• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.40-46
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• 2003

Objectives : Achyranthes bidentata radix (Usul) has been used as anti-arthritic, antiallergic, antidiuretic, and so on. Recently extracts of Achyranthes bidentata radix have shown anti-inflammatory and cancer preventive effects in vitro and in vivo. Methods : We therefore evaluated the inhibitory potential of ethanol extracts of Achyranthes bidentata radix on cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoforms-catalyzed reactions, which relate to causes of cancer and inflammation, including CYP1A2, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2E1, CYP2D6, CYP2C8, and CYP3A4, using human liver microsomal preparations. Results : The extracts showed weak or negligible inhibitory effects on CYP2C9-catalyzed (S)-warfarin 7-hydroxylation, CYP2C19-catalyzed S-mephenytoin 4-hydroxylation, and CYP2D6-catalyzed dextromethorphan O-demethylation with each IC50 over 1750 g/ml, respectively. However, it showed relatively significant inhibitory effect on CYP1A2-catalyzed phenacetin O-deethylation and CYP2E1-catalyzed chlorzoxazone 6-hydroxylation with IC50s of 970.5 g/ml and 821.4 g/ml, respectively. Conclusions : These results suggest that extracts of Achyranthes bidentata radix have inhibitory effects on CYP-catalyzed reactions, especiallyCYP1A2 and CYP2E1, in human liver microsomes. These effects appear to relate to anti-inflammatory and cancer prevention following decrease of reactive oxygen species formed by CYP, especially CYP1A2 and CYP2E1, by Achyranthes bidentata radix. However, further evaluation is necessary to demonstrate and to confirm its effects in human.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.655-663
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• 2014

Woosul (Achyranthis radix), a widely used material in food and oriental medicinal industry, has different origins of plant species in Korea, Japan and China. In Korea, woosul is designated as the radix of Achyranthes japonica Nakai (AJN) and Achyranthes bidentata Blume (ABB) in the regulation of The Korean Pharmacopoeia. However, the comparative study of hot water (HW) extracts between AJN and ABB is still rudimentary. In this study, HW extracts and its subsequent organic solvent fractions of AJB and ABB were prepared, and their in-vitro antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-diabetes activities were evaluated. The HW extract of ABB has higher sugars and polyphenol compounds, and higher lightness and lower yellowness compared than those of AJN. Analysis of biological activities showed that the ethylacetate (EA) fraction of AJN and n-hexane fraction of ABB have antibacterial activities, and the EA fractions of AJN and ABB has strong antioxidation activities determined by radical scavenging activity and reducing power. In anti-diabetes activity assay, the EA fractions of AJN and ABB showed ${\alpha}$-amylase inhibitory activities, while the butanol fractions of AJN and ABB showed ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitory activities. Our results suggest that the HW extracts of AJB and ABB have different components and extraction yields, and their subsequent fractions have different biological activity. Therefore it was concluded that the EA fraction of AJN is appropriate to develop as natural medicine, and the HW extract of AJN is suitable to woosul-tea or woosul-sikhye production.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.416-424
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• 2013

In the course of a study for the development of functional foods utilizing Woosul (Achyranthis radix), the components and various biological activities of Korean Woosul (AJN: Achyranthes japonica Nakai) and Chinese Woosul (ABB: Achyranthes bidentata Blume) were compared. Woosul in Korea, including AJN and ABB, are regulated and part of the Korean Pharmacopoeia. From AJN and ABB, ethanol extracts and their subsequent organic solvent fractions were prepared and their in-vitro antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-diabetes activities were evaluated. Although AJN and ABB have no clear distinction in terms of usage in Korea, our results suggest that AJN has higher quantities of lipid-soluble components and lower amounts of water-soluble sugars than does ABB. ABB also appears to possess greater amounts of flavonoid and polyphenol substances than AJN. Analyses of biological activities showed that the fractions of AJN were more active as antibacterial agents, and possessed more pronounced ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitory activities than those of the ABB fractions. However, the antioxidant activities of the ABB fractions, as determined by DPPH anion-, ABTS cation-, nitrite-scavenging activity and reducing power, were higher than those of the AJN fractions. Our results suggest that the components and bioactivity of the extracts and subsequent fractions of AJN and ABB are different. Therefore, usage of either AJN or ABB should be carefully considered, as regards their individual properties, when the active fractions of Woosul are employed in the development of functional foods or novel plant-derived medicines.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.109-116
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• 2008

