• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.66
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• pp.7-14
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• 2023

The effects of fermented Achyranthes japonica Nakai, Angelica gigas Nakai, and Eucommia ulmoides Oliver extracts (FAAE) on regulation of inflammation and apoptosis were investigated in primary cultured rat cartilage cells. To identify the protective effects of FAAE against H₂O₂, cell survival was measured by MTT assay. Smad3, Collagen type I, MMP3, and MMP13 were measured by real-timpe PCR and westernbot and the inflammatory (NF-κB pathway, COX-2, iNOS) factors were determined by western blot. The apoptosis related factors (JNK, c-Fos, c-Jun, caspase 3, Bax, and Bcl-2) were determined by western blot. FAAE significantly increased the follwing: H₂O₂ treated cell survival, mRNA and protein expression of Smad 3, collagen type I. In addition, FAAE significantly decreased the protein expression of inflammatory and apoptosis related factors. This study suggests that FAAE have a protection effect of chondrocytes through inhibition of inflammation and apoptosis. Thus, FAAE is a therapeutic potential food componet in osteoarthritis.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.104-109
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• 2017

The present study was conducted to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic effects of fermented Achyranthes japonica (Miq.) Nakai extract (FAJE). The FAJE was effective in nitrogen oxide (NO) scavenging in RAW264.7 cells. In the case of experimental Sprague Dawley (SD) rats injected with monosodium iodoacetate (MIA), the levels of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and $IL-1{\beta}$ in blood increased in the osteoarthritis-induced group while decreasing in the group administered with FAJE. In addition, MMP-2 and MMP-9 in cartilage tissues increased in the osteoarthritis-induced group, but decreased in the group treated with FAJE. Cartilage examination indicated that the osteoarthritis-induced group exhibited cartilage erosion and cell degeneration, but in the FAJE administered group the tissue, conditions were recovered and cartilage proteoglycan was increased. Therefore, FAJE clearly showed anti-inflammatory effects and this suggests it is effective for recovery from osteoarthritis induced by MIA.

• 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.

• 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 Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.466-471
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• 2012

'Usul' is a traditional medicinal herb, which has anti-inflammatory activities is distributed in India, Nepal, China, Korea, Japan. Korea pharmacopeia listed 'Usul' as either a species of Achyranthes japonica (Miq.) Nakai or A. bidentata Blume. Recent taxonomic studies in China and Japan delimited these taxa as two varieties, A. bidentata Blume var. bidentata and var. japonica Miq. A multivariate morphometric study of Achyranthes bidentata complex was undertaken to assess the entities of taxa that usefully could be recognized. Five quantitative characters were reviewed and analyzed with 293 specimens from Korea. The univariate analysis of inflorescence length, interval between florets, angle between floret and floral axis indicated that ranges among all taxa were continuous. However, quantitative characters of membrane size and the number of hairs within 4 were useful to identify two varieties. In PCA, the first three principal components accounted for 89.4% of the total variance. PCA revealed that var. bidentata showed distinctions in morphological attributes from var. japonica entity. Therefore, continued recognition at the infraspecifc level for these taxa is supported.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.210-217
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• 1999

To detect the toxic relevant components, asarone, coumarin and thujone, in the 87 medicinal plants used in brewing a Korean traditional folk wine, their 20% ethanol extracts were prepared and purified by a SPE(solid phase extraction) method. The toxic components in the purified extracts were identified by GC-FID and GC/MS analysis. On analyses, asarone was detected in 6 species, Acorus gramineus Solander, Acorus asiaticus Nakai, Angelia gigus Nakai, Santalum album, etc.; coumarin in 22 species, Anethum graveolens, Foeniculum vulgare Gaertner, Lithosperum erythrorhizon Siebold et Zuccarinii, etc.; thujone in 24 species, Achyranthes japonica Nakai, Amomum xanthiodes Wallich, Artemisia asiatia Nakai, seed of Cannabis sativa L., Caragana sinica R., Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat, Codonopsis lanceolata Bentham et flooker, Foeniculum vulgare Gaertner, etc.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.416-424
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• 2013

