• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.1209-1218
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• 2021

The aim of this study was to assure the possiblility of Achyranthes japonica Nakai for a cosmetic material. For this we examined the Anti-oxidation, Anti-inflammation, Anti-wrinkle effects of Achyranthes japonica Nakai extract. Each material is extracted from Achyranthes japonica Nakai roots(AJNR) and Achyranthes japonica Nakai stalks(AJNS) using 70% ethanol. We carried out Nitric oxide assay of the extract with cultured RAW 264.7 macrophage cells, And we conducted MMP-1 assay, Type I procollagen synthesis assay of the extract with cultured CCD-986sk fibroblast cells. After we measured ABTS+ assay and SOD assay of AJNR and AJNS, we knew that effect of anti-oxidant increased as their concentration get higher. The result of this study was that the antioxidant activity of AJNR and AJNS was similarly excellent and the anti-inflammatory activity of AJNR was significantly higher than AJNS. The MMP-1 inhibitory activity and Type I procollagen synthesis of AJNR and AJNS was generally excellent, AJNS had slightly better than AJNR. Therefore I thought it has the chance to play an imfortant role as a functional cosmetic material for anti-oxidant, anti-inflammation and wrinkle reduction effects.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.378-381
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• 2020

Fermentation has recently re-emerged as an approach for improved functionality of food products in addition to the traditional roles such as shelf life, taste, and texture. Here, we report dynamic changes in the metabolite profiles of Achyranthes japonica Nakai by Lactobacillus plantarum fermentation, primarily, the significant increases in representative functional ingredients, 20-hydroxyecdysone and 25S-inokosterone. Additionally, untargeted metabolite profiling showed 58% of metabolites underwent significant alteration. The most dynamic change was observed in cellobiose, which showed a 56-fold increase. Others were sugar alcohols and amino acids, while lyxitol and erythritol that were among the most dynamically down-regulated.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.153-161
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• 2001

In order to isolate genes involved in ecdysteroids biosynthesis in plants, total RNA was isolated from Achyranthes japonica Nakai, and RT-PCR was performed using degenerate primers selected based on the results of multi-alignment of four cytochrome P450 genes from plants and a putative ecdysone 20-hydroxylase gene from an insect. Fourteen partial cDNA clones showing unique base sequences were obtained, out of which six showed homologies at the levels of nucleotide and amino acid sequences to the other cytochrome P450 genes known to be involved in the ecdysteroid biosynthesis. Of the six clones, four showed relatively high homologies to a putative ecdysone 20-hydroxylase gene isolated from an insect.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.402-407
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• 2008

The synergistic antimicrobial effect of Achyranthes japonica Nakai (AJN) and Bifidobacterium extracellular factors against Clostridium difficile were measured using a turbidity method. Each broth supernatant of Bifidobacterium infantis ($68.8{\pm}0.02%$) and Bifidobacterium adolescentis ($33.2{\pm}0.2%$) obtained by adding ethyl acetate soluble fractionate from A. japonica Nakai ethanolic extracts (AJNEA, 100 ppm, no inhibition) showed high synergistic antimicrobial activity against C. difficile. In addition, the antimicrobial activity in a laboratory medium and yogurt products against C. difficile were evaluated. In yogurt prepared with a starter 5 (Lactobacillus acidophilus: Streptococcus thermophilus: B. adolescentis =1 : 1 : 1) and a starter 4 (L. acidophilus: S. thermophilus: B. infantis=1 : 1 : 1) and 0.5% AJNEA powder, high antimicrobial effects were recorded that measured 79.0 and 65.2%, respectively. The results indicated the potential of AJN extract for use as an antimicrobial agent. In addition, the efficiency of the antimicrobial activity of the extracts was further improved in combination with lactic acid bacteria, which suggests that they have the potential to be used as a highly effective antibiotic-tolerant microorganism prevention system. Such a strategy can be used for alternative drugs or functional food additives for treatment of antibiotic-associated diarrhea.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.162-166
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• 2001

