Effects of ethanol extracts of Panax notoginseng on liver metastasis of B16 melanoma grafted in mice

Department of Oncology, First Hospital, Zhejiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province 310006, China. cpf12345@163.com

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of ethanol extracts of Panax notoginseng on the tumor and the liver metastasis in experimental mice grafted with B16 melanoma. METHODS: B16 melanoma was transplanted in the spleen of C57BL/6 mice. The effects of different doses of ethanol extracts of Panax notoginseng on the inhibition rate of spleen tumors and the liver metastasis were observed respectively. RESULTS: The high-, medium-, and low-doses of the extracts and the interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) can improve the quality of life of the experimental mice. The weights of spleen tumor were lower in the low- and medium-dose extracts-treated groups and the IFN-alpha-treated group than that in the normal saline (NS)-treated group (P<0.05>

PMID: 16965745 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Studies on the accelerated solvent extraction of Panax notoginseng saponins

English Title: Studies on the accelerated solvent extraction of Panax notoginseng saponins.Personal Authors: Li Peng, Wan JianBo, Li ShaoPing, Wang YiTao Author Affiliation: Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, China.Editors: No editorsDocument Title: Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines, 2004 (Vol. 2) (No. 3) 157-161 Abstract:
Studies were conducted to apply accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) technique to P. notoginseng [P. pseudoginseng var. notoginseng] saponins and to explore the application of this technique in the quality control of Chinese herbs. Investigations of single factors were performed to optimize the factors that affect the efficiency of ASE by using the contents of saponins, ginsenoside Rb1 and ginsenoside Rg1 as quantitative markers. The best conditions for ASE extraction of P. notoginseng saponins were obtained as follows: methanol as solvent, particle size between 0.3 and 0.45 mm, 150°C temperature, pressure under 6.895 MPa, 15-minute duration, and single extraction. ASE technique can be used to extract P. notoginseng saponins quickly and effectively.Publisher: Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines

Chemical Assessment of Roots of Panax notoginseng (Tienchi) in China: Regional and Seasonal Variations in Its Active Constituents

Tina T. X. Dong, Xiu M. Cui, Zong H. Song, Kui J. Zhao, Zhao N. Ji, Chun K. Lo, and Karl W. K. Tsim*
Department of Biology, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay Road, Hong Kong, China, Department of Pharmacognosy, China Pharmaceutical University, 1 Shennong Road, Nanjing, China, and Department of Pharmacy, Beijing Military Medical College of PLA, Beijing, China
Received for review March 10, 2003. Revised manuscript received May 28, 2003. Accepted June 1, 2003. This work was supported by New World Company and Innovation Technology Fund (ITF; UIM/9) and the Area of Excellence Scheme established under the University Grants Committee of Hong Kong SAR, China (AoE/B-15/01) to K.W.K.T. and Yunnan Province Science and Technology Office Application Basic Research Fund to X.M.C.
Abstract:
Root of Panax notoginseng (Radix Notoginseng, Sanqi) is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine and is mainly cultivated in Wenshan of Yunnan, China. The active constituents include saponin, dencichine, flavonoid, and polysaccharide; however, the levels of these components vary in different geographical regions of growth and also show a seasonal variation. By using high-performance liquid chromatography and spectrophotometry, the contents of notoginsenoside R1, ginsenoside Rg1, Rb1, Rd, dencichine, flavonoid, and polysaccharide were determined and compared with Radix Notoginseng collected from different regions of growth in China, as well as from different seasons of harvest and market grades. Using the contents of these active constituents as markers, the best quality of Radix Notoginseng is found in the southwestern parts of Wenshan, and the best season for the harvest is September to October. In addition, the unseeded plants produced a better quality of Radix Notoginseng. The current results provide useful information for the quality control of Radix Notoginseng and its further development in establishing the good agriculture practice standard of P. notoginseng in China.
Keywords: Panax notoginseng; GAP; quality control; polysaccharide; saponin; seasonal variation; Chinese medicine

High density cell culture of Panax notoginseng for production of ginseng saponin and polysaccharide in an airlift bioreactor

High cell density of Panax notoginseng in a 17 l airlift bioreactor was achieved in batch cultivation using a modified MS medium. The dry cell weight, ginseng saponin and polysaccharide reached 24, 1.7 and 2.8 g l-1, respectively, after 15 d. A strategy of sucrose feeding based on changes in the specific O2 uptake rate was applied to the cell cultures, which increased these respective yields to 30, 2.3 and 3.2 g l-1.
Keywords: airlift bioreactor; ginseng saponin and polysaccharide; high density cell culture; Panax notoginseng; plant cell culture
Language: English
Document Type: Research article
Affiliations: 1: State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China 2: (Fax: +86-21-64253904 3: E-mail: jjzhong@ecust.edu.cn)
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Tienchi Ginseng Root

