• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.39-45
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• 2005

The present study was performed to investigate whether Achyranthes Radix extracts play roles in the bone metabolism. Three kinds of Achyranthes Radix extracts (methylene chloride (MC), ethylacetate (Ea), and water (W)) were used for bioassay. We examined cellular activities of osteoblasts by measurement of cell proliferation rate, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and calcified nodule formation. Osteoclast generation was assayed by measuring the number of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) (+) multinucleated cells after culture of osteoclast precursor cells. There was a maximum 20% increase in proliferation rate of osteoblastic cells after treatment with MC. First and second subfraction of MC layer increased proliferation of osteoblast. Ea layer and second subfraction of MC layer increased ALP activity. Also MC layer and second subfraction of MC layer from Achyranthes Radix extracts increased the calcified nodule. MC layer and second subfraction of MC layer from Achyranthes Radix extracts significantly decreased in the number of TRAP (+) multinucleated cells. Taken together, Achyranthes Radix stimulates the proliferation and bioactivities of bone-forming osteoblasts, and inhibits activities of bone-resorbing osteoclasts.

• 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.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.117-124
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• 2009

Purpose: This study examined the effects of swimming exercise and Achyranthes Radix extracts on the inflammatory and behavioral responses in type II collagen-induced arthritic rats for 28 days. Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were allocated randomly to one of the following four groups: only type II collageninduced (group Ⅰ), application of swimming exercise after type II collagen-induced (group II), application of Achyranthes Radix ointment after type II collagen-induced (group III), application of swimming exercise and Achyranthes Radix ointment after type II collagen-induced (group IV). Arthritis was established in SD rats by an intradermal injection of Chick type II collagen plus incomplete Freund's adjuvant at the base of the tail of the animals. The swimming exercise program consisted of a 25 min swimming session/day with a load corresponding to 5.5% of the weight bearing, three days/week for four weeks. The Achyranthes Radix ointment (0.1g) was applied twice a day for five days. The changes in behavior, H & E stain, and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) level in the knee joint were assessed. Results: The gross and histological examination, after RA induction showed reddening, edema and erythema. The H & E stain revealed the destruction of articular cartilage, bony erosion and the infiltration of inflammatory cells after RA induction. The mechanical allodynia test results were significantly higher in group I than in groups II, III and IV (p<0.01). The immunohistochemistrical response of COX-2 in the knee joint showed that groups II, III, IV had a lower response effect than group I. Conclusion: Swimming exercise training and Achyranthes Radix ointment decreased the inflammatory responses and enhanced the behavioral responses in the arthritic rats.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.425-431
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to observe the effects of Achyranthes Radix(AR) and electroacupuncture(EA) in rats with rheumatoid arthritis induced by type II collagen for 28 days. Control group was daily administered 0.9% NaCl 0.5 $m{\ell}$, Group I was daily administered 0.9% NaCl 0.5 $m{\ell}$ to arthritic rats, Group II was orally administered with Achyranthes Radix 500 mg/kg 0.5 $m{\ell}$ to arthritic rats. Group III was given 2 Hz EA of chok samni acupoint(ST36) in the test group for 30 min/days to arthritic rats. Group IV was daily orally administered with Achyranthes Radix 500 mg/kg 0.5 $m{\ell}$ and 2 Hz EA of chok samni acupoint(ST36) in the test group for 30 min/days to arthritic rats. This studies have been designed to evaluate the hind paw edema, assessment of arthritis indices, analgetic effects by analysis of blood chemistry(WBC, CRP, ALP, AST). In each group, histologic observations, Safranin O-fast green stain were observed and analyzed. The following results were obtained. Group II, III, IV were significantly decreased arthritis indices and the rate of paw edema compared with Group I . Especially group IV was the most significantly decreased. The WBC, CRP, AST, ALT was that Group II, III, IV were significantly decreased compared with Group I . In conclusion, Achyranthes Radix and Ea contribute to the improvement of blood chemistry and change in safranin O-fast green by knee joint of arthritic rats.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.457-460
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• 1991

A new triterpenoidal saponin was isolated from the methanol extract of Achyranthes fauriei roots (Amaranthaceae). The structure of this saponin was elucidated as $3-{\beta}-D-glucopyranosyl-olean-12-en-28-O-3-{\beta}-D-glucopyranosyl$ ester.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-20
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• 1983

