10

Acanthopanax trifoliatus, a Potential

Adaptogenic Thai Vegetable
for Health Supplement
Pongtip Sithisarn1,2, Siripen Jarikasem1 and Krittiya Thisayakorn1
1Pharmaceutical and Natural Products Department, Thailand Institute
of Scientific and Technological Research, Pathum Thani,
2Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy,

Mahidol University, Bangkok

Thailand

1. Introduction
Nowadays, people are struggling with stress, either from environmental pollutions and
daily life routines of urgency and competition. From the risk of exposure to toxic or
pathogenic substances from various routes, our bodies have to adapt and maintain a
systemic balance for physiological functions. Obtaining the supplements or substances that
promote good health is the recommended choice for people in this century. This is the
beginning of the word “adaptogens” or "balancing material" that will help the body adjust
and increase the tolerance to physical, emotional and environmental stresses as well as
promote the metabolic system and homeostasis of the body.
An adaptogen was previously defined as a substance that had to; show some nonspecific
effect, such as increasing bodily resistance to physically, chemically, or biologically noxious
agents or factors; had a normalizing influence on a pathologic state, independent of the
nature of that state; and was innocuous and not disturb body function at a normal level
(Lasarev, 1947). Panossian and Wagner (2005) suggested that the adaptogenic substance
from plants was a substance that increased the ability of an organism to adapt in various
factors in the environment and to prevent damage caused by such factors. Some plants have
been used for adaptogenic purposes as shown in Table 1.
Panossian (2003) suggested that most of the active phytochemicals separated from the
adaptogenic plants were in 3 main chemical groups; phenolic compounds such as
phenylpropanoids, phenylethane derivatives and lignans; tetracyclic triterpenes; and
unsaturated trihydroxy or epoxy fatty acids. Chemical structures of some adaptogenic
compounds are shown in Figure 1.
To demonstrate the adaptogenic effects of medicinal plants, related pharmacological activity
determinations were studied including in vivo effects for decreasing the stress, promote
physical performance, anabolic efficacy, and brain metabolism. Some in vitro studies were
also conducted such as antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effect experiments.
Adaptogenic plants can promote anti-stress effects via several mechanisms including

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254 Phytochemicals – Bioactivities and Impact on Health

increasing of body temperature, improvements of body function, enhancing of cognitive

abilities, promoting of locomotor and exploration activities, and moderating the emotional
behavior (Wagner et al., 1994).
OH OH
HO
OH

O O OH
O 2
1 O
OH H3C HO OH
H
H HO H 3C
OH OH CH 3
O O
CH3 CH3
HO CH3
CH3 O O
H H3C
O O HO
HO
H
H H3C H HO OH
O O CH3
OH
HO OH

OH CH3
5 H3C COOH
O
CH3
3
H
O O O
HO O
CH3 H
4 CH3
CH3
HO OH
H CH3
CH3 HOOC
O OH HO O O
CH3 H
O HO H3C CH3
HOOC
O
HO O
HO
OH

CH3 CH3
CH3 H3C
7
6 OH
O CH3 CH3 H
H3C
O
H3C O O CH3
H
CH3
H3C O
O HO
CH3O H
H3C CH3
CH3
Fig. 1 Adaptogenic compounds; 1= ginsenoside Rb1, 2= eleutheroside B, 3= ellagic acid, 4=
withanolide, 5= glycyrrhizin, 6= schisandrin, 7= ursolic acid.

Free radicals and reactive oxygen species are some chemical species that have odd number
of electrons which have high reactivities and are capable to cause reversibly or irreversibly
oxidative damages to compounds of all biochemical classes including nucleic acids, proteins
and free amino acids, lipids and lipoproteins, carbohydrates and connective tissue
macromolecules (Halliwell and Gutteridge, 1999). Oxidative stress is considered some
importance for many ailments and pathologies including cardiovascular diseases, cancers,
rheumatoid arthritis and Alzheimer’s disease (Cross, 1987). Inflammation and oxidative

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Acanthopanax trifoliatus, a Potential Adaptogenic Thai Vegetable for Health Supplement 255

