• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.420-424
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• 1997

By human intestinal bacteria, saikosaponin c was transformed to four metabolites, prosaikogenin E1 (E1) prosaikogenin E2 (E2), prosaikogenin E3 (E3) and saikogenin E. Metabolic time course of saikosaponin c was as follows; in early time, saikosaponin c was converted to E1 and E2, and then these were transformed to saikogenin E via E3. Also, this metabolic pathway was similar to the metabolism of saikosaponin c by rat intestinal bacteria. Bacteroides JY-6 and Bacteroides YK-4, the bacteria isolated from human intestinal bacteria, could transform saikosaponin c to E via E1 (or E2) and E3. However, these bacteria were not able to directly transform El and E2 to saikogenin E. Naringin was mainly transformed to naringenin by human intestinal bacteria. The minor metabolic pathway transformed naringin to naringenin via prunin. By JY-6 or YK-4, naringin was metabolized to naringenin only via prunin.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.57-61
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• 2008

A HPLC-ELSD method was developed to determine saikosaponin derivatives from Bupleuri Radix. Eight saikosaponins, saikosaponin c, i, h, a, $b_2$, g, $b_1$ and d, were analyzed under optimized HPLC conditions [column: Eclipse XDB $C_{18}$ ($150{\times}4.6mm$ i.d., $5{\mu}m$; mobile phase: $H_2O$ with 0.1% $CH_3$COOH (v/v) for solvent A and AcCN with 0.1% $CH_3$COOH (v/v) for solvent B, gradient elution; flow rate: 1mL/min; injection volume: $20{\mu}L$]. Good linearity was achieved in the range from 62.5 to $250{\mu}g/mL$ for each compound, and intra-day precision and accuracy at each concentration level varied between 0.05 and 5.45% and between 93.9 and 109.6%, respectively, whereas those for inter-day variations were between 0.91 to 2.73% and 94.3 to 106.1%. This HPLC-ELSD method was applied for the determination of sakosaponins from Bupleuri Radix samples, and saikosaponin a $(0.79{\pm}0.20mg/g)$, c $(0.33{\pm}0.06mg/g)$ and d $(0.48{\pm}0.15mg/g)$ were observed as major compounds. The other saikosaponins were shown under limit of quantification level thus couldn't be quantified. The present study suggested that the introduced HPLC-ELSD method is selective and reliable, and not only saikosaponin a, but also saikosaponin c and d should be employed as the standard markers for Bupleuri Radix.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.153-158
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• 1993

As a part of pharmacological studies of saikosaponins, which were reported to exhibit diverse biological activities especially concerning with liver function, effects of saikosaponin on metabolizing enzymes and lipid peroxide contents in liver were examined. As the result, UDP-glucose dehydrogenase activity and lipid peroxidation which were due to acetaminophen were inhibited by saikosaponin treatment. But other metabolizing enzyme activities were not modified.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.205-209
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• 1990

The study for the quantitative analysis of saikosaponin of Bupleurum falcatum root produced by tissue culture was attempted. The optimal concentration of 2,4-D was 0.1 mg/l for inducing the callus. The induction and growth of the adventitious root from the callus was obtained in the suspension culture containing MS basal medium supplemented with no plant growth regulators. The results of the quantitative analysis of saikosaponins by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) showed that the content of saikosaponin a and c was high in the one-year-old root from somatic embryos and that of saikosaponin d was remarkably high in three-months-old adventitious root from callus.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.121-126
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• 2006

Saikosaponin productivity was examined in a Bupleurum falcatum L. BFHR2 hairy root culture in response to changes in the sucrose content $(2{\sim}8%)$, nitrogen content $(0{\sim}250mM\;NH_4NO_3)$, phosphate content $(0{\sim}12mM\;NaH_2PO_4)$, and the potassium content $(0{\sim}87.2 mM\; KCl)$ of the culture media. We found that the conditions for maximal saikosaponin production differed from those for optimal root growth. Highest saikosaponin yield was achieved for 8% sucrose, 62mM $NH_4NO_3$ 1.2 mM $NaH_2PO_4$, and 0.5mM KCl.