Chinese name:Tienchi or Tian San Qi
Common name:Noto or Pseudo-Ginseng
Has a close similarity to Panax ginseng, known to the Chinese by "the miracle root for the preservation of health." One of the best health preserving herbs known to man.
Energy and Taste: neutral (mild), bitter
Meridians: Heart and Kidney
Tonic action: Yin and Blood
One of China's most famous herbalist, Li Chih Shen, said that "Tienchi is more valuable then gold." It has long been recognized as one of China's best tonic herbs for building the blood, improving the circulation and preventing anxiety.
Much research has been done on Tienchi, similar to Panax ginseng. The root comes in the raw form (sliced) or cooked (steam-processed) each with different attributes.
Research findings indicate that raw Tienchi positively affects the heart and tributaries. Research in China shows that Tienchi increases blood flow in the coronary artery, ( the artery that supplies the heart with blood) and increases the consumption of oxygen in the middle muscular layer of the heart. This results in the lowering of blood pressure and improving regularity of the heart beat. This has led to the findings that Tienchi can prevent insufficiency caused by stagnation of blood in the heart. Research further indicates that Tienchi can relieve chest pain and/or the feeling of oppression in the chest due to angina pectoris induced by coronary insufficiency. Tienchi has also been found to stop internal and external bleeding, while being able to disperse blood clots. Tienchi has been distributed to members of the armed services of several Asian countries to be used in case of injury.
Tienchi has further been demonstrated to significantly reduce the cholesterol levels in the blood and coating the arteries. Research has also confirmed the ancient precaution that Tienchi should not be used during pregnancy. Tienchi has the capacity to cause expulsion of blood clots lodged anywhere in the system.
Steamed Tienchi is rich in iron, calcium, proteins, saponins, flavinoids and more. However, steamed or otherwise cooked, Tienchi's effects are somewhat different then those of the raw variety. It becomes a very efficient blood tonic, strengthening the body and promoting growth. Like the raw variety, steamed Tienchi reduces blood cholesterol levels.
Tienchi is more scarce then the other tonic herbs. It comes either as a whole, sliced, or powdered form. For cooking as part of a herbal recipe, the sliced variety is preferred as the whole root is very hard to slice. The taste of Tienchi is not as pleasant as most other tonic herbs, it's somewhat bitter flavor can take some getting used to. For this reason capsules are preferred by some. Also, we have "Essence of Tienchi Flower Infusion" on our Chinese Herbal Infusion page.

Improvement of Panax notoginseng Cell Culture for Production of Ginseng Saponin and Polysaccharide by High Density Cultivation in Pneumatically Agitat

A Panax notoginseng cell culture was successfully scaled up from shake flask to 1.0-L bubble column reactor and concentric-tube airlift reactor. High-density bioreactor batch cultivation was carried out using a modified MS medium. The maximum cell density in batch cultures reached 20.1, 21.0 and 24.1 g/L in the shake flask, bubble column and airlift reactors, respectively, and their corresponding biomass productivity was 950, 1140 and 1350 mg/(L·d) for each. The productivity of ginseng saponin was 70, 96 and 99 mg/(L·d) in the flask, bubble column and airlift reactors, respectively; and the polysaccharide productivity reached 104, 119 and 151 mg/(L·d) for each. Furthermore, a fed-batch cultivation strategy was developed on the basis of specific oxygen uptake rate (SOUR), i.e., sucrose feeding before a sharp decrease of SOUR, and the highest cell density of 29.7 g/L was successfully achieved in the airlift bioreactor on day 17 with a very high biomass productivity of 1520 mg/(L·d). The concentrations of ginseng saponin and polysaccharide reached about 2.1 and 3.0 g/L, respectively, and their productivity was 106 (saponin) and 158 mg/(L·d) (polysaccharide). This work successfully demonstrated the high-density bioreactor cultivation of P. notoginseng cells in pneumatically agitated bioreactors and the reproduction of the shake flask culture results in bioreactors. The cell density, biomass productivity, production titer and productivity of both ginseng saponin and polysaccharide obtained here were the highest that have been reported on a reactor scale for all the ginseng species.

About Tienchi !

Tienchi, also called Tienchi ginseng because of its close biological similarity to Panax ginseng, is also called by the Chinese "the miracle root for the preservation of health." Tienchi stands as one of the most excellent health preserving herbs known to man.

History China's most famous herbalist, Li Chih Shen, said that "Tienchi is more valuable than gold." Since ancient times Tienchi has been taught as a premier life-preserver and general tonic, building the blood and strengthening the primary energy.

It has long been recognized as one of China's best blood tonics, and has been used to improve circulation and to prevent anxiety. Nutritional Value Like Panax ginseng, a tremendous amount of scientific research has been done on Tienchi. As a matter of fact, Tienchi now seems to be even more valuable, with the research bringing to light a number of actions of this herb that make it of special interest in these modern times. A great deal of scientific research has been conducted on raw Tienchi. Tienchi contains three particularly important substances: Saponin A, Saponin B, and flavonoides. Tienchi is also rich in Iron, Calcium and proteins.
It appears that these substances provide raw material for the human synthesis of major adrenal hormones such as cortisol and reproductive hormones such as testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone. Tienchi has also been found to promote non-specific RNA to deploy amino acids to form gamma globulin which acts as an antibody for the control and prevention of general diseases. The most astounding and significant research findings, however, revolve around Tienchi's ability to positively affect the heart and its tributaries. Chinese research indicates that Tienchi increases blood flow in the coronary artery (the artery that supplies the heart itself with blood) and increases the consumption of oxygen in the middle muscular layer of the heart. This results in the lowering of blood pressure and in improving regularity of the heartbeat.
This has led to the finding that Tienchi can prevent insufficiency caused by stagnation of blood in the heart. Research further indicates that Tienchi can relieve chest pain and/or the feeling of oppression in the chest due to angina pectoris induced by coronary insufficiency. Tienchi has also been found to arrest both internal and external bleeding, while being able to disperse blood clots. Tienchi has further been demonstrated to significantly reduce the cholesterol levels in the blood and coatings in the arteries. Research has also confirmed the ancient precaution that Tienchi should not be used during pregnancy. Tienchi has the capacity to cause the expulsion of blood clots lodged anywhere in the system. It has been found that Tienchi treats an embryo as a blood clot, and can therefore result in abortion.