Common name Scientific name Family Part used

American ginseng Panax quinquefolius Araliaceae Root
Indian gooseberry Emblica officinalis Euphorbiaceae Fruit
Ashwagandha Withania somnifera Solanaceae Root
Korean ginseng Panax ginseng Araliaceae Root
Siberian ginseng Eleutherococcus senticosus Araliaceae Root, stem bark
Indian tinospora Tinospora cordifolia Menispermaceae Root, stem
Holy basil Ocimum sanctum Lamiaceae Whole plant
Jiaogulan Gynostemma pentaphyllum Cucurbitaceae Whole plant
Licorice Glycyrrhiza glabra Fabaceae Root
Reishi Ganoderma lucidum Ganodermataceae Mushroom
Schisandra Schisandra chinensis Schisandraceae Fruit, seed
Table 1. Reported adaptogenic plants (Winston and Maimes, 2007).

stress are key components of the pathology of chronic neurodegenerative conditions, in

particular Alzheimer’s disease, Down syndrome, multiple sclerosis and dementia (Auroma
et al., 2003). Previous studies indicated that oxidative injury is present in the brains of
patients with Alzheimer’s disease may play important role in the development of the
disease (Grundman and Delaney, 2002, Pratico and Delantly, 2000, Rottkamp et al., 2000,
Smith et al., 2000). Excessive lipid peroxidation and increasing of malondialdehyde
concentrations have been found in the patients’ brains of Alzheimer’s disease (Grundman
and Delaney, 2002). From ethnomedical intellectual, various plants have been used to
enhance cognitive function and to relieve other symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s
disease. The effects of traditional herbal drugs may not only be relevant in managing the
cognitive decline that can be associated with general aging but may also be relevant in the
treatment of specific cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. Therefore, plants with
anti-aging or memory enhancing activities can be considered for potential efficacy in
cognitive dysfunction including conditions that feature dementia. The activities of plants
that show the effects in relation to cognitive disorders are including anti-cholinesterase
(anti-AChE), anti-inflammation and antioxidant (Howes and Houghton, 2003).
Health promotion by Thai wisdom has been conducted from the Thai traditional practice in
prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of imbalancing in human bodies and minds. The
process is accompanied with folk medicine which herbs and natural products in each region
all over the country are main constituents. The knowledge and medical procedures have
been transferred from generation to generation until nowadays. In Thai traditional
medicine, herbs with adaptogenic or antioxidative effects should relate to plants that exhibit
detoxification, blood purifying, jaundice curing, hepatoprotection, tonic and haematonic,
aphrodisiac, anti-fatigue, nourishment and longevity promotion (Faculty of Pharmacy,
Mahidol University, 1998).
Eleven indigenous plant species traditionally used as ginseng-like agents or adaptogens
were collected from the north and northeastern parts of Thailand and evaluated for
adaptogenic-related properties including antioxidant and anti-anxiety activities as well as
total phenolic and total flavonoid contents. Along with the rhizome extract of Smilax
corbularia, leaf decoction extract of Acanthopanax trifoliatus (A. trifoliatus) exhibited strong
antioxidant activity with high amount of phenolic and flavonoid contents (Sithisarn et al.,
2010). The results suggested that A. trifoliatus is an interesting plant that could promote

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256 Phytochemicals – Bioactivities and Impact on Health

significantly pharmacological activities related to adaptogenic properties, which supported

the ethnomedical uses of this plant.

2. Botanical characteristics of A. trifoliatus

A. trifoliatus is a shrub that belongs to the family Araliaceae. Its taxonomic position is as follows:
Order Apiales
Suborder Apiineae
Family Araliacea (ginseng family)
Genus Acanthopanax (Eleutherococcus)
Species trifoliatus
In Flora of China (2004), A. trifoliatus was described as a shrub, scandent or climber that
usually reaches a height of 7 m. The branches are scattered with recurved prickles. The
glabrous and prickly petioles are 2-6 cm long with the 2-8 mm long petiolules. The papery,
adaxially glabrous or slightly setose on midvein and veins, secondary veins 5 or 6 pairs,
base cuneate, margin serrulate, apex acute or acuminate leaves are 4-10 x 2-4.5 cm and the
ovate, elliptic-ovate, or oblong leaflets which number up to 3 or 5. The inflorescence is
terminal raceme, umbel or compound umbel which borne on leafy shoots and 3-10 umbels.
The peduncles are 2-7 cm long with the 1-2 cm long pedicels. The glabrous calyx has 5 teeth.
The ovary has 2 carpellates, the styles are united to middle. The fruit is globose and laterally
compressed with the size of 3-4 mm. The flowering period is from August to November.
The fruiting time is during September to December.