• Plant Resources
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.48-52
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• 2001

Seven genetic lines of Bupleurum falcatum L. from different geographical regions were analysed for saikosaponin contents and chromosomal numbers. The somatic chromosome numbers of B. falcatum originated from Euisong, Iri, Milyang, Sangnam, Taejon, and Youngchon were 2n=20 while Mishimasaiko showed 2n=26. However, chromosome features were different in plants grown in different geographical regions. Generally, Korean lines had higher saikosaponin contents than Mishimasaiko which is Japanese and Sangnam lines had highest saikosaponin contents compared to other tested lines.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.64 no.1
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• pp.57-61
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• 2021

Saikosaponin derivatives such as saikosaponins A, B1, B2, B3, B4, C, and D present in Bupleurum falcatum were analyzed by a high performance liquid chromatograph equipped with an evaporative light scattering detector, using different extraction solvents (water and 70% ethanol). The samples were injected into a YMC Pack Pro C18 column and separated using a gradient elution system with a mobile phase composed of acetonitrile and water at a flow rate of 1.1 mL/min. The content of saikosaponin derivatives was higher in 70% ethanol extract than in water extract. This study provides an efficient analytical method for determining the optimal conditions for extraction of saikosaponin derivatives, which can be used as a basis for development of functional foods and pharmaceutical products from B. falcatum.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.359-365
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• 1996

In order to product the saikosaponin which is one of the secondary product from Bupleurum falcatum efficiently through the tissue culture, several levels of agar and gellan gum as the gelling agent, 2,4-D as the growth regulator, and L-phenylalanine as the precursor were used with single or combination treatment on MS basal medium. Gellan gum was more effective than agar as the gelling agent in fresh and dry weight increase of callus induced from Bupleurum falcatum leaf segment. Gellan gum medium supplemented with L-phenylalanine produced 1.6 times of fresh weight more than that of agar. The fresh weight was remarkably high in gellan gum when the calli was treated with the combination of 2,4-D and L-phenylalanine similar to the single treatment of 2,4-D or L-phenylalanine. However, the saikosaponin content in callus was high in gellan gum with the single treatment of L-phenylalanine. Especially, the saikosaponin content in gellan gum supplemented with 1.0mg/L L-phenylalanine was 2 times(2.4 mg/g) higher than that in agar medium supplemented with 0.1 mg/L 2,4-D(0.9 mg/g).

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.269-274
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• 2006

In order to characterize saikosaponin biosynthesis in Bupleurum falcatum, the expression of five isoprenoid pathway genes and their relationship to saikosaponin accumulation in the hairy roots were analyzed. The hairy roots exhibited a rapid accumulation of saikosaponins when incubated in a root culture medium (3XRCM). Homology-based RT-PCR was used to isolate core fragments of five genes, HMGR, IPPI, FPS, SS, and OSC, from the hairy roots. The deduced amino acid sequences exhibited amino acid identities of more than 85% to previously reported genes. Using the fragments as probes, the expression of these five genes in the hairy roots during incubation in 3XRCM medium was examined. Expression of all five genes in the hairy roots increased soon after incubation. In particular, the SS and OSC genes were coordinately induced at 8 days of incubation, and their expression persisted throughout the incubation period. A quantitative HPLC analysis showed that the saikosaponin content of the hairy root culture also began to increase at 8 days of culture. The correlation between SS transcript level and saikosaponin content in the hairy roots suggests that transcriptional regulation plays a regulatory role in saikosaponin biosynthesis.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.317-326
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• 2002

This study was conducted to determine the optimum planting dates and density of one year old Bupleurum falcatum L. to improve its productivity and quality. Two cultivars of B. falcatum, originated from Jeongseon, Korea and Mishima, Japan were used. Some of the results obtained are as follows : Jeongseon cultivar showed less stem branches and shoot weight compared to Mishima. However, Jeongseon cultivar showed tall plant height, high root fresh and dry weight, and high levels of saikosaponin, but low saikosaponin content than that of Mishima. Both cultivars seeded on March 20 had long main root, big stem diameter, few stem branch, and high saikosaponin c content compared to those of late seeded one, April 30. Growth characteristics such as plant height, stem diameter, stem branch number, shoot weight, root diameter, root fresh and dry weight, and root branch number were increased in a low planting $density(30\;{\times}\;15cm)$, but the content of saikosaponin was not affected by planting density. Jeongseon and Mishima cultivars seeded on April 10 with $30\;{\times}\;15cm$ planting density and April 30 with $30\;{\times}\;10cm$ planting density contained the highest total saikosaponin levels, respectively. However, average root dry weight were not affected by planting time or density in both Bupleurum cultivars.