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We aimed to identify the mechanism underlying the preventive effects of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) through Platycodi Radix consumption using liver proteomic and bioinformatic analysis. C57BL/6J mice were categorized into three groups: those receiving a standard chow diet (NCD), those on a high-fat diet (HFD), and those on an HFD supplemented with 5% Platycodi Radix extract (PRE). After a 12-week period, PRE-fed mice exhibited a noteworthy prevention of hepatic steatosis. Protein identification and quantification in liver samples were conducted using LC-MS/MS. The identified proteins were analyzed through Ingenuity Pathway Analysis software, revealing a decrease in proteins associated with FXR/RXR activation and a concurrent increase in cholesterol biosynthesis proteins in the PRE-treated mouse liver. Subsequent network analysis predicted enhanced bile acid synthesis from these proteins. Indeed, the quantity of bile acids, which was reduced in HFD conditions, increased in the PRE group, accompanied by an elevation in the expression of synthesis-related proteins. Our findings suggest that the beneficial effects of PRE in preventing hepatic steatosis may be mediated, at least in part, through the modulation of FXR/RXR activation, cholesterol biosynthesis, and bile acid synthesis pathways.

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Platycodi Radix (PR) is a valuable herb that is widely used in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in clinics. However, the mechanism of action for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease remains unclear due to the lack of in vivo studies. Our study established a novel integrated strategy based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry, network pharmacology, and molecular docking to systematically analyze the tissue distribution and active compounds of PR in vivo and the therapeutic mechanism of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. First, tissue distribution studies have shown that the lung is the organ with the highest distribution of PR compounds. Subsequently, network pharmacology results showed that the tumor necrosis factor signaling pathway, interleukin-17 signaling pathway, and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway were the critical mechanisms of PR against chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Ultimately, molecular docking results showed that the key targets were stably bound to the corresponding active compounds of PR. Our study is of great significance for the screening of the key effective compounds and the study of the mechanism of action in traditional Chinese medicine and provides data to support the further development and utilization of PR.

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Prolonged postprandial hyperlipidemia may cause the development of cardiovascular diseases. This study explored whether postprandial triglyceride-rich lipoprotein (TRL) clearance responsiveness to Platycodi radix beverage (PR) is associated with changes in blood microbiota profiles. We conducted an 8-week randomized controlled clinical trial involving normolipidemic adults with low fruit and vegetable intakes. Participants underwent an oral fat tolerance test and 16S amplicon sequencing analysis of blood microbiota. Using the Qualitative Interaction Trees, we identified responders as those with higher baseline dietary fat intake (>38.5 g/day) and lipoprotein lipase levels (>150.6 ng/mL), who showed significant reductions in AUC for triglyceride (TG) and chylomicron-TG after the oral fat tolerance test. The LEfSe analysis showed differentially abundant blood microbiota between responders and non-responders. A penalized logistic regression algorithm was employed to predict the responsiveness to intervention on the TRL clearance based on the background characteristics, including the blood microbiome. Our findings suggest that PR intake can modulate postprandial TRL clearance in adults consuming higher fat intake over 38.5 g/day and low fruit and vegetable intake through shared links to systemic microbial signatures.

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ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The contents and types of the active compounds in medicinal herbs depend greatly on their extraction methods, sources of origin and the modes of cultivation. Platycodon grandiflorus (Jacq.) A.DC. is an ethnic medicinal herb widely cultivated in China, and its dried root, Platycodi Radix (PR), is an important ingredient in herbal formulae for attenuating lung issues in Mongolian medical practice. However, research evaluating the superiority of PR based on harvesting regions is relatively limited. AIM: This study aimed to evaluate the qualitative superiority of PR from different regions based on anti-inflammatory effect. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of three commercial PR samples were obtained from Anguo, Bozhou and Shangluo, and two wild samples were obtained from Chifeng and Hinggan. PR extract (PRE) was prepared by water distillation, and platycodin D content in the extract was examined by HPLC-UVD. An optimal dose of PRE was administered to BALB/c mice with S. pneumoniae pneumonia, and IL-10 and TNF-α levels in lung tissue were examined by ELISA. HepG2 cells were treated with PRE, and an analysis of differentially expressed gene and functional enrichment was performed using an HTS2 assay. RESULTS: The contents of moisture, total ash, crude extract and platycodin D in the raw roots met the quality control requirements outlined in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2020 edition). The platycodin D content in the aqueous extract of the roots in descending order was 24.16% in PRE_Shangluo, 22.91% in PRE_Hinggan, 21.41% in PRE_Bozhou, 17.8% in PRE_Chifeng and 15.92% in PRE_Anguo. Furthermore, administration of PREs at an optimal dose of 2.0 g/kg resulted in some anti-inflammatory effect in mice with Streptococcus pneumoniae pneumonia, among which PRE_Shangluo administration exhibited a more obvious anti-inflammatory impact as shown by a significant decrease in the plasma white cell count (p < 0.05) and IL-10 level elevation and TNF-α reduction in lung tissue (p < 0.05) after treatment. In HepG2 cells treated with 100 µg/ml of each PRE, PRE_Hinggan and PRE_Shangluo resulted in significant differential expression of genes such as nuclear factor kappa B subunit 1 (NFKB1) and significant enrichment of pathways involved in the immune system, such as PI3K-Akt, MAPK and NF-kappa B signaling pathways. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, based on the anti-inflammatory effect, the quality of PR of Shangluo origin was superior to that of PR from the other four regions.