(1) (3)

(2)

Fig. 2. Acanthopanax trifoliatus. 1= leaves and flowers, 2= roots, 3= whole plant.

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Acanthopanax trifoliatus, a Potential Adaptogenic Thai Vegetable for Health Supplement 257

Normally A. trifoliatus thrives in shrub fields, roadsides, forest margins, in valleys or on

mountain slopes; below 1000 m in the East and 3200 m in the West part of range. This plant
is widely distributed in India, Japan, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, and many
provinces of China including Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hunan, Hubei,
Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, Yunnan and Zhejiang. The photos of A. trifoliatus from
Chiang Mai province, Thailand are shown in Figure 2.

3. Ethnomedical uses and previous reported biological activities of A.

trifoliatus
The leaves of A. trifoliatus have been used as a tonic to improve general weakness, the leaves
and young shoots are also used for treatments of tuberculosis, lung hemorrhages, bruises,
ulcers and, contusion (Perry and Metzger, 1981a, Perry and Metzger, 1981b, Chi, 1997, Loi,
2000). The stem bark is used as antiflatulent agent and is used for treatments of emaciation and
neurosis (Petelot, 1954). The root bark and stem bark are used in the treatments of rheumatism,
lumbago, ostealgia and impotence (Nguyen and Doan, 1989). The bark was reported to be
used as tonic, CNS stimulant, and memory enhancer (Nguyen and Doan, 1989). In Chinese
medicine, this plant was used for the treatments of cold, cough, neuralgia and rheumatism
(Duke and Ayensu, 1985). Moreover, young leaves and the shoots are popularly consumed in
Northern Thai traditional cuisine as vegetables. Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities
of the extracts from A. trifoliatus have been previously reported and suggested that young
leaves provided the most active sample (Sithisarn and Jarikasem, 2009, Sithisarn et al., 2009).
Anti-anxiety effects in animal models of leaf extract from A. trifoliatus were also reported
(Sithisarn et al., 2010).

4. Chemical constituents of A. trifoliatus

Some chemical components including terpenoids, phenylpropanoids, phenolics, flavonoids,
lactones and essential oils were separated and identified from various parts of A. trifoliatus
as shown in Table 2.

5. Antioxidant activity of A. trifoliatus

The extracts from some parts of A. trifoliatus including leaves, stems, stem barks, roots and
root barks with various extraction methods were tested for free radical scavenging activity
using DPPH scavenging method and inhibitory effect to lipid peroxidation of rat brain
homogenate by thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) method. 1,1-Diphenyl-2-
picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical is a stable radical with a deep violet color. When DPPH
radical receives a proton from antioxidants, it converts to a colorless protonated DPPH
molecule. After 15 minutes of DPPH scavenging reaction, the absorbance at 517 nm was
determined then % of inhibition and EC50 value were calculated (Yamasaki et al., 1994). It
was found that the leaf decoction extract, the root bark decoction and 75% ethanolic
refluxing extracts and the stem bark 75% ethanolic refluxing extract showed high radical
scavenging activity with EC50 values of 14.50  1.04, 34.24  5.01, 34.51  2.74 and 37.85  0.85
μg/ml, respectively (Sithisarn and Jarikasem, 2009). TBARS method is popular single assay
for the measurement of lipid peroxidation. The sample under test is treated with
thiobarbituric acid (TBA) at low pH, and a maximum absorption of pink chromogen is

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258 Phytochemicals – Bioactivities and Impact on Health

