0 mg·L−1) produced the highest root number (9 ± 0.89) and maximum root length (20.88 ± 1.48 mm) from regenerated C. pilosula shoots. The survival rate of in vitro-regenerated C. pilosula plants was 94.00% after acclimatization. The maternal and in vitro-regenerated C. pilosula plant tissues showed similar FT-NIR spectra, total phenolics, total flavonoids, phytochemical composition, and antioxidant activity. Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) test confirmed the genetic fidelity of regenerated C. pilosula plants. Conclusions The proposed in vitro propagation protocol may be useful for the rapid mass multiplication and production of high quality C. pilosula as well as for germplasm preservation to ensure sustainable supply amidst the ever-increasing demand.

Abstract For millennia, Aspilia africana has been used across Africa to treat various diseases including malaria, wounds, and diabetes. In this study, temperature influenced the in vitro germination of A. africana with highest final germination percentage (FGP) and germination index (GI) of 65.0 ± 7.64% and 2.26 ± 0.223, respectively, at 19.8 °C. Priming seeds with H2O, KNO3, and GA3 (gibberellic acid 3) improved both in vitro germination and ex vitro emergence of A. africana seeds. Seed priming with $$1.44 \times 10^{ - 3 }$$ 1.44 × 10 - 3 M GA3 produced overall highest in vitro FGP (from 90.0 ± 4.08% to 100 ± 0.00%) and GI (from 2.97 ± 0.385 to 3.80 ± 0.239) across all priming durations. Seeds primed with KNO3 had better germination parameters for 6 and 12 h compared to 18 and 24 h. Furthermore, the highest in vitro FGP (100 ± 0.00%) was observed in seeds primed for 12 h with $$1.44 \times 10^{ - 3 }$$ 1.44 × 10 - 3 M GA3. Ex vitro A. africana seed emergence was significantly enhanced by GA3 priming. Priming A. africana seeds with H2O, KNO3, and GA3 improved their growth after 3 months, with the overall best growth for seeds primed with $$2.89 \times 10^{ - 4 }$$ 2.89 × 10 - 4 M GA3. Seed priming of A. africana is a feasible approach for improving germination and seed emergence, and enhancing plant growth.

The medicinal plant, Aspilia africana, has been traditionally used in several African countries to treat many diseases such as tuberculosis, cough, inflammation, malaria, osteoporosis, and diabetes. In this study, we developed a protocol for in vitro propagation of A. africana using indirect shoot organogenesis from leaf and root explants of in vitro-grown seedlings and assessed the tissues at different developmental stages. The highest callus induction (91.9 ± 2.96%) from leaf explants was in the Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium augmented with 1.0 mg/L 6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 1.0 mg/L 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) while from root explants, the highest callus induction (92.6 ± 2.80%) was in the same plant tissue culture medium augmented with 0.5 mg/L BAP and 1.0 mg/L 2,4-D. The best shoot regeneration capacity from leaf-derived calli (i.e., 80.0 ± 6.23% regeneration percentage and 12.0 ± 6.23 shoots per callus) was obtained in medium augmented with 1.0 mg/L BAP and 0.05 mg/L α-Naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA); the best regeneration capacity for root-derived calli (i.e., 86.7 ± 6.24% shoot regeneration percentage and 14.7 ± 1.11 shoots per callus) was obtained in the MS medium augmented with 1.0 mg/L BAP, 0.05 mg/L NAA, and 0.1 mg/L Thidiazuron (TDZ). Regenerated plantlets developed a robust root system in 1/2 MS medium augmented with 0.1 mg/L NAA and had a survival rate of 93.6% at acclimatization. The in vitro regenerated stem tissue was fully differentiated, while the young leaf tissue consisted of largely unorganized and poorly differentiated cells with large intercellular airspaces typical of in vitro leaf tissues. Our study established a protocol for the indirect regeneration of A. africana and offers a basis for its domestication, large-scale multiplication, and germplasm preservation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to develop an indirect regeneration protocol for A. africana and conduct anatomical assessment through the different stages of development from callus to a fully developed plantlet.

