• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.56 no.6
• /
• pp.602-614
• /
• 2023

Purpose: The balance between synthesis and degradation of proteins plays a critical role in the maintenance of skeletal muscle mass. Mitochondrial dysfunction has been closely associated with skeletal muscle atrophy caused by aging, cancer, and chemotherapy. Polygalacin D is a saponin derivative isolated from Platycodon grandiflorum (Jacq.) A. DC. This study aimed to investigate the effects of polygalacin D on myoblast differentiation and muscle atrophy in association with mitochondrial function in in vitro and in zebrafish models in vivo. Methods: C2C12 myoblasts were cultured in differentiation media containing different concentrations of polygalacin D, followed by the immunostaining of the myotubes with myosin heavy chain (MHC). The mRNA expression of markers related to myogenesis, muscle atrophy, and mitochondrial function was determined by real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Wild type AB^* zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos were treated with 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, and irinotecan (FOLFIRI) with or without polygalacin D, and immunostained to detect slow and fast types of muscle fibers. The Tg(Xla.Eef1a1:mitoEGFP) zebrafish expressing mitochondria-targeted green fluorescent protein was used to monitor mitochondrial morphology. Results: The exposure of C2C12 myotubes to 0.1 ng/mL of polygalacin D increased the formation of MHC-positive multinucleated myotubes (≥ 8 nuclei) compared with the control. Polygalacin D significantly increased the expression of MHC isoforms (Myh1, Myh2, Myh4, and Myh7) involved in myoblast differentiation while it decreased the expression of atrophic markers including muscle RING-finger protein-1 (MuRF1), mothers against decapentaplegic homolog (Smad)2, and Smad3. In addition, polygalacin D promoted peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator (Pgc1α) expression and reduced the level of mitochondrial fission regulators such as dynamin-1-like protein (Drp1) and mitochondrial fission 1 (Fis1). In a zebrafish model of FOLFIRI-induced muscle atrophy, polygalacin D improved not only mitochondrial dysfunction but also slow and fast muscle fiber atrophy. Conclusion: These results demonstrated that polygalacin D promotes myogenesis and alleviates chemotherapy-induced muscle atrophy by improving mitochondrial function. Thus, polygalacin D could be useful as nutrition support to prevent and ameliorate muscle wasting and weakness.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
• /
• v.59 no.2
• /
• pp.134-138
• /
• 2014

The research was conducted to provide basic information for store temperature which were low and room temperature and packing methods which were vacuum, packing and nitrogen of 3 year-old Platycodon grandiflorum. We investigated hardness and content of saponins, 1) platycodin D3, 2) polygalacin D and 3) deapioplatycodin D, in Platycodon grandiflorum and hardness of Platycodon grandiflorum, which were reduced by increasing storage period and decreased with increasing storing temperature, respectively. The packed storing method was better than others storing methods in low temperature. The high root hardness was significantly related with storing temperature and methods. The content of saponins in Platycodon grandiflorum, i.e., platycodin D3 and polygalacin D were reduced during storing period, however, the content of deapioplatycodin D was increased during storing period.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
• /
• v.67 no.4
• /
• pp.296-304
• /
• 2022

To maximize the medicinal properties of bellflower root (Platycodi radix), its growth and development according to soil texture were investigated using four types of soil: masato (decomposed granite), soil mix, loamy sand, and sandy loam. Saponin content was measured. With regard to bellflower root growth depending on soil texture, its growth was better in the order of loamy sand > sandy loam > soil mix > masato in the above-ground part, and loamy sand > soil mix > sandy loam > masato in the underground part in the order. The average content of general ingredients were 77.3% water, 2.6% crude fat, 3.2% crude flour, 6.0% crude protein, and 10.9% carbohydrates. With respect to saponin analysis of bellflower roots, the saponin content regarding platycodin D, platycodin D3, polygalacin D, and deapioplatycodin D were higher in the order of 282.4, 104.7, 29.1, 19.1 mg/100 g, respectively. The content of organic matter and phosphoric acid was high in soil mix and sandy loam, and platycodin D3 showed similar levels in all soil types. As a result, the soil mix is considered most suitable in terms of yield and component levels, however, it is the most expensive type. As a replacement, sandy loam was adequate in terms of fresh weight related to yield and highest saponin content.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.46 no.6
• /
• pp.769-772
• /
• 2014