Group of
Chemical compounds (plant part) Reference
chemical
Terpenoid - acanthoic, continentalic, kaurenoic acids (root, stem, Phuong, 2006
leaves) Kiem, 2004
- acantrifoic acid A, acantrifoside C (leaves) Kiem, 2004
- acantrifoside D (stem bark) Kiem, 2004
- 16H, 17-isovalerate-ent-kauran-19-oic acid, ent-Kaur-16-
en-19-oic acid, ent-Primara-8(14), 15-dien-19-oic acid (stem Yook, 1998
bark) Yook, 1999
- acantrifoside A (leaves) Kiem, 2003a
- lupane triterpene glycoside (leaves)
- 24-nor-11alpha-hydroxy-3-oxo-lup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid
28-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(14)-beta-D- Du, 1992
glucopyranosyl-(16)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester
(leaves)
- kaur-16-en-19-oic acid, taraxerol, taraxerol-acetate (leaves)
Phenylpropanoid - 1--D-glucopyranosyl-2,6-dimethoxy-4-propenylphenol, Kiem, 2003b
1-[-D-glucopyranosyl-(16)--D-glucopyranosyl]-2,6-
dimethoxy-4-propenylphenol (stem bark)
Polyphenolic and - syringin, quercitrin (stem bark) Kiem, 2003b
flavonoid - nevadensin (leaves) Du, 1992
Lactone - eleutheroside E, (2R,3R)-2,3-di-(3,4- Kiem, 2003b
methylenedioxybenzyl)-butyrolactone (stem bark)
Essential oil - -pinene, sabinene, terpinen-4-ol, -pinene, p-cymene, Muselli, 1999
carissone (leaves)
Table 2. Reported chemical constituents in A. trifoliatus.

measured at 532 nm (Punchard, 1996). Inhibitory effects to lipid peroxidation of rat brain
homogenate of various extracts from A. trifoliatus ranged from EC50 of 11.18  2.60 to 75.35 
7.52 g/ml. Root and leaf decoction extracts showed significantly higher effects (EC50 of
11.18  2.60 and 16.11  0.29 g/ml, respectively) (Sithisarn and Jarikasem, 2009).

6. Anti-cholinesterase activity of A. trifoliatus

Cholinergic deficit was reported to associate with memory loss and the severity of
Alzheimer’s (Bierer, 1995). To restore cholinergic function in AD, many mechanisms are
studied including stimulation of cholinergic receptors or prolonging the availability of
acetylcholine (ACh) released into neuronal synaptic cleft by inhibiting ACh hydrolysis by
acetylcholinesterase (AChE) which can be developed by the applications of proper AChE
inhibitors. Extracts from several parts of A. trifoliatus were tested for AChE inhibitory
activity using Ellman’s colorimetric method in 96-well microplate. According to Vinutha et
al. (2007), at the concentration of 100 g/ml, most tested extracts exhibited moderate
acetylcholinesterase inhibitory effect (30-50% inhibition). All root extracts including 95%
ethanolic, decoction and 75% ethanolic extracts showed the highest effects among tested
samples with AChE inhibition of 40.24  3.56, 42.06  5.29 and 47.41  3.52 %, respectively.
The results of inhibitory effect of A. trifoliatus extracts to AChE are shown in Table 3.

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Acanthopanax trifoliatus, a Potential Adaptogenic Thai Vegetable for Health Supplement 259

Sample AChE inhibitory activity*

LM 15.51  9.95a,e,g,h,i,j
LR 22.82  8.71a,b,e,h,i,j
LD 31.76  2.51c,g
SBM 36.83  3.34b,c,d
SBR 22.51  0.53e
SBD 25.78  1.92i,j
SM 31.27  3.54a,c,j
SR 16.98  4.36e,h
SD 15.37  1.68h
RBM 36.26  4.09b,c,d
RBR 36.30  1.50a,c,d
RBD 20.65  3.14e,h,i
RM 40.24  3.56b,d
RR 47.41  3.52f
RD 42.06  5.29d,f
Galanthamine Completely inhibit
Physostigmine Completely inhibit
* different letters in the same column are significantly different (P<0.05)

Table 3. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitory effect of extracts and standard compounds at 100

g/ml from various parts of A. trifoliatus. LM: leaf maceration, LR=leaf refluxing, LD=leaf
decoction, SBM=stem bark maceration, SBR=stem bark refluxing, SBD=stem bark decoction,
SM=stem maceration, SR=stem refluxing, SD=stem decoction, RBM= root bark maceration,
RBR=root bark refluxing, RBD=root bark decoction, RM=root maceration, RR=root
refluxing, RD=root decoction.

