Comparison of the main components and bioactivity of Rhus verniciflua Stokes extracts by different detoxification processing methods

Abstract

BackgroundRhus verniciflua Stokes is an Asian tree species that is used as a food supplement and traditional medicine in Korea. However, its use is restricted by its potential to cause allergy. Thus, allergen-free R. verniciflua extracts are currently being marketed as a functional health food in Korea. In the present study, three different allergen-free R. verniciflua extracts (DRVE, FRVE, and FFRVE) were produced by detoxification of R. verniciflua, and their properties and constituents were compared.MethodsThe main components and properties (antibacterial, antioxidant, anticancer, and hepatic lipogenesis inhibitory effects) of the three allergen-free extracts were compared. Moreover, the major phenolic constituents of R. verniciflua, including gallic acid, fustin, fisetin, and quercetin, were analyzed in the three extracts.ResultsDRVE was superior to the two other extracts with regard to antioxidant activity, while FRVE was superior with regard to antimicrobial activity and suppression of hepatic lipogenesis. FRVE exhibited lipid-lowering effects by lowering sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 and triglyceride levels, and promoting the activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor and AMP-activated protein kinase in an in vitro model of non-alcoholic fatty liver.ConclusionsOverall, our findings demonstrate various differences among the three extracts. This suggests that functional and bioactive compounds present in R. verniciflua could be altered by the detoxification process, and this property could be considered in the development of functional health foods in the future.

Fermented Rhus Verniciflua Stokes Extract Alleviates Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver through the AMPK/SREBP1/PCSK9 Pathway in HFD-Induced Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Animal Model

“…Hence, various methods for removing urushiol have been described [22][23][24]. However, several detoxification methods to remove urushiol lead to the loss of bioactive compounds in RV [25]. FRVE is a microbe-detoxified RV, whose anti-hepatic lipidemic effects and bioactive compounds were previously reported by us [5].…”

Toxicodendron vernicifluum Stokes extract inhibits solid tumor growth and lung metastasis of 4T1 murine mammary carcinoma cells in BALB/c mice

“…Toxicodendron vernicifluum Stokes (TVS) was found to contain a number of bioactive phytochemicals, including alkaloids, polyphenols and flavonoids [12]. Previous research has shown that TVS extract has antioxidant, anti-bacterial, anti-obesity, anti-proliferative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor effects [12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22]. Despite the beneficial pharmacological effects of TVS, its use has been somewhat limited due to the presence of urushiol an allergenic substance, that is a mixture of several derivatives of catechol.…”

Rhus verniciflua Stokes extract suppresses migration and invasion in human gastric adenocarcinoma AGS cells

“…RVS contains numerous useful compounds, such as quercetin, fustin, fisetin, sulfuretin, and butein. Previous research has shown that Rhus verniciflua Stokes extract (RVSE) has antioxidant, anti-proliferative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor effects [ 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 ]. Several in vivo and in vitro studies demonstrated antitumor effects of RVSE and/or its compounds in gastric, breast, liver, lymphoma, and osteosarcoma [ 13 19 20 ].…”

“…However, the components contained in allergen-free RVSE and their subsequent effects have been shown to differ depending on the specific method of detoxification (removing urushiol). Thus, it is possible to maximize the specific effect by modifying the detoxification method [ 17 ]. We modified the existing extract method to create a new, concentrated and purified allergen-free RVSE.…”