• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.149-155
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• 2003

The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of platycodin D and $D_3$, which are active components derived from the roots of Platycodon grandiflorum A. DC., on the contractile force of the i3olated rat aorta and blood pressure of the anesthetized rat, and also to elucidate its mechanism of action. Both phenylephrine (an adrenergic ${\alpha}1$-receptor agonist) and high potassium (a membranedepolarizing agent) caused great contractile responses in the isolated aortic strips. Platycodin D at high concentration $(24{\mu}g/ml)$ inhibited contractile responses induced by phenylephrine $(10^{-5}\;M)$ and high potassium $(5.6{\times}10^{-2}\;M)$, while low concentrations of platycodin D $(4{\sim}8{\mu}g/ml$) did not affect those responses. However, platycodin $D_3\;(8{\sim}32{\mu}g/ml)$ did not alter the contractile responses evoked by phenylephrine and high $K^+$. Interestingly, the infusion of platycodin $D_3$ (1.0 mg/kg/30 min) significantly reduced the pressor responses induced by intravenous norepinephrine. However, platycodin $D_3$ (1.0 mg/kg/30 min) did not affect them. Taken together, these results show that intravenously administered platycodin D depresses norepinephrine-induced pressor responses in the anesthetized rat, at least partly through the blockade of adrenergic ${\alpha}1$-receptors. Platycodin D also caused vascular relaxation in the isolated aortic strips of the rat via the blockade of adrenergic ${\alpha}1$-receptors, in addition to an unknown direct mechanism. However, platycodin $D_3$ did not affect both norepinephrine-induced pressor responses and the isolated rat aortic contractile responses evoked by phenylephrine and high potassium. Based on these results, there seems to be much difference in the mode of action between platycodin D and platycodin $D_3$.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.595-599
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• 2012

Allergic response is associated with mast cells, through the release of arachidonic acid, proinflammatory cytokines, and histamine. We investigated the effect of Platycodon grandiflorum including platycodin D (PG-Platycodin D) on allergic responses in an animal model and on mast cell degranulation. PG-Platycodin D suppressed the release of ${\beta}$-hexosaminidase, a type of marker associated with degranulation. PG-Platycodin D efficiently inhibited the passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) reaction in ICR mice. In addition, molecular analysis demonstrated that PG-Platycodin D inhibited mRNA expression of both IL-3. These results suggest that PG-Platycodin D can inhibit mast cell degranulation through the inhibition of IL-3 mRNA expression, and that PG-Platycodin D may potentially serve as an anti-allergic agent.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.12
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• pp.1802-1807
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• 2009

Platycodin D, a major component of Platycodi radix, is known to have various activities including anti-inflammatory, anti-hyperlipidemic, anti-tumor activities and others. Recently, it was reported that platycodin D inhibits fat accumulation and adipogenesis. The aim of this study was to investigate whether various adipogenic regulators are modulated by platycodin D treatment during the adipogenesis of 3T3-L1 cells. mRNA levels of terminal markers of adipogenesis such as ADIPOQ (adiponectin) and GLUT (glucose transporter) 4, which were quantified by real time PCR, were decreased by platycodin D treatment. mRNA expression of PPAR (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor) $\gamma$ and C/EBP (CCAAT/enhaner binding protein) $\alpha$, which are central transcription factors of adipogenesis, were also decreased by platycodin D treatment. To elucidate the detailed molecular mechanism of platycodin D-induced inhibition of adipogenesis, we analyzed mRNA expression of upstream regulators of PPAR$\gamma$ and C/EPB$\alpha$. mRNA levels of the pro-adipogenic regulators, KROX20 and KLF (Kruppel-like factor) 15 were markedly down-regulated by platycodin D treatment. On the other hand, mRNA expression of CHOP (C/EBP homologous protein), an anti-adipogenic regulator, was significantly up-regulated by platycodin D treatment. mRNA levels of other pro-adipogenic regulators, C/EBP$\beta$ and C/EPB$\delta$, were not affected by platycodin D treatment, and another anti-adipogenic regulator, C/EBP$\gamma$ was also not affected by platycodin D treatment. Taken together, these results suggest that platycodin D-induced inhibition of adipogenesis is mediated by gene interactions including the down-regulation of pro-adipogenic regulators, KROX20 and KLF15, and the up-regulation of an anti-adipogenic regulator, CHOP.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.772-781
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• 2012

