• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.151-161
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• 2019

Ashwagandha (Withania sominifera Duanal) is an important medicinal herb with increased demand after discovering its anti-stress and sex stimulating properties that are attributed to the presence of biologically active alkaloid compounds. The aim of this study was to elucidate a proper agro technological package that ensures the optimum growth of Ashwagandha to obtain the finest quality without degrading the pharmacologically active constituents. Mixtures of organic and inorganic fertilizers were combined with direct seeding and transplanted as four different treatments in this study. The fresh and dry weights of the tubers were recorded up to 12 months starting from two months after sowing (MAS) while the shoot height, root length, number of leaves, fresh and dry weights of the shoot and the root with a shoot ratio of up to 6 MAS were determined. The results revealed that the growth of Ashwagandha was not affected significantly by the method of planting, type of fertilizer or their combinations during most of the harvests. However, tubers harvested at 6 MAS had the highest recorded dry tuber weight per plant in all four treatments compared to the early harvests where two direct seeded treatments had the best results. Comparison of the phytochemical compounds showed that direct seeding with organic fertilizer had the highest recorded values for alkaloid and withaferine A contents with a lower percentage of fiber compared to the treatments with inorganic fertilizer. In conclusion, direct seeding with organic fertilizer and tubers harvested at 6 MAS are recommended as the best cultivation conditions and harvesting stage to obtain high quality tubers of Ashwagandha, respectively.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.19-27
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• 2020

The aim of this study was to elucidate the difference in the amount of phytochemicals and anti-oxidant activities of the freeze-dried 5th instar 3rd day silkworm powder (FDSP) and 7 HongJams (HJs). Three primary colors of light of 8 silkworm powders revealed why each sample had unique color. The visual and absorption spectrum analyses of 80% methanol (MeOH) extracts of 8 silkworm powders revealed that white jade (WJ)-FDSP extracts showing strong forest-green colors had different absorption spectrum from 7 HJs. Among 7 HJs, the absorption spectrum of light green silkworm (LGS)-HJ extract was different from those of other HJ extracts. The amounts of total flavonoids and phenolic compounds of WJ-FDSP were 423.0±9.21% and 252.3±12.86%, respectively, more than those of WJ-HJ. Among 7 HJs, the amounts of total flavonoids and phenolic compounds in LGS-and red silkorm (RS)-HJ extracts were significantly more than those of WJ-HJ extract. Consistent with the amounts of phytochemicals, radical scavenging activity and reducing ability of WJ-FDSP extract were significantly higher that other HJ extracts. Among 7 silkworm powder extracts, LGS-HJ extract showed significantly higher radical scavenging activity and reducing ability than those of WJ-HJ extract. But, RS-HJ extract only showed significantly higher radical scavenging activity than that of WJ-HJ extract. Taken together, the amounts of phytochemicals in 8 silkworm powders contributed on their colors and anti-oxidant activities.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.357-366
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• 2022

Background: Withania somnifera (Solanaceae), generally known as Indian ginseng, is a medicinal plant that is used in Ayurvedic practice for promoting health and longevity. This study aims to identify the bioactive metabolites from Indian ginseng and elucidate their structures. Methods: Withanolides were purified by chromatographic techniques, including HPLC coupled with LC/MS. Chemical structures of isolated withanolides were clarified by analyzing the spectroscopic data from 1D and 2D NMR, and HR-ESIMS experiment. Absolute configurations of the withanolides were established by the application of NMR chemical shifts and ECD calculations. Anti-adipogenic activities of isolates were evaluated using 3T3-L1 preadipocytes with Oil Red O staining and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). Results: Phytochemical examination of the roots of Indian ginseng afforded to the isolation of six withanolides (1-6), including three novel withanolides, withasilolides GeI (1-3). All the six compounds inhibited adipogenesis and suppressed the enlargement of lipid droplets, compared to those of the control. Additionally, the mRNA expression levels of Fabp4 and Adipsin, the adipocyte markers decreased noticeably following treatment with 25 µM of 1-6. The active compounds (1-6) also promoted lipid metabolism by upregulating the expression of the lipolytic genes HSL and ATGL and downregulating the expression of the lipogenic gene SREBP1. Conclusion: The results of our experimental studies suggest that the withasilolides identified herein have anti-adipogenic potential and can be considered for the development of therapeutic strategies against adipogenesis in obesity. Our study also provides a mechanistic rationale for using Indian ginseng as a potential therapeutic agent against obesity and related metabolic diseases.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.50-58
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• 2023