This study was conducted to provide basic information on the effects of drying temperatures (45, 65, and $85^{\circ}C$) on saponins and free sugar contents of a 5-year-old Platycodon grandiflorum Radix. Platycodin D levels decreased with increase in drying temperature (956, 334, and 197 mg% at 45, 65, and $85^{\circ}C$, respectively). Polygalacin D levels were the highest at $45^{\circ}C$ (577 mg%), while platycodin $D_3$ and deapioplatycodin D were high at $65^{\circ}C$ (304 and 272 mg%, respectively). Sucrose levels were 3,825 mg% at $85^{\circ}C$ and 1,226 mg% at $45^{\circ}C$, and decreased when the drying temperature was decreased. The sucrose content showed significant negative correlation with saponin levels in dried P. grandiflorum ($-0.987^{**}$, p<0.01). These results suggested that drying P. grandiflorum at low temperatures is more economically viable.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.430-436
• /
• 2022

Platycosides, Platycodi radix (Platycodon grandiflorus root) saponins, are used as food supplements and exert diverse pharmacological activities. Deglycosylation of saponins enhances their biological efficacy, and deglycosylated platycosides are produced mainly through enzymatic hydrolysis. However, the types of available deglycosylated platycosides remain limited because of a lack of hydrolyzing enzymes that can act on specific glycosides in glycosylated platycosides. In this study, a crude enzyme from Aspergillus tubingensis converted platycoside E (PE) and polygalacin D₃ (PGD3) into deglucose-apiose-xylosylated (deGAX)-platycodin D (PD) and deGAX-polygalacin D (PGD), respectively. The products were identified through LC/MS analysis by specifically hydrolyzing all glucose residues at C-3, and apiose and xylose residues at C-28 of platycoside. The hydrolytic activity of the crude enzyme obtained after the cultivation of the fungus using citrus pectin and corn steep solid as carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively, in culture medium was increased compared with those using other carbon and nitrogen sources. The crude enzyme from A. tubingensis was the most effective in producing deGAX platycoside at pH 5.0 and 60℃. The crude enzyme produced 0.32 mg/ml deGAX-PD and 0.34 mg/ml deGAX-PGD from 1 mg/ml PE and 1 mg/ml PGD3 (at pH 5.0 and 60℃) for 12 and 10 h, with productivities of 32.0 and 42.5 mg/l/h and molar yields of 62.1 and 59.6%, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to produce deGAX platycosides from glycosylated platycosides.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.46 no.5
• /
• pp.636-640
• /
• 2014

This study was conducted to provide basic information about the drying methods (daylight, hot-air, and freeze drying) used for Platycodon grandiflorum radix. We investigated the mineral, free sugar, and saponin contents of dried P. grandiflorum. The potassium and calcium contents of hot-air-dried samples were the highest (22.6 and 9.2 mg%, respectively), when compared to those of daylight- or freeze-dried samples. Glucose and sucrose contents were the highest in freeze-dried samples (1,552 and 145.0 mg%, respectively), while fructose content was the highest in hot-air-dried samples (611.9 mg%). Platycodin D content was the highest in hot-air-dried samples (622.0 mg%); however platycodin D3, polygalacin D, and deapioplatycodin D contents were the highest in daylight-dried plant (113.5, 756.6, and 109.2 mg%, respectively). Glucose content was highly negatively correlated (p<0.01) with platycodin D, platycodin D3, and deapioplatycodin D (-0.924, -0.957, -0.861, p<0.01, respectively). These results suggest that the drying method affects the saponin content of P. grandiflorum and daylight and hot-air drying methods are more suitable and beneficial than freeze-drying.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
• /
• v.41 no.2
• /
• pp.147-152
• /
• 2010