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ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The modified gamgil-tang (GGX) is a mixture of four herbal medicine including Platycodi Radix, Glycyrrhizae Radix, Lonicerae Flos and Mori Radicis Cortex which has been traditionally used to treat lung and airway diseases to relieve symptoms like sore throat, cough, and sputum in Korea. Its major component chlorogenic acid had been reported to have antioxidant, antibacterial, hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and anti-microbial activity. AIM OF THE STUDY: To identify the inhibitory effect of GGX in a particulate matter (PM) induced lung injury mouse model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated NO production, the release of TNF-α and IFN-γ in PM-induced MH-S cells, and the number of neutrophils, immune cell subtypes, and the secretion of TNF-α, IL-17, CXCL-1, MIP-2 in the PM-stimulated mouse model to assess the inhibitory effect of GGX against PM. In addition, as exposure to PM increases respiratory symptoms, typically cough and sputum, we attempted to evaluate the antitussive and expectorant activities of GGX. RESULTS: Our study provided evidence that GGX has inhibitory effects in PM-induced lung injury by inhibiting the increase in neutrophil and inflammatory mediators, deactivating T cells, and ameliorating lung tissue damage. Notably, GGX reduced PM-induced neutrophilic inflammation by attenuating the number of neutrophils and regulating the secretion of neutrophil-related cytokines and chemokines, such as TNF-α, IL-17, MIP2, and CXCL-1. In addition, GGX demonstrated an antitussive activity by significantly reducing citric acid-induced cough frequency and delaying the latent period and expectorant activities by the increased phenol red secretion compared to the control group. CONCLUSIONS: GGX is expected to be an effective herbal remedy to prevent PM-induced respiratory disease.

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Extract from balloon flower root (Platycodi radix) containing platycosides as saponins is a beneficial food additive and is used for their savory taste and the alleviation of respiratory diseases. Deglycosylated platycosides show greater pharmacological effects than glycosylated platycosides. However, there are no reports on the conversion of glycosylated platycosides into deapiosylated platycosides. In this study, we showed that the crude enzyme from Rhizopus oryzae, a generally recognized as safe (GRAS) fungus isolated from meju (fermented soybean brick), completely converted glycosylated platycosides in Platycodi radix extract into deapiosylated platycosides: deapiosylated platycodin D (deapi-PD), deapiosylated platycodin A (deapi-PA), deapiosylated polygalacin D (deapi-PGD), and deapiosylated platyconic acid A (deapi-PCA). Among these, deapi-PA and deapi-PCA were first identified using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of deapiosylated platycosides were greater than those of the precursor glycosylated platycosides. These deapiosylated platycosides could improve the properties of functional food additives.

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Platycodon grandiflorum (balloon flower) root (Platycodi radix, PR) is used as a health supplement owing to its beneficial bioactive properties. In the present study, the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and whitening effects of deglycosylated platycosides (saponins) from PR biotransformed by pectinase from Aspergillus aculeatus were investigated. The bioactivities of the platycosides improved when the number of sugar moieties attached to the aglycone platycosides was decreased. The deglycosylated saponins exhibited higher lipoxygenase inhibitory activities (anti-inflammatory activities) than the precursor platycosides and the anti-inflammatory compound baicalein. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity of the pectinase-treated PR extract was higher than that of the non-treated PR extract. The trolox-equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) assay showed improved values as the saponins were hydrolyzed. The tyrosinase inhibitory activities (whitening effects) of deglycosylated platycosides were higher than those of the precursor platycosides. Furthermore, 3-O-ß-D-glucopyranosyl platycosides showed higher anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and whitening activities than their precursor glycosylated platycosides. Therefore, 3-O-ß-D-glucopyranosyl platycosides may improve the beneficial effects of nutritional supplements and cosmetic products.