Myelosuppression is a major adverse effect of chemotherapy. With the increasing number of cancer patients worldwide, there is a growing interest in therapeutic approaches that reduce the adverse effects of chemotherapy. Angelica gigas Nakai (AGN) roots have been widely used in oriental medicine to treat blood-related diseases, including cancer. However, the effects of AGN on myelosuppression have not been studied. Here, we investigated the effects of AGN ethanol extract (AGNEX) on cyclophosphamide-induced myelosuppression. AGNEX treatment significantly decreased white blood cell levels while increasing red blood cell and platelet levels in the peripheral blood. It inhibited thymus and spleen atrophy. It also enhanced serum levels of interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. qRT-PCR results showed that AGNEX decreased the expression of IL-1b and stem cell factor (SCF) in the bone marrow (BM) while increasing the mRNA expression of IL-3 and IL-6 in the spleen. Although AGNEX did not significantly decrease apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in the BM and splenocytes, AGNEX plays a positive role in cyclophosphamide-induced myelosuppression. AGNEX administration increased BM cells in the femur while decreasing apoptotic BM cells. These findings suggest that AGNEX could be used to treat myelosuppression and as a combination therapy in cancer patients.

Aspilia africana (Pers.) C. D. Adams is an important medicinal plant, that has been used as traditional medicine in many African countries for the treatment of various health problems, including inflammatory conditions, osteoporosis, tuberculosis, cough, measles, diabetes, diarrhea, malaria, and wounds. We developed an efficient and reproducible protocol for in vitro regeneration of A. africana from nodes. We assessed the effects of plant tissue culture media on A. africana growth, cytokinins for in vitro shoot regeneration and proliferation, and auxins for the rooting of regenerated shoots. Furthermore, chlorophyll content, photosynthetic rates, anatomy (leaves, stems, and roots), and Fourier transform near-infrared (FT-NIR) spectra (leaves, stems, and roots) of the in vitro regenerated and maternal A. africana plants were compared. Murashige and Skoog media, containing vitamins fortified with benzylaminopurine (BA, 1.0 mg/l), regenerated the highest number of shoots (13.0 ± 0.424) from A. africana nodal segments. 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA, 0.1 mg/l) produced up to 13.10 ± 0.873 roots, 136.35 ± 4.316 mm length, and was the most efficient for rooting. During acclimatization, the in vitro regenerated A. africana plants had a survival rate of 95.7%, displaying normal morphology and growth features. In vitro regenerated and mother A. africana plants had similar chlorophyll contents, photosynthetic rates, stem and root anatomies, and FT-NIR spectra of the leaf, stem, and roots. The established regeneration protocol could be used for large-scale multiplication of the plant within a short time, thus substantially contributing to its rapid propagation and germplasm preservation, in addition to providing a basis for the domestication of this useful, high-value medicinal plant.

Aim: To identify the inhibition of Phenylhydrazine (PHZ)-induced hepatotoxicity and anemia by bioconverted ginsenosides. Materials and Methods: We examined the potential benefits of bioconverted ginsenosides on anemia in a phenylhydrazine-induced rat model and described the prolonging effect of erythrocyte life span by focusing on compound K that was confirmed through ex vivo experiments. Results: Hematological analysis demonstrated that all groups treated with bioconverted ginsenosides showed significant recovery results. In the ex vivo experiments, compound K was treated in stored blood, and the erythrocytes half-life was 45 days, 15 days longer than when not treated in blood. In the ICP-OES assay, PHZ-induced erythrocyte hemolysis was significantly inhibited by bioconverted ginsenosides. Conclusion: Based on the present results, it has been demonstrated that bioconverted ginsenoside aids in prolonging the erythrocyte life span and increasing erythrocyte count in vivo. Thus, this material has the potential to develop as a promising drug candidate in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To determine new metabolites of the main components of Angelica gigas known to give anti- inflammation and pain relief Methods: Decursinol and blank sample were metabolized in human liver microsomes. The metabolized samples were centrifuged and deproteinated by adding 3 mL acetonitrile. The acetonitrile layer was concentrated and reconstituted in methanol. Finally, the prepared sample was injected into the LC-Q-TOF-MS. Results: Four new metabolites of decursinol with m/z ranging from 263.0912 ~ 263.0920 were identified as hydroxylated forms of decursinol, and the hydroxylated position of each metabolite was characterized using TOF mass spectrum. Their error values of detected m/z were 0.38 ~ 2.29 ppm, which indicates high accuracy of analysis. Conclusion: Previously unreported decursinol metabolites have been identified in this study. The findings provide athe basis for further pharmaceutical studies and functional food development using decursinol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]