In the course of a study for the development of functional foods utilizing Woosul (Achyranthis radix), the components and various biological activities of Korean Woosul (AJN: Achyranthes japonica Nakai) and Chinese Woosul (ABB: Achyranthes bidentata Blume) were compared. Woosul in Korea, including AJN and ABB, are regulated and part of the Korean Pharmacopoeia. From AJN and ABB, ethanol extracts and their subsequent organic solvent fractions were prepared and their in-vitro antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-diabetes activities were evaluated. Although AJN and ABB have no clear distinction in terms of usage in Korea, our results suggest that AJN has higher quantities of lipid-soluble components and lower amounts of water-soluble sugars than does ABB. ABB also appears to possess greater amounts of flavonoid and polyphenol substances than AJN. Analyses of biological activities showed that the fractions of AJN were more active as antibacterial agents, and possessed more pronounced ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitory activities than those of the ABB fractions. However, the antioxidant activities of the ABB fractions, as determined by DPPH anion-, ABTS cation-, nitrite-scavenging activity and reducing power, were higher than those of the AJN fractions. Our results suggest that the components and bioactivity of the extracts and subsequent fractions of AJN and ABB are different. Therefore, usage of either AJN or ABB should be carefully considered, as regards their individual properties, when the active fractions of Woosul are employed in the development of functional foods or novel plant-derived medicines.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.655-663
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• 2014

Woosul (Achyranthis radix), a widely used material in food and oriental medicinal industry, has different origins of plant species in Korea, Japan and China. In Korea, woosul is designated as the radix of Achyranthes japonica Nakai (AJN) and Achyranthes bidentata Blume (ABB) in the regulation of The Korean Pharmacopoeia. However, the comparative study of hot water (HW) extracts between AJN and ABB is still rudimentary. In this study, HW extracts and its subsequent organic solvent fractions of AJB and ABB were prepared, and their in-vitro antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-diabetes activities were evaluated. The HW extract of ABB has higher sugars and polyphenol compounds, and higher lightness and lower yellowness compared than those of AJN. Analysis of biological activities showed that the ethylacetate (EA) fraction of AJN and n-hexane fraction of ABB have antibacterial activities, and the EA fractions of AJN and ABB has strong antioxidation activities determined by radical scavenging activity and reducing power. In anti-diabetes activity assay, the EA fractions of AJN and ABB showed ${\alpha}$-amylase inhibitory activities, while the butanol fractions of AJN and ABB showed ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitory activities. Our results suggest that the HW extracts of AJB and ABB have different components and extraction yields, and their subsequent fractions have different biological activity. Therefore it was concluded that the EA fraction of AJN is appropriate to develop as natural medicine, and the HW extract of AJN is suitable to woosul-tea or woosul-sikhye production.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.185-195
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• 2017

Two byproducts, brewer's spent grain (BSG; germinated rice and malt) and brewer's spent material (BSM; Achyranthes japonica Nakai), were collected during the manufacture of pilsner beer using A. japonica Nakai and germinated rice. Water extracts of BSG and BSM were prepared at different temperatures ($25^{\circ}C$, $60^{\circ}C$, and $100^{\circ}C$) for 5 h, and their nutritional and functional properties were investigated. ${\gamma}-Aminobutyric$ acid (GABA), saponin, and niacin contents were higher in extracts prepared at $60^{\circ}C$ for more than 3 h than the other extracts, whereas total polyphenol content, DPPH radical scavenging activity, and reducing power were higher in samples extracted at $100^{\circ}C$ for 1 h compared to the other ones. Overall, water extraction at $60^{\circ}C$ for 3 h was desirable to effectively collect both nutritional and functional components from BSG and BSM. Under these conditions, BSM extracts showed 4~18 times high niacin and folate contents, 1.4 times high total phenolic content, and 11~60 times high antioxidant activities compared to BSG extracts. This study shows that pilsner beer byproducts would be good sources of health beneficial components, especially GABA, saponin, water soluble vitamins, and polyphenolics.