The phytochemical investigation of the crude methanolic extracts roots and stem bark of Anthonotha cladantha (Harms) J.Léonard led to the isolation and identification of twelve secondary metabolites: 2,3-dihydroxypropyl hexacosanoate (1), hederagenine (2), cycloeucalenol (3), 2α-hydroxylupeol (4), betulinic acid (5), lupeol (6), heptacosan-2-one (7), triacontanoic acid (8), stigmast-4-en-3-one (9), β-sitosterol (10), stigmasterol (11), and stigmasterol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (12). Their structures were elucidated with the help of their spectroscopic and physical data and by comparison with those reported in the literature. To the best of our knowledge, from all those compounds, 2,3-dihydroxypropyl hexacosanoate (1), hederagenine (2), cycloeucalenol (3), 2α-hydroxylupeol (4), and betulinic acid (5) are being reported for the first time from this genus. In addition, the acetylation of compound 1 afforded a new derivative 3-(hexacosanoyloxy)propane-1,2-diyl diacetate (1a). Compound 1 possessed a moderate α-glucosidase inhibitory activity with an IC₅₀ value of 39.2 ± 0.22 μM; it neither showed antioxidant activity nor inhibition against the enzyme urease. Compound 1a exhibited weak antioxidant activity in the DPPH assay with an IC₅₀ value of 80.3 ± 0.83 μM but was inactive against α-glucosidase and urease. Furthermore, both compounds 1 and 1a were inactive against seven pathogenic bacterial strains.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.229-234
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• 2022

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Indigo Naturalis (IN) is a dark blue powder obtained by processing leaves or stems of indigo plants, its anticancer effects have been reported in several studies. However, the pharmacological mechanism of IN in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is not elucidated. In this study, to investigate the anticancer efficacy of IN for SCLC, we presented potential active ingredients, SCLC-related targets, and pharmacological mechanisms of IN that are expected to have anticancer activity for SCLC using a network pharmacological analysis. The phytochemical compounds of IN have been collected through TCMSP, SymMap, or HPLC documents. The active ingredients of IN such as indirubin, indican, isatin, and tryptanthrin were selected through ADME parameters or literature investigations for each compound. Using the Compounds, Disease-Target associations Databases, 124 common targets of IN and SCLC were obtained. Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) Pathway enrichment analysis was carried out. GO biological processes are associated with response to xenobiotic stimulus, positive regulation of protein phosphorylation, regulation of mitotic cell cycle, and regulation of apoptotic signaling pathway. KEGG disease pathways included Gastric cancer, Bladder cancer, SCLC, and Melanoma. The main anticancer targets of the IN for SCLC were analyzed in 14 targets, including BCL2, MYC, and TP53. In conclusion, the results of this study based on the network pharmacology of IN can provide important data for the effective prevention and treatment of SCLC.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.100-106
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• 2008