7. Anti-anxiety activity of A. trifoliatus

Adult male ICR mice with a weight range 30-35 g were used for determination of anti-anxiety
effect of A. trifoliatus by light-dark task and hole-board test. Tested mice were received for
corticosterone solution about 13 mg/kg per day via drinking water for 17 consecutive days.
Then mice were tested for anxiety-like behavior in the light-dark task and hole-board test.

7.1 Light-dark task

Thirty mice were randomly divided into five groups of six mice. Each group of mice was
orally administered with distilled water as a control group, phenobarbital (30 mg/kg) was
used as a standard drug, and A. trifoliatus leaf decoction extract in 3 different doses of 500,
750 and 1000 mg/kg, respectively. Modified from Ardayfio and Kim (2006) and Krishna et
al (2006), the apparatus consisted of a Plexiglas box with two compartments, one of which
was illuminated with a white light while the other remained dark. One hour after drugs
administration, each mouse was placed at one corner of the dark compartment, facing
against of the light area. The time spent in illuminated and dark places, as well as the
number of entries in each space, was recorded for 10 min. The administration of all 3
different doses of the extract in mice induced both significant increments (P<0.05) of the

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260 Phytochemicals – Bioactivities and Impact on Health

number of entries and time spent by mice in light chamber of the light-dark apparatus
(Sithisarn et al., 2010).

7.2 Hole-board test

Applied from Brown and Nemes (2008), the apparatus consisted of a square plastic plate
with 16 holes, regularly spaced on the surface. Each hole contains sensors for detecting
when animal dips the head in a hole. Thirty mice were randomly divided into five groups of
six mice. Each group of mice was orally administrated with distilled water as a control
group, phenobarbital (30 mg/kg) was used as a standard drug, and A. trifoliatus leaf extract
in 3 different doses of 500, 750 and 1000 mg/kg, respectively. Forty five minutes after drug
administration, each mouse was placed on the centre of the board and the number of head
dips was automatically counted for 3 min. Administration of the leaf decoction extract of A.
trifoliatus in the concentration of 1000 mg/kg in mice significantly (P<0.05) induced an
increment of the number of head-dip of the animals, similar to the effect observed in
phenobarbital treated group (Sithisarn et al., 2010).

8. Anti-inflammatory activity of A. trifoliatus

Leaf decoction extract from A. trifoliatus was tested for anti-inflammatory effect using rat
paw edema model induced by carrageenan injection. Thirty adult male Wistar rats with a
weight range of 180-200 g were randomly divided into five groups of six rats. Each group of
rats was orally administrated with distilled water as a control group, indomethacin (20
mg/kg) was used as a standard drug, and A. trifoliatus leaf extract in 3 different doses of
100, 300 and 600 mg/kg, respectively. The method of edema induction described by Winters
et al. (1987) was modified to induce inflammation in rats’ paws. 1% carrageenan in 0.9%
sodium chloride solution was injected into the right hind paw of each rat after 1 h of each
treatment. The volumes of rat paw edema were determined using plethysmometer at 1, 2,
and 3 h after edema induction. The percentage of edema inhibition was calculated
(Palanichamy and Nagarajan, 1990). Two hours after edema induction, the extract showed
dose-dependent inhibition and the extract at the dose of 600 mg/kg exhibited significantly
anti-inflammatory activity (41% inhibition). While the standard drug, indomethacin in the
dose of 20 mg/kg showed significant effects at both 2 h and 3 h with the percentages of
inhibition of 35 and 26, respectively (Sithisarn et al., 2009).

9. Toxicity of A. trifoliatus
Acute toxicity of the decoction extract from the A. trifoliatus leaves collected from
Sunpathong district, Chiang Mai province, of Thailand which contained total phenolic and
total flavonoid of 16.26 and 1.31 g% CAE and g% RE was determined for an oral lethal dose
in rats. Adult male Wistar rats with a weight range of 215-250 g and adult female Wistar rats
with a weight range of 178-198 g were randomized into control and experimental groups.
Each tested group of rats consisting of 5 males and 5 females was orally administered a dose
of 2 g/kg of A. trifoliatus leaf decoction extract while the control animals were administered
distilled water. The animals were observed for mortality or any signs of abnormalities
periodically during the first 0.5, 1 and 3 h and once daily for 14 days thereafter. Clinical sign,
morbidity and mortality of tested group was observed for 14 days and compared to the
respective control group. Body weight of each animal was recorded on day 1, 8 and 15. The