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ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Platycodi radix is widely used in traditional herbal medicine for bronchitis, asthma, pulmonary tuberculosis, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes. However, data on safety of Platycodi radix are insufficient. AIM OF THE STUDY: The present study was performed to evaluate the potential subchronic toxicity of Platycodi radix water extract through a 13-week repeated oral dose experiment in Sprague-Dawley rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty male and 40 female rats were randomly assigned to four experimental groups: three treatment groups receiving 300, 1000, and 3000 mg/kg/day of Platycodi radix water extract and a vehicle control group receiving sterile distilled water for 13 weeks. RESULTS: Repeated oral administration of the Platycodi radix water extract to rats resulted in an increased incidence of centrilobular hepatocellular hypertrophy in the liver, diffuse follicular cell hypertrophy in the thyroid gland, and squamous hyperplasia of the limiting ridge in the stomach at dose levels of ≥500 mg/kg/day of both genders. However, these findings are considered be adaptive non-adverse changes because these findings were observed without organ weight change or clinical pathology alterations. No treatment-related effects on clinical signs, body weight, food and water consumption, ophthalmic examination, urinalysis, hematology, serum biochemistry, necropsy findings, and organ weights were observed at any dose tested. CONCLUSION: Under the present experimental conditions, the no-observed-adverse-effect level of the Platycodi radix water extract was considered to be ≥ 3000 mg/kg/day in rats, and no target organs were identified.

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Quick identification of the complex composition of traditional Chinese medicine only through liquid-mass spectrometry technology is difficult. Especially the identification of isomers and co-eluting compounds is even more difficult. In this study, an approach of multidimensional data modes based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with traveling wave ion mobility quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry was proposed to quickly and comprehensively identify the compounds in Platycodi Radix. First, data-independent acquisition, high-definition acquisition, and tandem mass spectrometry acquisition modes were used to acquire integrated multidimensional mass spectral data. Second, summarize the diagnostic ions of compounds according to the fragmentation pathway of references. Third, unknown compounds and isomers were identified via the UNIFI™ software with an in-house library. Finally, a total of 87 compounds were identified, seven compounds were explicitly identified by comparing the retention time and fragment ions with the references. Fourteen compounds were first detected in the Platycodi Radix, four of them tentatively were identified by comparing with previous literature, eight compounds were observed and reported for the first time by comparing typical fragmentation pathway with the known standard substances in this paper. This research strategy has a certain potential for the analysis of complex components of other traditional Chinese medicine.

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The balloon flower (BF) is a potent natural source of phytochemical compounds and is associated with our health. The sprouting process is accompanied by significant changes in phytochemical compounds in comparison with their original plants. Even though many studies are conducted with BF, there are not yet reports of BF sprouts. In the present study, we determined the chemical composition and biological activity of BF sprouts that had been cultivated for 50 days. Kaempferol-3-O-galactoside and 1-O-caffeoylquinic acid were identified as major components of whole BF sprouts. The leaves/stems of the sprouts had higher total phenolic and flavonoid contents and lower IC50 values in DPPH• and ABTS•+ scavenging assays than whole sprouts or roots. The roots of the sprouts had the highest polygalacin D content (1.44 mg/g). We also determined the effects of different parts of BF sprouts on RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. When these cells were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), their nitrite and pro-inflammatory cytokine production increased. BF sprouts suppressed the LPS-induced production of nitrite, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-6 in a concentration-dependent manner without causing any cytotoxic effects. Nitrite and pro-inflammatory cytokine production were significantly inhibited by the roots and leaves/stems, respectively. The inhibitory effects of BF sprouts on LPS-stimulated inflammatory responses in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells were associated with suppressed NF-κB activation. These findings suggest that BF sprouts could be a valuable source of bioactive compounds and exert anti-inflammatory effects due to their polygalacin D, deapi-platycodin D3, and polyphenol content.