Objectives : This study was performed to investigate the discriminative criteria of 6 kinds of Achyranthis Radix by HPLC/DAD. Methods : 20-hydroxyecdysone is isolated by silica gel column chromatography ($CHCl_3$:MeOH, 7:1-1:1 v/v) and identified by nuclear magnetic resonance, A high-performance liquid chromatographic method with diode array detection was used to identify 20-hydroxyecdysone in A. japonica. The analysis was performed using $C_{18}$ column with isocratic elution consisted of 18% acetonitrile and 82% water and the detection was carried out by DAD at 254 nm. 6 kinds of Achyranthis Radix from different locations were extracted in MeOH. Each extracts was analyzed by HPLC in same condition as used in analysis of 20-hydroxyecdysone. The identities of each extracts were determined by comparing the retention time and UV spectrum with that of reference compound. Results : 1. A. japonica and A. bidentata showed the similar patterns of HPLC chromatogram and 20-hydroxycedysone was present in both of them because the peaks having the same retention time and UV spectrum as 20-hydroxyecdysone were shown in the HPLC chromatograms of A. japonica and A. bidentata 2. Cyathula officinalis and C. capitata showed the similar patterns of HPLC chromatogram. The peak having the same retention time and UV spectrum as 20-hydroxyecdysone was shown in the HPLC chromatogram of C. capitata but not shown in the HPLC chromatogram of C. officinalis. 3. Two species of medicinal drugs from Sacheon province showed similar patterns of HPLC chromatogram. Achyranthis Radix from Sacheon(wild) did not have 20-hydroxycedysone but Achyranthis Radix from Sacheon(cultivated) showed the peak having the same retention time as 20-hydroxyecdysone but UV spectrum of the peak was different from that of 20-hydroxyecdysone. Conclusions : These results suggested that 20-hydroxyecdysone could be the discriminative criteria for Achyranthis Radix contain 20-hydroxyecdysone though they belong to different genus and species. And the patterns of HPLC chromatogram also could be the discriminative criteria as the different species of Achyranthis Radix belonging to the same genus showed similar patterns of HPLC chromatogram.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.697-704
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• 2000

According to herbalogical bibligraphy and literature, therapeutic effects of Achyranthis Radix on arthritis was as follows, 1. Achyranthis Radix of Amaranthaceae is divided into five species-Achyranthes japonica, A. bidentata, A. longifolia, A. fauriei, Cyathula capitata, C. officialis and the characteristic, taste, channel entry, effects and main treatments were alike. 2. Winefrying stood for repairing treatement method for Achyranthis Radix Before repairing treatment method, Achyranthis Radix had three tastes(bitter, sour, and sweet) and calm and not poisoning characteristic. After repairing treatment method, the bitter taste was disappeared, and calm and not poisoning characteristic was changed into warm characteristic. 3. Effects of Achyranthis Radix were quicking the blood and dispelling stasis, liver-kidney supplement and strengthening musculo-skeletal system. Main treatments were relief of lumbar and knee joint pain, static menstrural block and wind-cold- damp impediment. 4. Contraindication of Achyranthis Radix was sympthom caused by spleen-kidney yang vacuity, upper burner disease and lower burner hemorrhage etc. Being used in pregnant woman, it could incur abortion. 5. Contraindication of Achyranthis Radix was beef, milk and mutton. It's fear was Radix Cynanchi Stauntonii and Semen Plantaginis. It's aversion was the firefly. Herba Taraxaci, Carapax Amydae, Carapax Testudinis and Radix Cynanchi Stauntonii. From above results, I suppose Achyranthis Radix has enough herbalogical foundation and could be used to treat arthritis and it is necessary to make a profound study of it.