Column chromatographic separation of the MeOH extract from the aerial parts of Schizonepeta tenuifolia Briquet led to the isolation of twelve terpenes (1 - 11 and 17), four phenolics (13 - 16) and a hexenyl glucoside (12). Their structures were determined by spectroscopic means to be (-)-pulegone (1), piperitenone (2), p-cymene-3,8-diol (3), schizonepetoside A (4), schizonepetoside C (5), (+)-spatulenol (6), ursolic acid (7), $2{\alpha}$,$3{\alpha}$,$24{\alpha}$,-trihydroxyolean-12en-28oic acid (8), $5{\alpha}$,$8{\alpha}$-epidioxyergosta-6,22-diol-$3{\beta}$-ol (9), stigmast-4-en-3-one (10), ${\beta}-sitosterol$ (11), (Z)-3-hexenyl-1-O-${\beta}$-D-glucopyranoside (12), rosmarinic acid (13), apigenin-7-O-${\beta}$-D-glucopyranoside (14), luteolin-7-O-${\beta}$-D-glucuronopyranoside (15), hesperidin (16) and trans-phytol (17). Compounds 2, 3, 8, 9 and 12 were for the first time isolated from S. tenuifolia Briq.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.1791-1794
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• 2013

Phytochemical investigation on dragon's blood of Dracaena cambodiana led to the discovery of two new flavonoid derivatives, cambodianin G (1) and cambodianin H (2). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of detailed spectroscopic analysis, including 1D and 2D NMR techniques and chemical methods. The two compounds were observed to exhibit antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus, and compound 1 showed cytotoxicities against K562 and SGC-7901 cell lines.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.35 no.4 s.139
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• pp.320-323
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• 2004

Five compounds were isolated from the whole plant of Arabis glabra (Cruciferae) through repeated silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography. Their chemical structure were elucidated as salicylic acid, 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid, astragalin, rutin, and $quercetin-3,7-O-{\beta}-D-diglucopyranoside$ by spectroscopic analysis.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.217-222
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• 2010

A phytochemical investigation of the ethanolic extract of Erythrina caffra flowers from an Egyptian origin yielded three C-flavonoidal glycosides; 5,7,4'-trihydroxyflavone-8-C-$\beta$-D-glucopyranoside (vitexin) (1), 5,7,4'-trihydroxyflavone-6-C-$\beta$-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 $\rightarrow$ 2)-$\beta$-D-glucopyranoside (isovitexin-2"-$\beta$-D-glucopyranoside) (2), 5, 7, 4'-trihydroxyflavone-6, 8-di-C-$\beta$-D-glucopyranoside (vicenin-2) (3) and one O-flavonoidal glycoside; kaempferol-3-O-$\beta$-D.glucopyranosyl) (1 $\rightarrow$ 2)-$\beta$-D-glucopyranoside (4). The structures of the isolated compounds (1 - 4) were elucidated using different spectral techniques (UV, 1D and 2D NMR and HRESIMS). This is the first report for the isolation of flavonoidal glycosides from Erythrina caffra. The antibacterial, antifungal, antimalarial, and antileishmanial activities of the isolates were evaluated. In addition, the cytotoxic activity of the ethanolic extract and the main fractions were tested using brine shrimp bioassay.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.45-50
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• 2011

Sophisticated modern research tools for evaluation of medicinal plants are available but microscopic methods are one of the simplest and cheapest methods to establish the identity of the source materials. Pharmacognostical investigation of the dried, powdered and anatomical sections of the fruits of Trachyspermum roxburghianum (DC) Craib was carried out to determine its macro and microscopical characteristics along with its physical constants. Externally, the fruits, yellowish or greenish brown in colour are elongated, elliptical, slightly curved, prominently ridged and longitudinal. As seen in transectional views of the fruits from Trachyspermum roxburghianum, the mericarp has concave sides called commissural surfaces and a convex outer side called the dorsal surface. The mericarp has three primary ridges alternating with two secondary ridges on the dorsal side. On the commissural side, there are two primary ridges which are lateral in position and two secondary ridges in the commissural side. The seed is attached to the pericarp by a short stalk called a raphe. Circular, four-lobed calcium oxalate crystals are fairly abundant in the endosperm. Phytochemical studies revealed the presence of phenolic compounds, triterpenoids, proteins and sugars. The pharmacognostical profile of the fruits will assist in standardization for quality, purity and sample identification.