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Platycodin D (PD), a major saponin (platycoside) in Platycodi radix (balloon flower root), has higher pharmacological activity than the other major platycosides; however, its content in the plant root is only approximately 10% (w/w) and the productivities of PD by several enzymes are still too low for industrial applications. To rapidly increase the total PD content, the ß-glucosidase from Caldicellulosiruptor bescii was used for the deglucosylation of the PD precursors platycoside E (PE) and platycodin D3 (PD3) in the root extract into PD. Under the optimized reaction conditions, the enzyme completely converted the PD precursors into PD with the highest productivity reported so far, increasing the total PD content to 48% (w/w). In the biotransformation process, the platycosides in Platycodi radix were hydrolyzed by four pathways: deapiosylated (deapi)-PE → deapi-PD3 → deapi-PD, PE → PD3 → PD, polygalacin D3 → polygalacin D, and 3″-O-acetyl polygalacin D3 → 3″-O-acetyl polygalacin D.

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Background: Hainosan (Painongsan) is a traditional Japanese and Chinese medicine that is used to treat several purulent diseases, including gingivitis and periodontitis. This formulation contains three crude drug components: The dried immature fruit of Citrus aurantium (Aurantii Fructus Immaturus), the dried root of Paeonia lactiflora (Paeoniae Radix), and the dried root of Platycodon grandiflorum (Platycodi Radix). Here we evaluated the in vitro antibacterial effects of hainosan extract (HNS) and extracts of its three components against Porphyromonas gingivalis, one of the pathogenic bacteria that causes periodontitis. Methods: The antibacterial activities of HNS and its components were examined by counting the number of colony-forming units (CFUs) and through transmission electron microscopy. Results: We found that HNS had direct antibacterial activity against three P. gingivalis isolates (JCM12257, JCM8525, and JCM19600), with HNS-treated cells being significantly smaller than those of untreated bacteria. Extracts of Platycodi Radix and Paeoniae Radix significantly suppressed the growth of P. gingivalis in a dose-dependent manner, with Platycodi Radix extract having the greatest antibacterial effect. In addition, P. gingivalis that were treated with Platycodi Radix extract were significantly larger than those treated with Aurantii Fructus Immaturus or Paeoniae Radix extracts. Further analysis showed that platycodin D, which is one of the ingredients of Platycodi Radix, reduced bacterial growth. Conclusions: Platycodi Radix is the active component in Hainosan and may represent a useful agent for the treatment of P. gingivalis-induced gingivitis and periodontitis.

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The Platycodon grandiflorum root, Platycodi radix, a common vegetable, and its extract with glycosylated saponins, platycosides, have been used as food items and food health supplements for pulmonary diseases and respiratory disorders. Enzymes convert glycosylated saponins into deglycosylated saponins, which exhibit higher biological activity than glycosylated saponins. In this study, ß-glucosidase from the hyperthermophilic bacterium Dictyoglomus turgidum converted platycosides in the Platycodi radix extract into deglucosylated platycosides. In addition, the enzyme completely converted platycoside E (PE), platycodin D3 (PD3), and platycodin D (PD) in Platycodi radix extract into deglucosylated platycodin D (deglu PD), which was first identified by nuclear magnetic resonance. The anti-inflammatory activities of deglu PD and deglucosylated Platycodi radix extract were higher than those of PE, PD3, PD, Platycodi radix extract, and baicalein, an anti-inflammatory agent. Therefore, deglucosylated Platycodi radix extract is expected to be used as improved functional food supplements.

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Allergic airway inflammation is an increasing global health problem, and novel strategies to prevent or ameliorate the condition are needed. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is involved in protein synthesis and maturation, and is a susceptible to sub-organelle stress including inflammation and ROS-amplifying signaling. Here, the effects of Platycodi Radix extracts (PRE) on house dust mite (HDM) extract (Dematophagoides pteronyssius)-induced asthma were investigated. Following 50, 100, or 200 mg/kg-PRE-treatment, the infiltration of inflammatory cells, ER stress, and NF-κB signaling were controlled. The expression of inflammatory cytokines and mucin5AC was also inhibited in the presence of PRE. Consistently, in the HDM-exposed human bronchial epithelial cells, ER stress and its associated ROS were significantly increased along with NF-κB signaling, which was also attenuated by PRE and its components. This study suggests that PRE might be useful as a therapeutic/preventive agent in HDM-associated allergic airway inflammation. ER stress and its associated ROS signaling involved in inflammation provide additional mechanistic insight into the underlying molecular mechanism.

