A New Furostanol Saponin from the Water-extract of Dioscorea nipponica Mak.,the Raw Material of the Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine Wei Ao Xin

O-a-D-Glucopyranosyl-furost-5(6),20(22)-dien-3a,26-diol 1, a new furostanol saponin, was isolated from the water-extract of Dioscorea nipponica Mak., the raw material of a traditional Chinese herbal medicine Wei Ao Xin. The structure of 1 was determined on the basis of its spectral data especially by NMR spectroscopy. The result provides the first example of naturally occurring furostanol saponins with a single saccharide chain at the C-26 position.

Rapid Propagation of Dioscorea nipponica Makino via Axillary Bud Proliferation

Objectives] This study aimed to determine the optimal medium components and culture conditions for the induction and proliferation of Dioscorea nipponica Makino axillary buds in vitro .[Methods] The effects of basic medium （MS, WPM, B5 and N6）, cytokinins type and concentration （0, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0 mg/L 6-BA; 0, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0 mg/L KT）, auxins type and concentration （0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.00 mg/L IBA, 2,4-D and NAA） on the induction of D. nipponica axillary buds were respectively measured and compared. Then, the effects of sugar source （30 g/L sucrose, fructose, white sugar, maltose and glucose） and light intensity （0, 800, 1 600, 2 400 and 3 200 lx） on the proliferation coefficient of D. nipponica axillary buds were evaluated.[Results] Using stem segments with leaf axils as the explants, the highest induction rate （90.8%） of axillary buds was achieved in MS supplemented with 2.5 mg/L 6-BA and 0.5 mg/L 2,4-D, and the fresh and dry weights of tissue culture seedlings in this medium were also the highest, up to 1.5 g and 160.9 mg, respectively. Then, the highest proliferation coefficient of was D. nipponica axillary buds noted when sucrose was used as the sugar source in medium, and the optimal light intensity for the proliferation of D. nipponica axillary buds was 2 400 lx.[Conclusions] The results provide an experimental evidence for rapid propagation of D. nipponica .

Effects of Total Saponins from Dioscorea Nipponica Makino on Monosodium Urate-Induced M1-Polarized Macrophages through Arachidonic Acid Signaling Pathway:An in vitro Study

Objective To investigate and reveal the underlying mechanism of the effect of total saponins from Dioscoreae nipponica Makino(TSDN)on the arachidonic acid pathway in monosodium urate(MSU)crystal-induced M1-polarized macrophages.Methods M1 polarization of RAW264.7 cells were induced by 1µg/mL lipopolysaccharide(LPS).The methylthiazolyldiphenyl-tetrazolium bromide method was then used to screen the concentration of TSDN.MSU(500µg/mL)was used to induce the gouty arthritis model.Afterwards,10µg/L TSDN and 8µmol/L celecoxib,which was used as a positive control,were added to the above LPS and MSU-induced cells for 24 h.The mRNA and protein expressions of cyclooxygenase(COX)2,5-lipoxygenase(5-LOX),microsomal prostaglandin E synthase derived eicosanoids(mPGES)-1,leukotriene B(LTB)4,cytochrome P450(CYP)4A,and prostaglandin E_(2)(PGE_(2))were tested by real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting,respectively.The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to test the contents of M1 markers,including inducible nitric oxid synthase(NOS)2,CD80,and CD86.Results TSDN inhibited the proliferation of M1 macrophages and decreased both the mRNA and protein expressions of COX2,5-LOX,CYP4A,LTB4,and PGE_(2)(P<0.01)while increased the mRNA and protein expression of mPGES-1(P<0.05 or P<0.01).TSDN could also significantly decrease the contents of NOS2,CD80,and CD86(P<0.01).Conclusion TSDN has an anti-inflammation effect on gouty arthritis in an in vitro model by regulating arachidonic acid signaling pathway.

A SYSTEMS PHARMACOLOGY VIEW OF THE BIOACTIVITY OF THE EXTRACT FROM RHIZOME DIOSCOREA NIPPONICA MANKINO

Key for worldwide acceptance of Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM)is the ability to provide scientific evidence combined with a quality control system based on the bioactive ingredients.Modern scientific technology tools are now available to accomplish standardization of TCM products in order to achieve a high level of efficacy and safety,enhancing the introduction into the