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Acanthopanax trifoliatus, a Potential Adaptogenic Thai Vegetable for Health Supplement 261

position, shape, size and color of visceral organs, i.e., heart, kidneys, lungs, stomach,
intestine, liver, pancreas and sex organ were visually observed for any signs of gross lesions.
Upon gross examinations of visceral organs, no abnormality sign was observed in all tested
groups compared to the control. In addition, there was no significant difference in average
body weights of treated and controlled animals. According to the common classification of
chemicals (Auletta, 1995, Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, 2001),
the extract showed no sign of toxicity (LD50 > 2 g/kg body weight).

10. Phytochemistry of A. trifoliatus

Extracts of the leaves and roots of A. trifoliatus prepared by different methods of extraction
were chromatographic analyzed by thin layer chromatography. Flavonoids and polyphenolic
compounds were detected with natural product/polyethylene glycol (NP/PEG) spraying
reagent which showed fluorescence bands under UV 366 nm. Thin layer chromatographic
fingerprints of A. trifoliatus extracts are shown in Figure 3. From TLC, extracts from the roots
and leaves of A. trifoliatus showed some chromatographic bands positive to NP/PEG spraying
reagent under UV 366 nm suggested the presence of phenolic and flavonoid compounds. TLC
of the root extracts from refluxing with 75% ethanol and decoction as shown in track number 3
and 5 revealed bright blue fluorescence band corresponded to chlorogenic acid while those of
the leaf extracts as shown in track number 2 and 4, other than chlorogenic acid, also contained
orange fluorescence band corresponded to rutin. The leaf 95% ethanol maceration extract as
shown in track number 2 also positively showed some chromatographic bands to the spraying
reagent while the root 95% ethanol maceration extract revealed very weak chromatographic
bands as shown in track number 1.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Fig. 3. TLC chromatogram of extracts from A. trifoliatus. Track : 1= root 95% maceration, 2=
leaf 95% maceration, 3= root 75% refluxing, 4= leaf 75% refluxing, 5= root decoction, 6= leaf
decoction, 7= standard chlorogenic acid, 8= standard quercetin, Stationary phase: silica gel
GF254 Solvent system: ethyl acetate: acetic acid : formic acid : water 137: 11: 11: 26 Detection:
NP-PEG spraying reagent / UV 366 nm.

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262 Phytochemicals – Bioactivities and Impact on Health

10.1 Total phenolic and total flavonoid contents

Phenolics and flavonoids are known to be strong antioxidants especially through a free
radical scavenging mechanism (Tyrrell, 1992). Total phenolic and total flavonoid contents in
plant extracts can be determined colorimetically using specific reagents such as Folin-
Ciocalteu and aluminium chloride reagents, respectively. Extracts from various parts of A.
trifoliatus were determined for total phenolic content using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent
(Dasgupta and De, 2007) and showed high concentration of phenolic compounds especially
75% refluxing extracts from stem barks and stems and root bark decoction extract (21.79 
0.23, 19.17  0.58 and 20.74  0.44 g chlorogenic acid equivalent (CAE) in 100 g extract
(Sithisarn and Jarikasem, 2009). Total flavonoid content of extracts was determined using
the method adapted by Meda et al. (2005). Aluminium chloride solution was mixed with the
same volume of the sample solution. Absorption readings at 415 nm were taken and total
flavonoid content was calculated as g rutin equivalent (RE)/100 g extract. Among tested
extracts, leaf 95% ethanolic maceration extracts contained the highest amounts of flavonoids
(9.61  0.52 g% RE) (Sithisarn and Jarikasem, 2009).

10.2 High performance liquid chromatography

Leaf decoction extract of A. trifoliatus was subjected for HPLC-DAD and HPLC-MS analysis,
six main peaks were separated by column chromatographic technique and were identified
by their mass spectra and UV absorption spectra as chlorogenic acid, 3,5-di-O-caffeolyquinic
acid, rutin, isoquercetin, 4,5-di-O-caffeolyquinic acid and quercitrin, respectively (Sithisarn
and Jarikasem, 2009). MS chromatogram and HPLC chromatogram of these compounds are
shown in Figure 4. Chemical structures are shown in Figure 5.