It has been known that the insect molting hormone and its analogues exist also in plant kingdom and their concentration has been found to be about 0.1~2.0% of dry matter, which is equivalent to $10^3{\sim}10^5$ times of those in insects. This study was carried out; 1) to isolate the phytoecdysones from Korean Achyranthes radix and characterize their physico-chemical properties. 2) to investigate the biological activity of this phytoecdysone on Bombyx mori larvae. The resuls were summarized as follows; 1. The extraction method of phytoecdysones was optimized by three consecutive reflux for 1hr using 200g of dried and milled radix per 1l methanol. 2. The purification from the crude extract was made by a series of steps such as precipitation of gum-type polymer with n-Butyl acetate, adsorption on technical grade silica and chromatography with neutral alumina. The conditions of each step were optimized and the resulting crude crystal was about 500mg per kg dry radix. 3. The crude crystal from the cultivated Achyranthes(Achyranthes japonia) contained ecdysterone (20-hydroxyecdysone) and inokosterone in the proportion of one to one. In order to separate these, a series of processes such as acetylation, separation by alumina column chromatography deacetylation by alcoholysis, deionization and crystallization were introduced and optimized 125mg of ecdysterone and 18mg of inokosterone per kg dry radix were thus obtained. 4. The wild Achyranthes (Achyranthes obtusifolia) radix was found to contain the ecdysterone only. A 285mg of ecdysterone was crystallized per kg dry radix. 5. Isolated ecdysterone, inodosterone and acetylated compounds were characterized by IR., UV., NMR spectroscopy, mp, TLC and densitometry. 6. Ligation experiment was undertaken to confirm the biological activity of the purified ecdysterone; the ecdysterone could induce larval-pupal metamorphosis in the ligated abdomen of 4th instar larvae injecting 0.5~1.0${\mu}g$. 7. By ecdysterone feeding experiment using artificial diet, it was elucidated that the critical time of feeding would be the first half of each instar resulting in increased weight of silk layer. 8. The ecdysterone was fed to 5th instar silkworm at the level of 1, 2, 3, 5ppm of dry feed of artificial diet containing 5% mulberry leaves for 72hrs. At 2ppm of the concentration. body weight and silk layer weight were arrived at maximum. But at higher concentrations body weight and silk layer weight decreased than the control group. At 2ppm of the concentration, body weight was increased by 12.5%. 9. Feeding 2ppm of ecdysterone at the later half of 5th instar, the duration of larvae was shortened.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.129-135
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• 2010

Objectives : The present study was undertaken to determine whether the water extract of Achyranthis Radix, which is the roots of Achyranthes japonica (Achyranthis Radix, AR), is efficacious against collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in DBA/1J mice. Methods : Mice were immunized with bovine type II collagen and orally treated with AR-W (50 and 100 mg/kg/bw) from days 21 to 42 after immunization. Arthritis was evaluated by arthritic score, histological examination of knee joint and serological markers such as TNF-${\alpha}$, $PGE_2$ and anti-type II collagen (C II)IgG. Results : The results showed that comparing with untreated CIA mice, treated with AR-W significantly suppressed the clinical score and joint tissue pathological damages, reduced the serum levels of TNF-${\alpha}$, $PGE_2$ and anti-C II IgG in CIA-mice. These results suggest that AR-W can effectively alleviate inflammatory response on CIA, and anti-inflammatoy of AR-W can be attributed, at least partially, to the inhibition of inflamamtory mediators, $PGE_2$ and TNF-${\alpha}$, in CIA. Conclusions : This study suggests that AR-W has a therapeutic potential in inflammatory joint diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.113-120
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• 2009

This study was performed to investigate the effects in inflammatory and pain status on rheumatoid arthritis(RA) induced rats by swimming exercise and Achyranthes Radix(AR) extracts ointment according to the application methods with the change of motor-behavioral and histochemistry study through the change of safranin o-fast green stain in the knee joint and prostaglandin $E_2(PGE_2)$ concentration production in serum for 28 days. They were randomly divided into four groups; Group I: RA induction, Group II: application of only swimming exercise after RA induction, Group III: application of only AR extracts ointment after RA induction, Group IV: application of both AR extracts ointment and swimming exercise after RA induction. The following results were obtained. Volume change of hind paw edema and arthritis indices test and arthritic dorsal flexion & plantar flexion pain test, group II, III, IV were showed that significantly decrease to each scores compared with group I (p<.01). Safranin o-fast green stain were showed histological indices, group II, III, IV were showed that significantly decrease the scores of cellular infiltration and synovial hyperplasia(p<.05), pannus formation and cartilage destruction(p<.01) compared with group I. Group IV were the most decreased compared with group II, III. The $PGE_2$ concentration of the group II, III, IV were decreased compared to the group I (p<.01) In conclusion, swimming exercise and AR extracts ointment acts were the most therapeutic intervention in inflammatory and pain control of RA induced rats.

• 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.

• 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.