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BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Elevation of postprandial lipemia characterized by a rise in triglyceride (TG)-rich lipoproteins can increase the risk of atherogenesis. The objective of this study was to investigate postprandial lipemia response to a single dietary fat/sugar load test and monitor beneficial changes induced by the consumption of Platycodi radix (AP) beverage in healthy subjects. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A total of 52 subjects were randomly assigned to either placebo or AP beverage group with a high-fat shake in a randomized controlled crossover trial. Postprandial blood was collected at 0, 1, 2, 4, and 6 h and analyzed for TG and lipoprotein lipase mass. Inhibition of pancreatic lipase was determined in vitro. RESULTS: AP inhibited pancreatic lipase activity in vitro (IC50 = 5 mg/mL). Compared to placebo beverage, AP beverage consumption with a high-fat shake induced significant increase of plasma lipoprotein lipase mass (P = 0.0111, ß estimate = 4.2948) with significant reduction in very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) TG concentration (P = 0.038, ß estimate = -52.69) at 6 h. Based on significant correlation between high-fat dietary scores MEDFICTS and postprandial TG responses in VLDL (P = 0.0395, r = 0.2127), subgroup analysis revealed that 6 h-postprandial VLDL TG response was significantly decreased by AP consumption in subjects with MEDFICTS ≥ 40 (P = 0.0291, ß estimate = -7214). CONCLUSIONS: AP beverage might have potential to alleviate postprandial lipemia through inhibiting pancreatic lipase activity and elevating lipoprotein lipase mass. Subgroup analysis revealed that subjects with high-fat dietary pattern could be classified as responders to AP beverage among all subjects.

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Platycodi radix (i.e., Platycodon grandiflorum root) products (e.g., tea, cosmetics, and herbal supplements) are popular in East Asian nutraceutical markets due to their reported health benefits and positive consumer perceptions. Platycosides are the key drivers of Platycodi radixes' biofunctional effects; their nutraceutical and pharmaceutical activities are primarily related to the number and varieties of sugar side-chains. Among the various platycosides, platycodin D is a major saponin that demonstrates various nutraceutical activities. Therefore, the development of a novel technology to increase the total platycodin D content in Platycodi radix extract is important, not only for consumers' health benefits but also producers' commercial applications and manufacturing cost reduction. It has been reported that hydrolysis of platycoside sugar moieties significantly modifies the compound's biofunctionality. Platycodi radix extract naturally contains two major platycodin D precursors (platycoside E and platycodin D3) which can be enzymatically converted to platycodin D via ß-d-glucosidase hydrolysis. Despite evidence that platycodin D precursors can be changed to platycodin D in the Platycodi radix plant, there is little research on increasing platycodin D concentrations during processing. In this work, platycodin D levels in Platycodi radix extracts were significantly increased via extracellular Aspergillus usamii ß-d-glucosidase (n = 3, p < 0.001). To increase the extracellular ß-d-glucosidase activity, A. usamii was cultivated in a culture media containing cellobiose as its major carbon source. The optimal pH and temperature of the fungal ß-d-glucosidase were 6.0 and 40.0 °C, respectively. Extracellular A. usamii ß-d-glucosidase successfully converted more than 99.9% (w/v, n = 3, p < 0.001) of platycoside E and platycodin D3 into platycodin D within 2 h under optimal conditions. The maximum level of platycodin D was 0.4 mM. Following the biotransformation process, the platycodin D was recovered using preparatory High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and applied to in vitro assays to evaluate its quality. Platycodin D separated from the Platycodi radix immediately following the bioconversion process showed significant anti-inflammatory effects from the Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced macrophage inflammatory responses with decreased nitrite and IL-6 production (n = 3, p < 0.001). Taken together, these results provide evidence that biocatalysis of Platycodi radix extracts with A. usamii may be used as an efficient method of platycodin D-enriched extract production and novel Platycodi radix products may thereby be created.

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Platycodi Radix (PR) is the root of Platycodon grandiflorum (Jacq.) A. DC., which has been used for a long time in China to treat pulmonary diseases. The present study aimed to evaluate the quality of PR samples collected from 23 regions of 11 provinces in China. Eight saponins were quantified using HPLC coupled with evaporative light scattering detection (HPLC-ELSD). The samples with the highest total contents of saponins were from southern China, such as Yunnan, Guangxi, Jiangxi, and Guangzhou. The fingerprint analysis of PR samples was conducted by HPLC-UV method. Nineteen common peaks were selected and the similarity values varied from 0.607 to 0.921. These findings indicated that the saponins contents of PR from different regions varied significantly, with PR samples from southern China having the highest contents of saponins. These comprehensive methods were successful in evaluating the quality of PR samples from northern and southern China, which will serve as a guide for the development of PR as a clinical medication.