MS

HPLC
3
5
2
1 4

Fig. 4. HPLC chromatogram (UV 310 nm) and MS chromatogram of n-butanol fraction of
leaf extract from A. trifoliatus (Sithisarn et al., 2008). No. of peak (tR, min); 1= chlorogenic
acid (16.6), 2= 3,5-di-O-caffeolyquinic acid (47.2), 3= rutin and isoquercetin (49.1), 4= 4,5-di-
O-caffeolyquinic acid (60.7), 5= quercitrin (63.3).

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Acanthopanax trifoliatus, a Potential Adaptogenic Thai Vegetable for Health Supplement 263

11. Standardization of A. trifoliatus

Chemical and biological standardizations of plant extracts are also needed to be clarified
before further studies in animal model or clinical trial. The major variables in plant
geography are area, annual rain fall, ground water, types of soil, pH of soil, temperature,
altitude, wind, light and local insecticides. These factors, especially rain fall and
OH
O OH
OH
OH
OH
HO
O OH O
OH O
O OH
O OH O
1 O O
2 HO
O
OH OH
OH
HO
O
OH OH 3 O OH

O OH OH
HO O
OH
OH OH OH
HO
OH OH
HO O
O O
6
HO O
O OH
HO O
4 H3C
O
OH HO
OH
OH
HO
OH O O
HO HO CH3
OH
OH HO O
O O
HO O
OH
5

Fig. 5. Chemical structures of compounds from n-butanol fraction of leaf extract from A.
trifoliatus : 1 = chlorogenic acid, 2 = 3,5-di-O-caffeolyquinic acid, 3 = 4,5-di-O-caffeolyquinic
acid, 4 = rutin, 5 = isoquercetin, 6 = quercitrin.

temperature, could affect the biosynthesis of caffeoylquinic acid and flavonoid in A. trifoliatus
(Sithisarn et al., 2011a). Chemical, physical and biological standardization of decoction extract
of A. trifoliatus was set up by determination of antioxidant activity and quantitative analysis of
the marker compositions of 11 A. trifoliatus leaf samples harvested in Chaing Mai province at
different time intervals within a year. Using decoction, the most suitable extraction method for
active A. trifoliatus leaf extract as previously reported (Sithisarn, and Jarikasem, 2009), it was
found that samples collected in Winter and Fall contained significantly higher amount of total
phenolic (12.72 – 14.66 g% CAE in dried extract) and total flavonoid (1.97 – 2.20 g% RE in dried
extract) (Sithisarn et al., 2011b). HPLC analysis of marker components including
monocaffeoylquinic acid (chlorogenic acid), dicaffeoylquinic acids (3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic
acid and 4,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid), and flavonoid glycosides (rutin, isoquercetin and
quercitrin) revealed that samples collected in January and November significantly contained
high amount of phenolic and flavonoid contents suggesting the harvesting period of A.
trifoliatus leaf samples during Winter or in low temperature condition (Sithisarn et al., 2011a).
HPLC fingerprints of all extracts as shown in Figure 6 showed the similar chromatographic
characteristics suggested that this HPLC fingerprint could be used for both quantitative and
qualitative analysis of leaf extracts of A. trifoliatus.
Free radical scavenging activity of the collected extracts was studied by DPPH scavenging
assay, it was found that most of the extracts showed strong effects (EC50  50 g/ml)

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264 Phytochemicals – Bioactivities and Impact on Health

(Cervantes-Cervantes, 2005). Samples which contained high amount of total phenolic and total
flavonoid contents significantly exhibited the strongest activity. The high correlations of total
phenolic and total flavonoid contents with DPPH scavenging activity were found to be 0.863
and 0.831 (P  0.05), respectively. For the capacity to inhibit iron-induced lipid peroxidation,
moderate correlations of 0.586 and 0.389 (P  0.05) were found between the inhibition and total
flavonoid and total phenolic contents, respectively (Sithisarn et al., 2011b).
An excess of water in medicinal plant materials will lead to microbial growth, the presence
of fungi or insects, and deterioration following hydrolysis. Therefore, limits for the amount
of water should be set for plant materials. This is especially important for materials which
absorb moisture easily or deteriorate quickly in the presence of water (World Health
Organization, 1992). Extracts and the leaves of A. trifoliatus collected at 11 different times
were investigated for loss on drying as mentioned in BP (2004). Loss on drying of plant
samples ranged from 6.58 ± 0.13 to 15.06 ± 0.05 % while the extract contained the loss on
drying amount of 8.28 ± 3.30 to 11.51 ± 0.52 %.