The capability of the solvents for extracting the bioactive saponins from the roots of Platycodon grandiflorum (Campanulaceae) was investigated to obtain an ideal extract which contained bioactive saponins with high quality and high quantity. The content of eight representative saponins in extracts, such as deapioplatycoside E, platycoside E, platyconic acid A and platycodin D, platycodin $D_3$, platycodin $D_2$, polygalacin $D_2$, polygalacin D were analyzed simultaneousely by the modified HPLC analytical method. The validation test of the modified qualitative and quantitative analytical method employing the ELSD equipped HPLC for eight representative saponins in the roots extract of P. grandiflorum showed a good linearity, precision and accuracy. the correlation coefficient ($r^2$) values of the calbration curves for each saponins were observed to be over 0.9990. LOD and LOQ of each saponin was calculated as $0.10{\mu}g{\sim}0.40{\mu}g$ (LOD) and $0.40{\mu}g{\sim}0.80{\mu}g$ (LOQ), respectively. Recovery rates of each saponin were also calculated as over 98%, respectively. With exception of two saponins, platyconic acid A and platycodin D, The content of eight saponins in extracts was decreased proportionally to the increment of the water ratio of solvent for extraction. Consequently, as aquous alcohol was used as a solvent for extracting the saponin components from powdered roots of P. grandiflorum, the water content in the aquous alcohol was seemed to be a critical factor for extracting efficacy. The 60-80% ratio of alcohol in the aquous alcohol were deduced to be suitable and recommendable for the preparation of roots extract of P. grandiflorum which contained saponins with high quality and high quantity.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.45 no.7
• /
• pp.1017-1025
• /
• 2016

This study was performed in order to investigate changes in platycosides, as well as antimicrobial activities of bronchus diseases-inducing bacteria (Corynebacterium diphtheriae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus pyogenes) of Platycodon grandiflorum root (PGR) fermented by lactic acid bacteria (Leuconostoc mesenteroides N12-4, Leuc. mesenteroides N58-5, Lactobacillus plantarum N76-10, L. plantarum N56-12, Lactobacillus brevis N70-9, and L. brevis E3-8). Growth of L. plantarum on PGR was most active during lactic acid fermentation using different strains. Total platycoside, platycoside E, platycodin A, polygalacin $D_2$, polygalacin D, and diapioplatyco-side E contents of PGR fermented for 96 h at $37^{\circ}C$ by Leuc. mesenteroides and L. plantarum increased, whereas contents of platycodin D and platycodin $D_3$ were reduced. The antimicrobial activity on PGR fermented by L. plantarum N56-12 exhibited strong microbial proliferation for all four kinds of bronchus disease-inducing bacteria and was higher than that of non-fermented PGR extract. MIC of fermented PGR extract by L. plantarum N56-12 on C. diphtheriae, K. pneumoniae, S. aureus, and S. pyogenes were 45, 10, 50, and 25 mg/mL, respectively. Thus, this result shows that the antimicrobial activities of bronchus disease-inducing bacteria and platycoside content of PGR by L. plantarum N56-12 were higher than that of non-fermented PGR extract.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
• /
• v.38 no.2 s.149
• /
• pp.192-196
• /
• 2007

A rapid and practical HPLC assay was developed for quantitative analysis of saponins in Platycodi Radix. Seven saponin components in Platycodi Radix, i.e., deapioplatycoside E, platycoside E, deapioplatycodin D$_3$, platycodin D$_3$, polygalacin D$_2$, platycodin D$_2$ and platycodin D were successfully resolved on C18 column and detected by ELSD. Standard curves were linear over the concentration range 1 ${\sim}$2,000 ${\mu}$g/ml (r$^2$>0.992). Intra- and inter-day coefficients for variation of seven saponin components were < 10% and limit of quantification of them were around 0.7${\sim}$1.5 ${\mu}$g/ml, respectively. Using this method, contents of seven saponins in various plant materials under different cultivating conditions were estimated.

• Natural Product Sciences
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.274-280
• /
• 2008

Platycosides are the saponins in Platycodi Radix and they have several beneficial effects such as antiinflammatory and anti-obesity activities. This study was designed to determine the changes in the saponin composition in Platycodi Radix (platycosides) after being processed under steam and pressure and to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of their extracts. The change of the platycoside compositions was investigated after 1, 2, 3, 6 and 9h heat processing of Platycodi Radices by using HPLC coupled with an evaporative light scattering detection (ELSD) system. After heat treatment ($125^{\circ}C$, 1, 2, 3, 6 and 9 h), the contents of several platycosides such as platycoside E, platycodin $D_3$, platycodin D, polygalacin D, and platycodin A decreased as the processing time was longer. While the total contents of the saponins decreased, the contents of deapi-forms of deapiplatycoside E, deapi-platycodin $D_3$, and deapi-platycodin D increased relatively. These results indicate that the linkage between apiose and xylose located at C-28 is labile to heat and pressure. The LPS-induced iNOS inhibitory activities of the samples treated for 1 and 2 hours were enhanced and after then, the activities were reduced. These results suggested that heat treatment of the samples affect the content of the total saponins and the saponin content may be the important criteria representing the anti-inflammatory activity.