• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.1265-1272
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• 2021

This study was intended to investigate the potential of Astragalus membranaceus ethanol extract(AM) and Astragalus membranaceus bioconversion extract(AMB) as functional cosmetic materials. To confirm the antioxidant effect, polyphenol and flavonoid contents were measured, and a study was conducted on skin cell toxicity and skin cell aging through cell experiments. As a result of the antioxidant experiment, the content of polyphenols and flavonoids increased in a concentration-dependent manner in the effects of polyphenols and flavonoids, and it was confirmed that the ethanol extracts were higher than the bioconversion extracts. It was confirmed that the AM and AMB increased the MMP1 expression inhibitory effect in a concentration-dependent manner in HDF cells. Therefore, this study is considered to be very useful as a functional cosmetic material in terms of antioxidant and skin aging prevention when using AM and AMB as functional cosmetic materials.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.371-378
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• 2020

Background: In this study, the radix of Astragalus membranaceus Bunge extract fermented by Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Weissella cibaria, and Pediococcus pentosaceus to increase the levels of isoflavonoid aglycone contents. Methods and Results: In order to change the in isoflavonoids, we fermented the radix of A. membranaceus extracts with microorganisms that have β-glucosidase activity. Besed on the β-glucosidase activity, we selected three strains, Weissella cibaria, Pediococcus pentosaceus, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. HPLC analysis revealed that the levels of isoflavonoid aglycones were increased in all fermentation cases, and the extracts fermented by S. cerevisiae showed the highest levels of isoflavonoid aglycones. We evaluated the antioxidant activity, anti-wrinkle effects and whitening effects of the S. cerevisiae-fermented extracts using the DPPH assay, tyrosinase inhibition activity assay, and collagenase inhibition activity assay. We confirmed higher activity in S. cerevisiae-fermented extracts than in control, with the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) value of 565.1 ± 59.1 ㎍/㎖ in DPPH radical scavenging activity, tyrosinase inhibition rate of 78.4 ± 0.9%, and collagenase inhibition rate of 83.8 ± 1.1%. Conclusions: We selected three stains of microorganisms showing high β-glucosidase activity, W. cibaria, P. pentosaceus and S. cerevisiae. Isoflavonoid glycones in the radix of A. membranaceus were converted to isoflavonoid aglycones by fermentation. In addition, the fermented radix of A. membranaceus exhibited antioxidant activity, anti-wrinkle effect, whitening effect and radical scavenging activity.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2018

Objectives: Astragalus membranaceus has been reported to inhibit immune responses, but its effect on hair loss is not clear. In this study, the effect of A. membranaceus extract (AM) on hair regrowth in C57BL/6 mice with natural hair loss in the telogen phase was investigated. Methods: Mice with natural hair loss were topically treated with 1% AM on the dorsal skin for 2 weeks. Dorsal skin samples were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and probed with an anti-mouse CD8a IgG. The mRNA expression levels of tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$, interferon $(IFN)-{\gamma}$ and interleukin (IL)-4 were measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: AM treatment induced hair regrowth in hair loss mice, while control mice suffered continued hair loss. Tapering hair shafts and broken hair follicles were decreased as well as CD8+ T lymphocyte infiltration. In addition, the expressions of $TNF-{\alpha}$, $IFN-{\gamma}$ and IL-4 were reduced by AM treatment. Also, AM treatment significantly increased the KGF expressions in Hs68 fibroblast cells. Conclusion: These results suggest that topical application of A. membranaceus may be an alternative therapy for hair loss.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.471-476
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• 2018

Background: Astragalus membranaceus belonging to the Leguminosae family is often utilized as a traditional medicine. The aim of this study was to elucidate the basic breeding information required to develop short stem A. membranaceus cultivars. Methods and Results: Roots of A. membranaceus advanced yield trial (AYT) lines were harvested in late October 2017. Root yield of six AYT lines were increased in a range of 8.9 - 74.8% compared with 'Aseong' as control (check variety). The height of seven AYT lines were shorter than that of 'Aseong'. In addition, stem diameter of nine AYT lines was thicker than that of 'Aseong'. Consequently, 1502-56, 1503-90, and 1510-80 were selected as elite lines for the development of short stem cultivars. HPLC analysis was perfromed to identify lines with high level active components such as calycosin-7-O-${\beta}$-D-glucoside and calycosin. The levels of both active components were higher in 1502-56, and 1503-90, but not in 1510-80 compared to 'Aseong'. In addition, 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity was higher in the 1502-56 compared to 'Aseong'. Considering these results, two AYT lines, 1502-56 and 1503-90 were selected as short stem lines with high calycosin-7-O-${\beta}$-D-glucoside and calycosin content. Conclusions: Taken together, Two short stem lines were identified in this study. In our future study, regional yield trial (RYT) will be conducted using these selected lines to develop new cultivars.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.34-38
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• 2000

