• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.12
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• pp.1370-1376
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• 2015

The 1, 1- diphenyl 2-picrylhyorazyl (DPPH) is a well-known radical and a trap (scavenger) for other radicals. Hyaluronidase (HAase) is an enzyme that depolymerizes the polysaccharide hyaluronic acid (HA) in the extracellular matrix of connective tissue. Lipoxygenase (LOX) enzyme was reported to convert the arachidonic, linoleic and other polyunsaturated fatty acid into biologically active metabolites involved in the inflammatory and immune responses. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate plant extracts as sources of natural antioxidants and to examine whether Achyranthes japonica having significant DPPH, HAase and LOX inhibitory activity. The inhibitory effect of HAase by A. japonica was assayed using a Morgan microplate assay. The antioxidant activity of the A. japonica extracts was measured on the basis of the scavenging activity of the stable 1, 1- diphenyl 2-picrylhyorazyl (DPPH) free radical. DPPH scavenging activity of matured roots of A. japonica was evaluated at 4.0 mg/ml was 87.8% and that of young roots was 86.2% at same concentration. The roots of A. japonica showed maximum inhibition of HAase activity (IC₅₀ = 27.7 μg/ml). The highest LOX inhibition was recorded in the root extract among three vegetative parts. Inhibition of HAase activity of roots may contribute towards the development of herbal medicines. Although percent inhibition of lipoxygenase by Achyranthes japonica for all young and matured groups for leaves, stems, and roots at different concentrations, there were not show a statistically significant difference (p<0.05).

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.65 no.1
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• pp.17-21
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• 2022

A new rapid and simple method for metalaxyl in Atractylodes macrocephala Koidzumi and Achyranthes japonica Nakai has been developed and validated. This study was conducted to develop a method for analyzing metalaxyl by a method based on QuEChERS using liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Samples were extracted with acetonitrile and purified using amino-propyl (NH₂) Solid Phase Extraction cartridge. The method limit of quantitation (MLOQ) was 0.01 mg/kg. The linearity of matrix-matched calibration curve (r²) was ≥0.99 at the calibration range of 0.001-0.05 mg/kg. For recovery test, Atractylodes macrocephala Koidzumi or Achyranthes japonica Nakai was treated with standard solutions at MLOQ and 10MLOQ levels. Recovery rates were in the range of 88.1-109.1% with <5.5% coefficient of variation. This established analytical method was fully validated. Based on these results, it can contribute to improving the safety of residual pesticides in Atractylodes macrocephala Koidzumi and Achyranthes japonica Nakai.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.17-21
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• 2014

The combined new phytoformula (CAS), a mixture (5 : 3 : 2, w/w/w) of the ethanol extracts of the roots of C. officinalis and A. japonica, and the n-butanol fraction of the S. subprostrata strongly inhibited arthritic severity score as well as IL-6 production in serum of collagen-induced arthritic mice. Histological observation also indicated that the CAS-treated group showed less breakdown of joint cartilage of the collagen-treated mice. In contrast, C. officinalis alone or a combination of A. japonica and S. subprostrata did not show significant inhibitory action on the same animal model. Thus, it is thought that CAS possesses a synergistic inhibitory action on arthritic condition. All these results strongly suggest that CAS may be a potential anti-arthritic agent.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.113-120
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• 2009

This study was performed to investigate the effects in inflammatory and pain status on rheumatoid arthritis(RA) induced rats by swimming exercise and Achyranthes Radix(AR) extracts ointment according to the application methods with the change of motor-behavioral and histochemistry study through the change of safranin o-fast green stain in the knee joint and prostaglandin $E_2(PGE_2)$ concentration production in serum for 28 days. They were randomly divided into four groups; Group I: RA induction, Group II: application of only swimming exercise after RA induction, Group III: application of only AR extracts ointment after RA induction, Group IV: application of both AR extracts ointment and swimming exercise after RA induction. The following results were obtained. Volume change of hind paw edema and arthritis indices test and arthritic dorsal flexion & plantar flexion pain test, group II, III, IV were showed that significantly decrease to each scores compared with group I (p<.01). Safranin o-fast green stain were showed histological indices, group II, III, IV were showed that significantly decrease the scores of cellular infiltration and synovial hyperplasia(p<.05), pannus formation and cartilage destruction(p<.01) compared with group I. Group IV were the most decreased compared with group II, III. The $PGE_2$ concentration of the group II, III, IV were decreased compared to the group I (p<.01) In conclusion, swimming exercise and AR extracts ointment acts were the most therapeutic intervention in inflammatory and pain control of RA induced rats.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.8-14
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• 2004

Objective : Achyranthes japonica Nakai (AJ) has been classified as a herb that activates blood flow and clears the stagnated blood. In this study, we evaluated its anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory activity in animals to clarify the effect of AJ on pain or inflammation. Methods : ICR mice and Sprague-Dawley rats were pretreated with an ethanolic extract of AJ with two dosages of 200 mg/kg (p.o.) and 400 mg/kg (p.o.). Nociceptive responses of acute pain were determined by hotplate and tail-flick tests. The effects of AJ on inflammation were evaluated by flexion/extention test and mechanical hyperalgesia test in models induced by both carrageenan and Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA). Results : AJ showed significant analgesic effects in both hotplate and tail-flick tests at the dose of 400 mg/kg. It also produced a significant inhibition of carrageenan-induced paw edema and CFA induced arthritis in rats at the dose of 400 mg/kg. Conclusion : We have demonstrated the analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of an 80% ethanolic extract of AJ in animals. This suggests the application of AJ in relief of pain or inflammatory disease.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.287-294
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• 2013