Effects of light, methyl jasmonate(MJ), 6-benzylaminopurine(BA), thidiazouron(TDZ), and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid(2,4-D) on the contents of ecdysteroids (${\beta}$-ecdysone+polypodine B) in Polypodium vulgare L. and Achyranthes japonica Nakai were studied. When the plants of P. vulgare were cultured under light control, the ecdysteroids contents in both leaves and rhizomes decreased with increasing light intensity. The ecdysteroids contents in A. japonica were also lower when cultured under light than under dark. Among the tested plant growth regulators, MJ, BA, and TDZ increased the ecdysteroids contents in both P. vulgare and A. japonica.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.169-176
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• 2021

This study was conducted to suggest the Cudrania tricuspidata leaf and Achyranthes japonica Nakai Complex (CAC) possibility of use as a functional natural material for improving bone disease. Cudrania tricuspidata leaf and Achyranthes japonica Nakai were mixed in the same amount, extracted with hot water, and then powdered and used in the study. After, the cytotoxicity of CAC for osteoblasts (MG63 cell), osteoclasts (differentiated RAW264.7 cell), and macrophages (RAW264.7 cell) were evaluated by MTT assay, and ALP assay and TRAP assay were performed to confirm the differentiation capacity of osteoblasts and osteoclasts, respectively. In addition, the anti-inflammatory effect in macrophages was evaluated by ELISA, qRT-PCR, and western blot assay. CAC did not proliferated osteoblasts and osteoclasts, but increased ALP activity against osteoblasts differentiation and decreased TRAP activity against osteoclasts differentiation. CAC did not proliferated macrophages but decreased nitric oxide production. Also, decreased NOS2, IL1B, IL6, PTGS2, and TNFA gene expression, and JNK and p38 protein phosphorylation in a concentration-dependent manner, but ERK protein phosphorylation was not changed. As a result, CAC increased the differentiation and activation of osteoblasts, inhibited the differentiation and activation of osteoclasts, and regulated the expression of inflammatory cytokines in macrophages. Therefore, it is thought that CAC can be used as a functional natural material that prevents bone disease and has an anti-inflammatory effect.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.77-82
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• 2005

Objectives : A morphological classification among Achyranthes japonica Nakai (produced in Korea), A. bidentata Blume (imported from China), and Cyathula officinalis Kuan (used in China exclusively) was made through microscopic observation. Method : The slice of the tested material made by paraffin section technique was colored with Safranine Malachite Green contrast methods, and then observed and photographed by olymphus-BHT. Result : 1. Korean A. japonica Nakai has slim roots, whose diameter is $1{\sim}5\;mm$. 1) Most of its intersection is stele, which includes a lot of vascular bundles. The inside of vascular bundles shows the arrangement of $2{\sim}4$ cycles, the innermost wheel of which is divided into two parts. 2) Parts of parenchymatous cell include Crystal sand of calcium oxalate. 2. The diameter of the roots of Chinese A. bidentata Blume is $0.4{\sim}1\;cm$. 1) The xylem in the vascular bundle in the middle of its intersection is rather big, around which the inner parts of the vascular bundles are arranged in the shape of $2{\sim}4$ cycles around. The most outside part of it is small, and the middle part is gathered into $2{\sim}3$ groups. 2) Parts of parenchymatous cells include Crystal sand of calcium oxalate. 3. The roots of Chinese C. officinalis Kuan is thick, whose diameter is $0.5{\sim}3\;cm$. 1) Vascular bundle of its intersection is spotted, arranged in the shape of $4{\sim}11$ concentric circles, whose center is divided into $2{\sim}9$ groups. 2) Parenchymatous cells include crystal sand and square crystal of calcium oxalate. Conclusion : It is concluded that Achyranthes japonica Nakai, A. bidentata Blume, and C. officinalis Kuan have different shapes in both external forms and internal intersections, so that they can be easily distinguished from one another through microscopic observation.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.31-38
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• 2024