Three compounds were isolated from the roots of Astragalus membranaceus (Leguminosae). On the basis of spectroscopic evidences, the structures were characterized as $3-0-{\beta}-D-xylopyranosyl-(2',3'-O-diacetyl)-6-0-{\beta}-D-glucopyranosyl-3{\beta},6{\alpha},16{\beta},25-tetrahydroxy-20(R)$,24(S)-epoxy-cycloartane(Astragaloside I), $3-0-{\beta}-D-xylopyranosyl-(2'-O-acetyl)-6-0-{\beta}-D-glucopyranosyl-3{\beta},6{\alpha},16{\beta},25-tetrahydroxy-20(R)$,24(S)-epoxy-cycloartane(Astragaloside II), $3-0-{\beta}-D-xylopyranosyl-(2',4'-O-diacetyl)-6-0-{\beta}-D-glucopyranosyl-3{\beta},6{\alpha},16{\beta},25-tetrahydroxy-20(R)$,24(S)-epoxycycloartane(Isoastragaloside I). Full data of NMR including HMBC and 1D-TOCSY experiment of these compounds were reported for the first time.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.75-81
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• 2013

Objectives: Hyaluronic acid, high molecular glycosaminoglycan, exists in extracellular matrix of tissue, especially, in skin and has been known to be deeply involved in skin hydration. In this study, we investigated the effect of methanol extract of Hwang-gi, Astragalus membranaceus root, on hyaluronic acid production in human keratinocyte HaCaT cells. Methods: We determined hyaluronic acid synthase 2 gene expression and hyaluronic acid production in HaCaT cells by using RT-PCR and ELISA, respectively. Results: Hwang-gi extract didn't show the toxicity to HaCaT cells within the treated concentration and increased the hyaluronic acid synthase 2 gene expression and hyaluronic acid production. Conclusions: Hyaluronic acid production increased by Hwang-gi could be, partially, contribute to the moisturing effect in skin by it.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.93-101
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• 2008

Objectives : This study was conducted to evaluate the antioxidative and anticancer activity of the water and ethanol extracts from medicinal herbs. Methods : Three kinds of medicinal herbs(Corni fructus, Astragalus membranaceus and Glycyrrhiza uralensis) were extracted with distilled water and 70% ethanol, and the extracts were tested for their antioxidative and anticancer activities. Results : The highest polyphenol contents of the water and ethanol extracts from medicinal herbs were 342.14 mg and 435.62 mg per 100 g of Cornus officinalis, respectively. The highest electron donating abilities (EDA) of the water and ethanol extracts from Glycyrrhiza uralensis were 88% and 91% at 1,000 ppm, respectively. The water and ethanol extracts from Astragalus membranaceus had the highest nitrite scavenging abilities (NSA) at 1,000 ppm. The highest anticancer activity of the extracts were from Glycyrrhiza uralensis against both of MDA and A549 cells. Conclusions : These results suggest that the medicinal herbs can be used as natural antioxidant to prevent oxidative damage in normal cells probably because of their antioxidant characteristics.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.45-53
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• 2023

Objectives : Network pharmacology-based research is one of useful tool to predict the possible efficacy and molecular mechanisms of natural materials with multi compounds-multi targeting effects. In this study, we investigated the functional underlying mechanisms of Astragalus membranaceus Bunge (AM) on its anti-obesity effects using a network pharmacology analysis. Methods : The constituents of AM were collected from public databases and its target genes were gathered from PubChem database. The target genes of AM were compared with the gene set of obesity to find the correlation. Then, the network was constructed by Cytoscape 3.9.1. and functional enrichment analysis was conducted to predict the most relevant pathway of AM. Results : The result showed that AM network contained the 707 nodes and 6867 edges, and 525 intersecting genes were exhibited between AM and obesity gene set, indicating that high correlation with the effects of AM on obesity. Based on GO biological process and KEGG Pathway, 'Response to lipid', 'Cellular response to lipid', 'Lipid metabolic process', 'Regulation of chemokine production', 'Regulation of lipase activity', 'Chemokine signaling pathway', 'Regulation of lipolysis in adipocytes' and 'PPAR signaling pathway' were predicted as functional pathways of AM on obesity. Conclusions : AM showed high relevance with the lipid metabolism related with the chemokine production and lipolysis pathways. This study could be a basis that AM has promising effects on obesity via network pharmacology analysis.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.323-326
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• 2002

Ionizing radiation can be used to sanitize herbs contaminated by various microorganisms. However, health concerns related to irradiation damage to complex molecules in plants necessitate that methods be developed to monitor such damage. To elucidate DNA damage of herbs caused by irradiation, the DNA comet assay was used for Astragalus membranaceus Bunge and Havenia dulcis Thumb, irradiated at 1, 5, 7, and 10 kGy. With increasing irradiation doses, the tails of comets became longer with average tail length increasing from 17 (non-irradiated) to 124 (10 kGy) $\mu$m in Astragalus membranaceus Bunge. Above 7 kGy, some of the tails were separated from the heads of comets. Distribution patterns of the tail length of In comets selected randomly in the irradiated herbs were analyzed to quantify the DNA damage. These results clearly suggest that the DNA comet assay is an effective and inexpensive tool for the detection of irradiation damage to DNA in herbs.

• Mycobiology
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.430-433
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• 2017

We characterized two endophyte fungi from the leaves of Astragalus membranaceus in Korea. The isolated strains were identified on the basis of the morphological characters and sequences analysis of the internal transcribed spacer and large subunit regions of the rDNA and ${\beta}$-tubulin gene. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of Diaporthe oncostoma and Diaporthe infecunda in Korea, and we have provided descriptions and figures.