Park KC, et al. Transl Clin Pharmacol. 2019 Sep;27(3):92-97. https://doi.org/10.12793/tcp.2019.27.3.92

In this study, a method of metabolite profiling based on UPLC-QTOF/MS was developed to analyze Platycodon grandiflorum. In the optimal UPLC, various metabolites, including major platycosides, were separated well in 15 min. The metabolite extraction protocols were also optimized by selecting a solvent for use in the study, the ratio of solvent to sample and sonication time. This method was used to profile two different parts of P. grandiflorum, i.e., the roots of P. grandiflorum (PR) and the stems and leaves of P. grandiflorum (PS), in the positive and negative ion modes. As a result, PR and PS showed qualitatively and quantitatively different metabolite profiles. Furthermore, their metabolite compositions differed according to individual plant samples. These results indicate that the UPLC-QTOF/MS-based profiling method is a good tool to analyze various metabolites in P. grandiflorum. This metabolomics approach can also be applied to evaluate the overall quality of P. grandiflorum, as well as to discriminate the cultivars for the medicinal plant industry.

Postmenopausal depression is closely associated with depletion of estrogen which modulates transmission of 5-HT, a key neurotransmitter that regulates stress-managing circuits in the brain. In this study, antidepressive efficacy of white ginseng (Panax gingseng Meyer,WG) was evaluated in stressed ovariectomized rats. Female Sprague Dawley rats were ovariectomized and repeatedly restraint stressed for 2 weeks (2h/day). Thirty minutes before restraint stress, rats were administered saline (control), WG 200 mg/kg (p.o.), WG 400 mg/kg (p.o.), or fluoxetine (PC, 10 mg/kg, i.p.). Tail suspension test (TST) and forced swimming test (FST) were performed to assess antidepressant effect of WG. After behavioral tests, levels of serum corticosterone (CORT) and hippocampal 5-HT were measured. Significant decrease of immobility time in TST and FST was shown in rats administered with PC or WG 400 compared to the control. WG200-treated rats showed remarkable reduction in immobility time of TST. PC, WG 200, or WG 400-administred group exhibited significant reduction of CORT compared to the control. PC or WG-treated rats exhibited remarkable increase in hippocampal 5-HT concentration compared to the control. Hippocampal 5-HT levels in WG groups were higher than those in the PC group. The present study demonstrated that WG had antidepressant efficacy in an animal model of menopausal depression. Treatment with WG enhanced hippocampal 5-HT level while suppressing depressive symptom and serum CORT level. These results provide evidence that WG plays an important role in activating serotonergic neurons in stressful situation, suggesting that WG might be a reliable natural alternative of antidepressant drugs to treat menopausal depression.

Aster koraiensis Nakai (AK) leaf reportedly ameliorates health problems, such as diabetes. However, the effects of AK on cognitive dysfunction or memory impairment remain unclear. This study investigated whether AK leaf extract could attenuate cognitive impairment. We found that AK extract reduced the production of nitric oxide (NO), tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, phosphorylated-tau (p-tau), and the expression of inflammatory proteins in lipopolysaccharide- or amyloid-β-treated cells. AK extract exhibited inhibitory activity of control specific binding on N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. Scopolamine-induced AD models were used chronically in rats and acutely in mice. Relative to negative controls (NC), hippocampal choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl2) activity was increased in rats chronically treated with scopolamine and fed an AK extract-containing diet. In the Y-maze test, spontaneous alterations were increased in the AK extract-fed groups compared to NC. Rats administered AK extract showed increased escape latency in the passive avoidance test. In the hippocampus of rats fed a high-AK extract diet (AKH), the expression of neuroactive ligand–receptor interaction-related genes, including Npy2r, Htr2c, and Rxfp1, was significantly altered. In the Morris water maze assay of mice acutely treated with scopolamine, the swimming times in the target quadrant of AK extract-treated groups increased significantly to the levels of the Donepezil and normal groups. We used Tg6799 Aβ-overexpressing 5XFAD transgenic mice to investigate Aβ accumulation in animals. In the AD model using 5XFAD, the administration of AK extract decreased amyloid-β (Aβ) accumulation and increased the number of NeuN antibody-reactive cells in the subiculum relative to the control group. In conclusion, AK extract ameliorated memory dysfunction by modulating ChAT activity and Bcl2-related anti-apoptotic pathways, affecting the expression of neuroactive ligand–receptor interaction-related genes and inhibiting Aβ accumulation. Therefore, AK extract could be a functional material improving cognition and memory.

Lee JY, et al. J Nutr Health. 2019 Jun;52(3):250-257. https://doi.org/10.4163/jnh.2019.52.3.250

Background: Glycyrrhiza radix (licorice root) have been used as an oriental medicine material for long time, and its protective effects on oxidative stress, inflammation and cognition deficit have been recently reported. However, the cultivation of Glycyrrhiza species as medicinal crops is associated with some problems such as low productivity and early leaf fall, etc. To resolve this problems, Glycyrrhiza cultivars have been developed by direct hybridization of each Glycyrrhiza species by Korean researchers. The present study was conducted to compare the Glycyrrhiza cultivar radix (Dagam, Sinwongam and Wongam) for their anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation, and cognition improvement effects and levels of liquiritin, isoliquiritigenin and licochalcone in order to select an excellent cultivar as a material resource. Methods and Results: For evaluating the inhibitory efficacies of the Glycyrrhiza cultivar extracts on oxidative stress and inflammation in BV2 cells, we measured their reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and nitric oxide (NO) release after treating them with lipopolysccharide. The scavenging activities on 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and peroxynitrite (NOO⁻) radicals were evaluated. Cell proliferation and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) inhibition were analyzed. The total phenol, liquiritin, isoliquiritigenin and licochalcone A content in the extracts of the three culivars were quantified. Furthermore, the correlation coefficient between the activities and contents of total phenol, liquiritin, isoliquiritigenin and licochalcone A were also calculated. The results indicated that Sinwongam exhibited potent anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and NMDAR inhibititory activities. Sinwongam also showed higher total phenol and licochalcone A contents than the other cultivars. Among the three cultivars, Dagam exhibited a positive effects on NO release inhibition, cell proliferation and contents of liquiritin and isoliquiritigenin. Conclusions: Sinwongam is expected to be the most useful resource as a functional material for anti-oxidation/anti-inflammation and cognition improvement among the three studied licorice cultivars.