Influence of Achyranthes japonica Nakai Extract (AJNE) on properties of pork sausages were studied in the present investigation. AJNE was added to sausages alone or in combination with ascorbic acid to obtain a comparative analysis on properties of control and ascorbic acid added-sausages. Results showed that addition of 0.05% AJNE led to a decrease in color $L^*$ and whiteness (W), and an increase in color $b^*$ of pork sausage samples (p<0.05). Although color $a^*$ of pork sausages containing AJNE was not significantly different, ascorbic acid added-sausages were highest amongst other treatments (p<0.05). Sausages containing AJNE had lower non-heme iron values and peroxide value (POV) than control sausages (p<0.05); however, high nitrosomyoglobin content was observed in AJNE added-sausages (p<0.05). Ascorbic acid led to a decrease in residual nitrite concentration of sausages (p<0.05), but no difference was found in AJNE added-sausages. Free radical scavenging analysis showed that AJNE did not affect 1,1-diphenyl -2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) activity of sausages, whereas ascorbic acid added-sausages showed relatively higher activity among the samples (p<0.05). Addition of AJNE had no influence on texture properties of sausages. In sensory evaluation, AJNE treatment had significant effects on color (p<0.05), but no significant effects on aroma, flavor, springiness, juiciness, and overall acceptability. In conclusion, the addition of AJNE, as a natural supplement may offer natural antioxidants for pork sausages, and appears to be particularly effective in inducing changes in non-heme iron concentration, POV value and nitrosomyglobin content.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.51-57
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• 2011

Objectives : Achyranthes japonica (AJ) has been used as an anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory agent. However, it is unclear that AJ could show the anti-inflammatory effects in macrophages. In this experiment, we studied whether AJ could inhibit the inflammatory responses in macrophages. Methods : To measure out the cytotoxicity of AJ, we performed the MTT assay. We evaluated the nitric oxide (NO) production, and cytokine production such as interleukin (IL)-1b, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-a. We also investigated the cellular mechanims such as mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPK)s and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB). Results : AJ inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced NO production. AJ also inhibited production levels of IL-1b, IL-6 and TNF-a in LPS-stimulated macrophage. Finally, western blot analysis showed that AJ treatment inhibited the activation of p38 but not of extracellular signal-regulated kinase, c-jun NH2-terminal kinase and NF-kB. Conclusions : These results showed that AJ down-regulated the inflammatory response via p38 in macrophages, which suggest that AJ could be a candidate on treating inflammatory diseases.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.564-568
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• 2007

In this study, the ethanolic extracts of 40 species of traditional herbal medicines were examined for their antimicrobial activities against Clostridium difficile. Among the 43 screened traditional herbal medicines, Achyranthes Japonica Nakai (AJN), Siegesbeckia glabrescens Makino, and Phelloedendron amurense Ruprecht showed antimicrobial activities greater than 90% at a concentration of 500 ppm. According to the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) test the ethyl acetate soluble fraction of the AJN ethanolic extracts (AJNEA) showed the highest growth inhibitory activity against C. difficile, with a MIC of $625{\mu}g/mL$. In addition, the effect of AJNEA on the growth of lactic acid bacteria was investigated. AJNEA did not inhibit the growth of the tested Bifidobacterium spp. or Lactobacillus spp., with the exception of B. longum, Streptococcus thermophilus, and L. helveticus. These results indicate that AJNEA can be utilized as a potential antimicrobial agent against C. difficile related disease.

• Korean Journal of Plant Tissue Culture
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.357-360
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• 1997

Multiple shoot formation was obtained from excised axillary buds of Achyranthes japonica NAKAI cultured on MS media containing various growth regulators such as auxin and cytokinin. The highest average number of shoots was obtained in 1 mg/L NAA and 2 mg/L BA after 6 weeks (25.8 adventitious shoots per node). Although the regeneration rate was less than the former condition, optimal combination for the production of more shoots with a suitable size was 0.5 mg/L NAA and 1 mg/L BA (19.7 adventitious shoots per node). Roots were induced from regenerated shoots after 3 weeks culture, transferred to 1/2 MS medium supplemented with 0.1 mg/L IBA. Micropropagated plants were successfully transferred to soil.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.117-124
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• 2015

Osteoporosis induces a bone mineral density loss due to imbalance of bone homeostasis that is achieved by osteoclasts (which are involved in bone resorption) and osteoblasts (which are involved in bone formation). Thus, this study was performed to evaluate the effects of hot water extract of the Achyranthes bidentata Blume (ABB) and Panax ginseng (Gin) on osteoclast and osteoblast differentiation. In this study, there was no cytotoxicity by ABB, 50 and $100{\mu}g/ml$ of Gin significantly decreased cell viability of RANKL-induced osteoclast in RAW264.7 cell (p < 0.01). But, it was $50{\mu}g/ml$ of ABB and Gin mixtures increased due to protective action of ABB. Furthermore, Gin contained groups (Gin, ABB and Gin mixtures) were inhibitory effects on osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption, and increased in osteoblast differentiation activity. Gin clearly inhibited RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation by decreased calcitonin and TRAP (p < 0.01). Also, these extracts significantly increased calcium accumulation formation of osteoblastic differentiation reagents-induced osteoblast in MC3T3-E1 cell (p < 0.05). These results suggest that ABB and Gin mixtures may be a potential as drug for the treatment of osteoporosis.