Antimicrobial Effects of Silver Nanoparticles Synthesized by Fatsia japonica Leaf Extracts for Preservation of Citrus Fruits.[Pubmed: 28727146]

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[Chemical Components from Leaves of Fatsia japonica and Their Antitumor Activities in vitro].[Pubmed: 26672339]

To study the chemical components from the leaves of Fatsia japonica and their antitumor activities in vitro.

Fatsioside A‑induced apoptotic death of HepG2 cells requires activation of AMP‑activated protein kinase.[Pubmed: 26252753]

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most malignant types of human primary tumor and has a poor prognosis, therefore, the development of novel therapeutic modalities is necessary. Fatsioside A is a novel baccharane‑type triterpenoid glycoside, which is extracted from the fruits of Fatsia japonica. Previous data has revealed that fatsioside A can exert growth inhibition, cell cycle arrest and induce apoptosis in human glioma cells. However, no detailed investigations have been performed to determine its action on human hepatocellular cells, and the exact mechanisms underlying the induction of apoptosis remain to be elucidated. The aim of the present study was to investigate the anticancer effect of fatsioside A in the HepG2 human HCC cell line, and to investigate the underlying mechanisms by focusing on the AMP‑activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling cascade. The results of the present study demonstrated that fatsioside A induced apoptotic death of the human HepG2 HCC cells, which was associated with a marked activation of AMPK and increased expression of the downstream acetyl‑CoA carboxylase carboxylase. Inhibition of AMPK by RNA interference or by its inhibitor, compound C, suppressed fatsioside A‑induced caspase‑3 cleavage and apoptosis in the HepG2 cells, while AICAR, the AMPK activator, elicited marked cytotoxic effects. Together, these results suggested that fatsioside A‑induced apoptotic death requires AMPK activation in HepG2 cells.

The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Fatsia japonica (Apiales: Araliaceae) and the phylogenetic analysis.[Pubmed: 26153743]

In this study, we have sequenced the complete chloroplast genome of Fatsia japonica, a well-known ornamental and potential medicinal plant. The complete chloroplast genome of F. japonica is 155 613 bp in length with 62.09% AT content, has a typical quadripartite structure with large (LSC 86 487 bp) and small (SSC 17 866 bp) single-copy regions separated by a pair of inverted repeats (IRs 25 929 bp) and contains 114 unique genes with 18 genes duplicated in the IR making a total of 132 genes. The phylogenetic analysis indicated the position of F. japonica in Apiales and has the potential to facilitate a better understanding of the intergeneric relationships in the family.

Fatsioside A inhibits the growth of glioma cells via the induction of endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated apoptosis.[Pubmed: 25608104]

Malignant gliomas are a common type of primary tumor of the central nervous system. In spite of current intensive therapy, the prognosis of patients with malignant glioma remains poor, hence the development of novel therapeutic modalities is necessary. Cell apoptosis is a frequent target in the development of anti‑cancer drugs. Fatsioside A, a novel baccharane‑type triterpenoid glycoside, is extracted from the fruits of Fatsia japonica. Previous studies have shown that Fatsioside A induces growth inhibition, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in C6 rat glioma cells and U251 human glioma cells. However, to the best of our knowledge, no detailed studies have reported its effect on U87MG glioma cells and its exact mechanisms remain unknown. In the current study, the growth inhibitory effect of Fatsioside A on U87MG cells was evaluated and the underlying molecular mechanisms were explored. Through the use of flow cytometry and a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, it was determined that Fatsioside A markedly inhibits the growth of U87MG cells. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that Fatsioside A induces growth inhibition of U87MG cells via the induction of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, which was supported by the upregulation of ER stress markers, including elevated levels of phosphorylation of PERK and eIF2α, the increased expression levels of CHOP and the accelerated cleavage of caspase‑4. The downregulation of CHOP via CHOP‑specific siRNA reduced the growth‑inhibitive effect of Fatsioside A on U87MG cells, further confirming the role of the ER stress response in mediating Fatsioside A‑induced growth inhibition. In conclusion, Fatsioside A inhibits glioma cell growth via the induction of ER stress‑mediated apoptosis. This may provide a molecular basis for the development of Fatsioside A into a drug candidate for the treatment of malignant glioma.

Fatsioside A, a rare baccharane-type glycoside inhibiting the growth of glioma cells from the fruits of Fatsia japonica.[Pubmed: 24549925]

A novel baccharane-type triterpenoid glycoside named fatsioside A (1), together with ten oleanane glycosides, were isolated from the fruits of Fatsia japonica. The structure of fatsioside A was assigned as 3β,15α,18α-trihydroxy-18,19-secolupane-12,19-dione 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-β-D-glucopyranoside by extensive NMR and HRESIMS analyses. F. japonica is the third baccharane glycoside-containing species reported to date in the plant kingdom, while fatsioside A represents the first baccharane glycoside found in the Araliaceae family. Fatsioside A inhibited the growth of rat glioma C6 cells and human glioma U251 cells with IC50 values of 33.48 ± 2.01 µM and 77.58 ± 6.19 µM, respectively. Further investigation indicated that fatsioside A induced apoptosis and necrosis in glioma cells, and arrested the cell cycle at the G0/G1 phase.