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A green synthesis of gold and silver nanoparticles is described in the present report using platycodon saponins from Platycodi Radix (Platycodon grandiflorum) as reducing agents. Platycodin D (PD), a major triterpenoidal platycodon saponin, was enriched by an enzymatic transformation of an aqueous extract of Platycodi Radix. This PD-enriched fraction was utilized for processing reduction reactions of gold and silver salts to synthesize gold nanoparticles (PD-AuNPs) and silver nanoparticles (PD-AgNPs), respectively. No other chemicals were introduced during the reduction reactions, providing an entirely green, eco-friendly, and sustainable method. UV-visible spectra showed the surface plasmon resonance bands of PD-AuNPs at 536 nm and PD-AgNPs at 427 nm. Spherically shaped nanoparticles were observed from high-resolution transmission electron microscopy with average diameters of 14.94 ± 2.14 nm for PD-AuNPs and 18.40 ± 3.20 nm for PD-AgNPs. Minor triangular and other polygonal shapes were also observed for PD-AuNPs along with spherical ones. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) images also demonstrated that both nanoparticles were mostly spherical in shape. Curvature-dependent evolution was employed to enhance the AFM images and precisely measure the sizes of the nanoparticles. The sizes were measured as 19.14 nm for PD-AuNPs and 29.93 nm for PD-AgNPs from the enhanced AFM images. Face-centered cubic structures for both nanoparticles were confirmed by strong diffraction patterns from high-resolution X-ray diffraction analyses. Fourier transform infrared spectra revealed the contribution of -OH, aromatic C=C, C-O, and C-H functional groups to the synthesis. Furthermore, the catalytic activity of PD-AuNPs was assessed with a reduction reaction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol in the presence of sodium borohydride. The catalytic activity results suggest the potential application of these gold nanoparticles as catalysts in the future. The green strategy reported in this study using saponins as reducing agents will pave new roads to develop novel nanomaterials with versatile applications.

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BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Elevation of postprandial lipemia characterized by a rise in triglyceride (TG)-rich lipoproteins can increase the risk of atherogenesis. The objective of this study was to investigate postprandial lipemia response to a single dietary fat/sugar load test and monitor beneficial changes induced by the consumption of Platycodi radix (AP) beverage in healthy subjects. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A total of 52 subjects were randomly assigned to either placebo or AP beverage group with a high-fat shake in a randomized controlled crossover trial. Postprandial blood was collected at 0, 1, 2, 4, and 6 h and analyzed for TG and lipoprotein lipase mass. Inhibition of pancreatic lipase was determined in vitro. RESULTS: AP inhibited pancreatic lipase activity in vitro (IC₅₀ = 5 mg/mL). Compared to placebo beverage, AP beverage consumption with a high-fat shake induced significant increase of plasma lipoprotein lipase mass (P = 0.0111, β estimate = 4.2948) with significant reduction in very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) TG concentration (P = 0.038, β estimate = −52.69) at 6 h. Based on significant correlation between high-fat dietary scores MEDFICTS and postprandial TG responses in VLDL (P = 0.0395, r = 0.2127), subgroup analysis revealed that 6 h-postprandial VLDL TG response was significantly decreased by AP consumption in subjects with MEDFICTS ≥ 40 (P = 0.0291, β estimate = −7214). CONCLUSIONS: AP beverage might have potential to alleviate postprandial lipemia through inhibiting pancreatic lipase activity and elevating lipoprotein lipase mass. Subgroup analysis revealed that subjects with high-fat dietary pattern could be classified as responders to AP beverage among all subjects.

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Platycodon grandiflorum root is a traditional medicine and food material rich in triterpenoid saponins. Its major constituent, platycodin D (PD), is known to have various pharmacological properties, but processing methods may influence the PD content. In this study, a fully validated HPLC-ELSD method was developed for the quantification of PD in various states of 73 P. grandiflorum root samples from East Asia, and it exhibited a marked variation of the content. Furthermore, the effects of processing procedures such as peeling and drying temperature on the PD content were investigated using UPLC-ELSD analysis, and as a result, a significant influence of processing methods such as peeling and heating of samples on the content was confirmed. Specifically, unpeeled samples that were dried at 40 °C showed the greatest PD content. The obtained results could facilitate the reliable standardization of P. grandiflorum for precise authentication and efficacious applications.

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