2
1 3 5
4

Fig. 6. HPLC chromatogram of leaf decoction extracts from A. trifoliatus collected from 11
different durations. No. of peak; 1= chlorogenic acid, 2= 3,5-di-O-caffeolyquinic acid, 3=
rutin and isoquercetin, 4= 4,5-di-O-caffeolyquinic acid, 5= quercitrin.

12. Conclusion
As the mention of Teeguarden (1998), “an adaptogen is substance that helps bring the body
into a state of harmony with its environment by introducing chemical, cellular, and

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Acanthopanax trifoliatus, a Potential Adaptogenic Thai Vegetable for Health Supplement 265

systematic balance. This harmonizing function reduces the effects of unfavorable conditions
and stimulates the body’s own immune and healing functions. These adaptogenic
substances help the body to adapt to various stressful challenges presented by the
environment and reduce the damage inflicted on the body. They tend to promote the body’s
own ability to cope successfully with stress, thus prolonging well-being”, the effects of
adaptogen could relate to some biological activities including antioxidative, anti-
cholinesterase, anti-inflammatory and anti-anxiety, which associated with the excessive
activity of stress system (Chrousos and Gold, 1992, Panossian, 2003). Several parts of
Acanthopanax trifoliatus, a Thai traditional herb promoted in vitro antioxidant and anti-
cholinesterase activities. Extracts from the leaves of this plant could also exhibit in vivo
adaptogenic related biological effects including anti-inflammatory and anti-anxiety
activities. Polyphenolics and flavonoid, phytochemicals that play important role in
antioxidation, anti-inflammatory and adaptogenic actions in plants (Hoorn, 2003, Panossian
and Wagner, 2005, Wagner et al., 1994) were found to available in high amount in A.
trifoliatus, especially in the leaves and the roots. Active polyphenolics and flavonoid
compounds were structurally identified. A. trifoliatus could then be considered as the
potential plant that promote adaptogenic effects which conduced to the chemical, biological
and physical standardization of the leaf extract of this plant. However, at present there is no
A. trifoliatus product used for health or medicinal purposes in the marketplace, especially in
Thailand. Since young leaves of A. trifoliatus have been traditionally consumed as
vegetables, and the leaf extract of this plant showed various biological activities related to
adaptogenic properties with no acute toxicity was found, therefore, it would be great
opportunity to develop the effective, high quality and standardized health supplement or
herbal medicine for adaptogenic related purposes in the near future.

13. Acknowledgement
The authors acknowledge the financial support of the Graduate Program Development
under the Collaboration of the Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research
and Universities. Authors thank Mr Winai Supatanakul from the Agricultural Technology
Department, Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research for providing the
plant samples for this project. Authors thank Ms Sarinthip Muaensan and Ms Juree
Tuengruthaivanich for their assistance throughout this work.

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 Phytochemicals - Bioactivities and Impact on Health
Edited by Prof. Iraj Rasooli

ISBN 978-953-307-424-5
Hard cover, 388 pages
Publisher InTech
Published online 22, December, 2011
Published in print edition December, 2011

Among the thousands of naturally occurring constituents so far identified in plants and exhibiting a long history
of safe use, there are none that pose - or reasonably might be expected to pose - a significant risk to human
health at current low levels of intake when used as flavoring substances. Due to their natural origin,
environmental and genetic factors will influence the chemical composition of the plant essential oils. Factors
such as species and subspecies, geographical location, harvest time, plant part used and method of isolation
all affect chemical composition of the crude material separated from the plant. The screening of plant extracts
and natural products for antioxidative and antimicrobial activity has revealed the potential of higher plants as a
source of new agents, to serve the processing of natural products.

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