Quantitative determination of triterpenoid glycosides in Fatsia japonica Decne. & Planch. using high performance liquid chromatography.[Pubmed: 24176752]

Fatsia japonica Decne. & Planch. is a triterpenoid glycoside-rich herb with anti-inflammatory activity for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. A method for quantitative analysis of the complex triterpenoid glycosides in this medicinal plant has not been established so far. In this study, a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was developed for simultaneous qualification of 11 glycosides in F. japonica. The analysis was performed on an ODS-2 Hypersil column (250mm×4.6mm, 5μm) with a binary gradient mobile phase of water and acetonitrile. The established HPLC method was validated in terms of linearity, sensitivity, stability, precision, accuracy, and recovery. Results showed that this method had good linearity with R(2) at 0.99992-0.99999 in the test range of 0.04-9.00μg/μL. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) for the standard compounds were 0.013-0.020μg/μL and 0.040-0.060μg/μL. The relative standard deviations (RSDs%) of run variations were 0.83-1.40% for intra-day and 0.84-3.59% for inter-day. The analyzed compounds in the samples were stable for at least 36h, and the spike recoveries of the detected glycosides were 99.67-103.11%. The developed HPLC method was successfully applied for the measurements of the contents of 11 triterpenoid glycoside in different parts of F. japonica. Taken together, the HPLC method newly developed in this study could be used for qualitative and quantitative analysis of the bioactive triterpenoid glycosides in F. japonica and its products.

Four new species of Gracillariidae (Lepidoptera) from China and Japan, and description of the pupal morphology of the genera Corythoxestis, Eumetriochroa, Guttigera, and Metriochroa.[Pubmed: 26131468]

Four new leaf mining Oecophyllembiinae (Gracillariidae) species are described from China and Japan: Metriochroa symplocosella sp. nov. (host plants: Symplocos anomala, S. sumuntia, Symplocaceae) from China, Guttigera schefflerella sp. nov. (host plant: Schefflera octophylla, Araliaceae), Eumetriochroa araliella sp. nov. (host plants: Dendropanax trifidus, Evodiopanax innovans, Eleutherococcus sciadophylloides and Fatsia japonica, Araliaceae) and Corythoxestis tricalysiella sp. nov. (host plant: Tricalysia dubia, Rubiaceae) from Japan. Corythoxestis sunosei (Kumata, 1998) is recorded from new host plants: Adinapilulifera and Mussaenda parviflora, Rubiaceae, from Japan. The female adult and pupal morphologies, life history and host plant of the genus Guttigera are described for the first time. Pupae of seven species of four genera: Corythoxestis, Eumetriochroa, Guttigera, and Metriochroa, are described for the first time. We provide morphological diagnostic differences between species and genera of Oecophyllembiinae and Phyllocnistis. Our preliminary data suggest that Oecophyllembiinae species have three valuable pupal diagnostic characters: 1) cocoon cutter with unique lateral processes or setae on the clypeus, 2) tergal spines with only a pair of dorsal setae, and 3) cremaster with more than two pairs of caudal processes, while Phyllocnistis species possess 1) cocoon cutter without lateral processes or setae on clypeus, 2) tergal spines with a pair of dorsal setae and dorsal hooks, and 3) cremaster with only a pair of caudal processes.

Active component of Fatsia japonica enhances the transduction efficiency of Tat-SOD fusion protein both in vitro and in vivo.[Pubmed: 18852520]

It has been reported that Tat-SOD can be directly transduced into mammalian cells and skin and acts as a potential therapeutic protein in various diseases. To isolate the compound that can enhance the transduction efficiency of Tat-SOD, we screened a number of natural products. 3-O-[beta-D-Glucopyranosyl(1-->4)-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl]- hederagenin (OGAH) was identified as an active component of Fatsia japonica and is known as triterpenoid glycosides (hederagenin saponins). OGAH enhanced the transduction efficiencies of Tat-SOD into HeLa cells and mice skin. The enzymatic activities in the presence of OGAH were markedly increased in vitro and in vivo when compared with the controls. Although the mechanism is not fully understood, we suggest that OGAH, the active component of Fatsia japonica, might change the conformation of the membrane structure and it may be useful as an ingredient in antiaging cosmetics or as a stimulator of therapeutic proteins that can be used in various disorders related to reactive oxygen species (ROS).