• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• 제17권1호
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• pp.156-160
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• 2008

This study was conducted to evaluate the hypotensive properties of the extract of Chinese balloon flower (Platycodon grandiflorum)'s root. In the studies for calcium channel-blocking using Xenopus oocytes, the ethanol-extract ($26.2{\pm}5.2%$) showed higher activity than water-extract. Twenty female rats were fed 25, 35, and 45 mg/kg BW/day of the ethanol-extract for 14 days to observe the changes in blood pressures and heart pulses. Ethanol-extract decreased the systolic, diastolic, and mean blood pressures of the rats. Especially, the rats fed with 45 mg/kg BW/day of the ethanol-extract showed significant decreases in the blood pressures. These results suggested that a decrease in blood pressures was due to the extension of a blood vessel with calcium channel-blocking by ethanol-extract of Chinese balloon flower. Forty %-ethanol showed the highest efficiency for ethanol-extraction of Chinese balloon flower.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제30권6호
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• pp.946-954
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• 2020

Platycodon grandiflorum root (Platycodi radix) saponins, platycosides, have been used as health supplements and food items for the treatment of respiratory disorders and pulmonary diseases. Deglycosylated saponins have been known to exert stronger biological effects than their glycosylated forms. In the present study, glycosylated platycosides in Platycodi radix extract were biotransformed into deglycosylated 3-O-β-ᴅ-glucopyranosyl platycosides, including 3-O-β-ᴅ-glucopyranosyl platycodigenin, 3-O-β-ᴅ-glucopyranosyl polygalacic acid, and 3-O-β-ᴅ-glucopyranosyl platyconic acid, by pectinase from Aspergillus aculeatus. This is the first report on the quantitative enzymatic production of 3-O-β-ᴅ-glucopyranosyl platycosides. The chemical structures of 3-O-β-ᴅ-glucopyranosyl platycosides were identified with LC/MS. Moreover, the biotransformation pathways of the three types of platycosides in Platycodi radix into 3-O-β-ᴅ-glucopyranosyl platycosides were established.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제31권6호
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• pp.847-854
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• 2021

Platycodon grandiflorum (balloon flower) root (Platycodi radix, PR) is used as a health supplement owing to its beneficial bioactive properties. In the present study, the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and whitening effects of deglycosylated platycosides (saponins) from PR biotransformed by pectinase from Aspergillus aculeatus were investigated. The bioactivities of the platycosides improved when the number of sugar moieties attached to the aglycone platycosides was decreased. The deglycosylated saponins exhibited higher lipoxygenase inhibitory activities (anti-inflammatory activities) than the precursor platycosides and the anti-inflammatory compound baicalein. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity of the pectinasetreated PR extract was higher than that of the non-treated PR extract. The trolox-equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) assay showed improved values as the saponins were hydrolyzed. The tyrosinase inhibitory activities (whitening effects) of deglycosylated platycosides were higher than those of the precursor platycosides. Furthermore, 3-O-β-ᴅ-glucopyranosyl platycosides showed higher anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and whitening activities than their precursor glycosylated platycosides. Therefore, 3-O-β-ᴅ-glucopyranosyl platycosides may improve the beneficial effects of nutritional supplements and cosmetic products.