Objectives : Achyranthes japonica Nakai (AJ) and Achyranthes bidentata Blume (AB) have been used without distinguishment. Moreover, comparative studies of AJ and AB on physiological activity in the organism levels remain fully understood. In this study, we aimed to evaluate and compare the effects of AJ and AB on anti-neuroinflammatory and neuroprotective effects. Methods : AJ and AB were extracted with distilled water (DW) and 70% ethanol (EtOH) extract. For the evaluation of anti-neuroinflammatory effects, we measured the production of nitric oxide (NO) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated BV2 microglial cells. To evaluate the neuroprotective effects, we assessed cell viability against toxicity, including hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), and amyloid-beta (A𝛽), respectively, in PC12 or HT22 cells. Results : DW and 70% EtOH extracts of AJ and AB inhibited LPS-induced NO production in BV2 cells, with no significant differences between the origins and extraction solvents. Additionally, AJ and AB had no cytotoxicity, and exhibited the similar neuroprotective effects against H₂O₂ and 6-OHDA toxicities in PC12 cells, showing stronger activity in 70% EtOH extract compared to the DW extract. Furthermore, 70% EtOH extracts of AJ and AB protected neuronal cell against A𝛽 toxicity-induced cytotoxicity in HT22 cells. Conclusions : We demonstrated that AJ and AB have anti-neuroinflammatory and neuroprotective effects in the 70% EtOH extract compared to DW extract, with no significant differences between the species. These results suggested that AJ and AB would be the potential candidates for neurodegenerative diseases.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.323-329
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• 2016

Achyranthes japonica Nakai (AJN) water extract has a variety of physiological properties, including anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and anti-oxidative activities. In the present study, the inhibitory effects of AJN extract were investigated in high affinity immunoglobulin E receptor ($Fc{\varepsilon}RI$)-mediated KU812F cells activation. AJN extract showed suppressive effects on histamine release and intracellular calcium [$Ca^{2+}$]i elevation from anti$Fc{\varepsilon}RI$ antibody (CRA-1)-stimulated cells in a dose-dependent manner. Flow cytometric analysis showed that AJN extract treatment caused a dose-dependent decrease in the cell surface $Fc{\varepsilon}RI$ expression and the binding between the cell surface $Fc{\varepsilon}RI$ and the IgE antibody. Moreover, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that levels of the mRNA for the $Fc{\varepsilon}RI$ ${\alpha}$ chain was decreased by treatment with AJN extract. These results indicate that AJN extract may exert anti-allergic effects via the inhibition of calcium influx and histamine release, which occurs as a result from the downregulation of the binding of IgE antibody to cell surface $Fc{\varepsilon}RI$. This mechanism may occur through $Fc{\varepsilon}RI$ expression inhibition.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.29-35
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• 2014

In this study, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of ethanolic crude extract and its five different solvent subfractions (namely, ethyl acetate fraction, n-butanol fraction, chloroform fraction, n-hexane fraction and the aqueous fraction) from a mixture of four different medicinal herbs (Galla rhois, Achyranthes japonica Nakai, Terminalia chebula Retz and Glycyrrhiza uralensis) were investigated. Among all the tested mixture combination of four medicinal herbs, 5:3:1:1 ratio of Galla:Achyranthes : Terminalia : Glycyrrhiza had the best antimicrobial effects against four strains of microorganisms (Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli) and exhibited the highest DPPH radical-scavenging activity. Further sub-fractions with solvents were screened for antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Antioxidant activity in order was ethyl acetate fraction > n-butanol fraction > chloroform fraction > nhexane fraction > aqueous fraction. The n-butanol extracted fraction showed the highest level of antimicrobial activity in com- parison to other fractions. In addition, all those fractions did not show any cytotoxicity against human skin cell CCD-986sk. These results suggest that 5:3:1:1 combination extracts of medicinal herbs (Galla : Achyranthes : Terminalia : Glycyrrhiza) may be potentially used as a safe natural antimicrobial preservative.