This study was conducted to examine the development of a new anti-inflammatory substance with potent anti-inflammatory activities that was derived from the Platycodi Radix butanol fraction. To accomplish this, the chemical structures and anti-inflammatory activities of the components were elucidated. Upon column chromatography of the tertiary subfraction, fractions 8-4-1 and 8-4-2 were identified as platycodin D and D3, respectively, following recrystallization, based on melting point (MP), infrared (IR), and positive fast atom bombardment (FAB)-mass and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectral data. Platycodin D and D3 exhibited strong anti-inflammatory activities in rats when administerd at oral doses of 12 mg/kg and 36 mg/kg, p.o., respectively. Platycodin D and D3 induced inhibitory effects on capillary vascular permeability in rats at oral doses of 16 mg/kg and 24 mg/kg, p.o., respectively, and potent inhibition of leukocyte emigration in a carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)-pouch when administered at doses of 3 mg/rat and 7 mg/rat, s.c., respectively. These results verified the high antiinflammatory potency of the platycodin D and D3 components in Platycodi Radix.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.389-398
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• 2013

Platycodin D is a major constituent of triterpene saponins, which is found in the root of Platycodon grandiflorum, Platycodi Radix, which is widely used in traditional Oriental medicine for the treatment of many chronic inflammatory diseases. Several pharmacological effects of this compound have been reported recently, such as anti-inflammation, immunogenicity, anti-adipogenesis, lowered cholesterol, and anti-cancer activity. However, the mechanism by which this action occurs is poorly understood. In this study, we found that platycodin D greatly increased the potential of the anti-proliferative effect in various cancer cell lines. Our data revealed that platycodin D treatment resulted in a time- and concentration-response growth inhibition of U937 cells by inducing apoptosis, as evidenced by the formation of apoptotic bodies, chromatin condensation, and the accumulation of cells in the sub-G1 phase. Apoptosis induction of U937 cells by platycodin D correlated with an increase in the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and caused the down-regulation of IAP family members. In addition, platycodin D treatment resulted in proteolytic activation of caspase-3, the concomitant degradation of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases, and the collapse of the mitochondria membrane potential (${\Delta}{\Psi}_m$). However, the cytotoxic effects induced by platycodin D treatment were significantly inhibited by z-DEVD-fmk, a caspase-3 inhibitor, which demonstrated the important role that caspase-3 played in the observed cytotoxic effect. These findings suggest that platycodin D may be a potential chemotherapeutic agent for use in the control of human leukemia U937 cells. These findings also provided important new insights into possible molecular mechanisms of the anti-cancer activity of platycodin D.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.200-205
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• 2002

Platycodin D was isolated from n-butanol extract of Platycodi radix(Platycodon grandiflorum and identified by the spectroscopic analysis using $^1H$ and $^{13}C$ NMR techniques. A new method of analysis of platycodin D by high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) was established using a reversed phase system with YMC-Pack ODS-AM( 250 X 4.6 mm) column and 30% acetonitrile as a mobile phase. Evaporative light scattering detector was used as detector. The kinds of extraction solvents and methods were examined to determine the efficient extraction condition and HPLC analysis was carried out to establish the optimum drying condition for the root of Platycodon grandiflorum. The contents of Platycodin D was highest as 0.083% when platycodon roots were dried at $60^{\circ}C$ using dry oven.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.259.2-259.2
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• 2002

The purpose of the present study was to determine the effects of platycodin D and D3 on the contractile force of the isolated rat aorta and blood pressure of the anesthetized rat. and also to establish the mechanism of action. The phenylephrine (10 $\mu$M)-induced contractile responses were greatly inhibited in the presence of platycodin D (4 ∼ 24 $\mu$g/$m\ell$) in a dose-dependent fashion. (omitted)

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.294-299
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• 2010

In this study, we tried to investigate whether platycodin D significantly affects MUC5AC mucin production and gene expression induced by epidermal growth factor (EGF), phorbol ester (PMA) and tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$ (TNF-$\alpha$) from human airway epithelial cells. Confluent NCI-H292 cells were pretreated with varying concentrations of platycodin D for 30 min and then stimulated with EGF, PMA and TNF-$\alpha$ for 24h, respectively. MUC5AC mucin gene expression and mucin protein production were measured by RT-PCR and ELISA. The results were as follows: (1) Platycodin D was found to inhibit the production of MUC5AC mucin protein induced by EGF, PMA, and TNF-$\alpha$, respectively. (2) It also inhibited the expression of MUC5AC mucin gene induced by the same inducers. These results suggest that platycodin D can regulate mucin gene expression and production of mucin protein, by directly acting on human airway epithelial cells.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.636-640
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• 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 CROP SCIENCE
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• v.67 no.4
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• pp.296-304
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• 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.