• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.457-462
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• 2012

The stem-bark of Kalopanax pictus (KP, family Araliaceae), of which main constituent is kalopanaxsaponin B, has been used for asthma, rhinitis, and arthritis in Chinese traditional medicine. To clarify anticolitic effect of KP, we examined anti-inflammatory effect of KP extract and kalopanaxsaponin B in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated peritoneal macrophage and 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitic mice. Of KP extracts, KP BuOH-soluble fraction most potently inhibited LPS-induced IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6 and TNF-${\alpha}$ expression, as well as NF-${\kappa}B$ activation. However, KP BuOH fraction increased IL-10, an anti-inflammatory cytokine. KP BuOH fraction also inhibited colon shortening and myeloperoxidase activity in TNBS-induced colitic mice. KP BuOH fraction also potently inhibited the expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokines, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, and TNF-${\alpha}$ as well as the activation of NF-${\kappa}B$. Kalopanaxsaponin B, a main constituent of KP, inhibited TNBS-induced colonic inflammation, including colon shortening, and TNBS-increased myeloperoxidase activity pro-inflammatory cytokine expression and NF-${\kappa}B$ activation in mice. Based on these findings, KP, particularly its main constituent, kalopanaxsaponin B, may ameliorate colitis by inhibiting NF-${\kappa}B$ pathway.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.332-337
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• 2013

Microglial activation plays an important role in the development and progression of various neurological disorders such as cerebral ischemia, multiple sclerosis, and Alzheimer's disease. Thus, controlling microglial activation can serve as a promising therapeutic strategy for such brain diseases. In the present study, we showed that kalopanaxsaponin A, a triterpenoid saponin isolated from Kalopanax pictus, inhibited inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ expression in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated microglia, while kalopanaxsaponin A increased anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-10 expression. Subsequent mechanistic studies revealed that kalopanaxsaponin A inhibited LPS-induced DNA binding activities of NF-${\kappa}B$ and AP-1, and the phosphorylation of JNK without affecting other MAP kinases. Furthermore, kalopanaxsaponin A inhibited the intracellular ROS production with upregulation of anti-inflammatory hemeoxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression. Based on the previous reports that JNK pathway is largely involved in iNOS and proinflammatory cytokine gene expression via modulating NF-${\kappa}B$/AP-1 and ROS, our data collectively suggest that inhibition of JNK pathway plays a key role in anti-inflammatory effects of kalopanaxsaponin A in LPS-stimulated microglia.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.184-189
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• 2006

To find the monthly variation of kalopanaxsaponin contents in the leaves of Kalopanax pictus with thorns (KPT) and with no thorns (KPN), the leaves monthly collected from May to September were extracted with MeOH and then the kalopanaksaponin fractions were prepared. KPT collected on May showed the lowest saponin content of the KPTs whereas KPT on August exhibited the highest saponin content. From September, the saponin content in the loaves decreased. The highest saponin content was shown to be 7.3% in KPN collected on August. Evaluation of six kalopanaxsaponins A, I, J, B, H and K (KPA, KPI, KPJ, KPB, KPH, and KPK) were performed using TLC densitometer. In this measurement, considerably higher KPB and KPH, both hederagenin bisdesmosides, were found whereas very low contents In monodesrnosides KPI and KPJ were observed. In conclusion, it was shown that the leaves of KPN of August could be a biomaterial source for the kalopanaxsaponin fraction. It was also suggested that measurement of the weight of kalopanaxsaponin fraction and the content of KPB as the representative compound for kalopanaxsaponins will be used for the quantitative evaluation of the kalopanaxsaponins of K. pictus.