• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.11
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• pp.1360-1364
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• 2013

Petasin extracted from Petasites japonicus leaves has been well known to be effective in the treatment of allergic asthma. This study was carried out to optimize the extraction process of petasin from P. japonicus leaves by response surface methodology (RSM). The dried powder of P. japonicus leaves was extracted at ethanol concentrations ranging from 40% to 80%, extraction rpm ranging from 125 rpm to 225 rpm, and extraction time ranging from 1 to 3 hours. The effects of the extraction conditions on the dry yield and petasin content of the extracts were investigated using a second-order Box-Behnken design. The petasin content was significantly affected by ethanol concentration, extraction rpm, and extraction time, tending to increase more with increasing ethanol concentration. The optimum condition for petasin extraction from Petasites japonicus leaves was 79.92% in ethanol concentration, 178.10 rpm in extraction rpm, and 2.06 hours in extraction time, respectively.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.45-52
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• 2015

To explore the anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory effects of extracts of Petasites genus, we studied the effects of s-petasin, a major sesquiterpene from Petasites formosanus (a butterbur species) on asthma and peritonitis models. In an ovalbumin-induced mouse asthma model, s-petasin significantly inhibited the accumulations of eosinophils, macrophages, and lymphocytes in bronchoalveolar fluids. S-petasin inhibited the antigen-induced degranulation of ${\beta}$-hexosamidase but did not inhibit intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ increase in RBL-2H3 mast cells. S-petasin inhibited the LPS induction of iNOS at the RNA and protein levels in mouse peritoneal macrophages. Furthermore, s-petasin inhibited the production of NO (the product of iNOS) in a concentration-dependent manner in the macrophages. Furthermore, in an LPS-induced mouse model of peritonitis, s-petasin significantly inhibited the accumulation of polymorpho nuclear and mononuclear leukocytes in peritoneal cavity. This study shows that s-petasin in Petasites genus has therapeutic effects on allergic and inflammatory diseases, such as, asthma and peritonitis through degranulation inhibition in mast cells, suppression of iNOS induction and production of NO in macrophages, and suppression of inflammatory cell accumulation.