Medicinal Plant Research 2024, Vol.14, No.1, 57-70 http://hortherbpublisher.com/index.php/mpr 58 2 Botanical and Chemical Profile of Achyranthes bidentata 2.1 Botanical description Achyranthes bidentata, commonly known as "Ox Knee", is a perennial herb belonging to the Amaranthaceae family. It is characterized by its erect, quadrangular stems, which can grow up to 1 meter in height. The leaves are opposite, ovate to lanceolate, and have a slightly serrated margin. The plant produces small, greenish flowers arranged in dense, spike-like inflorescences. The seeds are small, black, and enclosed in a hard, shiny capsule (Zhang et al., 2019; Yin et al., 2022). 2.2 Geographic distribution and cultivation Achyranthes bidentata is native to East Asia, particularly China, Japan, and Korea. It thrives in temperate regions and is commonly found in fields, roadsides, and forest edges. The plant prefers well-drained soils and can tolerate a range of soil types, from sandy to loamy (He et al., 2017). Cultivation practices involve sowing seeds in the spring or autumn, with optimal growth conditions including full sunlight and moderate watering. In traditional Chinese medicine, the roots of Achyranthes bidentata are harvested in the autumn, dried, and used for various medicinal purposes. 2.3 Phytochemical constituents Achyranthes bidentata contains a variety of bioactive compounds that contribute to its medicinal properties. The primary phytochemicals include saponins, polysaccharides, flavonoids, and other bioactive compounds. 2.3.1 Saponins Saponins are one of the main biologically active components of Achyranthes bidentata. The structure of triterpenoid saponins in Achyranthes bidentata is mostly oleanane type. Its C-3 and C-28 are combined with glucose, rhamnose, etc. to form glycosides, which are hydrolyzed to form glucuronic acid, oleanolic acid, etc., which have anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-HBV, blood circulation and blood stasis, and immune regulation effects (Wang, 1996; Kunert et al., 2000; Mitaine-Offer et al., 2001; Wang et al., 2004a; 2004b; Li et al., 2005; Jia et al., 2006; Li et al., 2007; Zhang et al., 2018; Fu et al., 2019; Dong et al., 2020; Li et al., 2022; Shi et al., 2023). Specifically, Achyranthes bidentata saponins (ABS) have been found to promote the proliferation and differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) through the ERK MAPK signaling pathway, enhancing osteogenic differentiation and bone formation (He et al., 2014). 2.3.2 Polysaccharides and peptides Polysaccharides extracted fromAchyranthes bidentata also play an important role in its bone protection effect. Achyranthes bidentata polysaccharides are mainly composed of glucose, mannose, rhamnose, galacturonic acid, arabinose, etc. (Wang et al., 2021), and have the advantages of easy absorption, low toxicity and good solubility. A specific polysaccharide, ABW70-1, has been identified and characterized as a homogeneous fructan. This polysaccharide has demonstrated therapeutic effects on bone health by restoring bone mineral content and improving the biomechanical properties of bones in ovariectomized rats. Additionally, ABW70-1 has been shown to stimulate osteogenic differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells, promoting cell proliferation, alkaline phosphatase activity, mineral nodule formation, and the expression of osteogenic genes (Zhang et al., 2019). Achyranthes bidentata polypeptide is the main active molecule of Achyranthes bidentata neuroprotection. Meng et al. (2008) identified two cyclic dipeptides in Achyranthes bidentata root: cyclic (tyrosine-leucine) and cyclic (leucine-isoleucine) (Li et al., 2022). Dong et al. (2020) isolated and identified amino acid molecules such as phenylalanine, tryptophan, and isoleucine in Achyranthes bidentataleaves. 2.3.3 Flavonoids Flavonoids are another group of bioactive compounds present in Achyranthes bidentata, mainly including isoquercetin, kaempferol-3-O-glucoside, etc. These compounds are known for their antioxidant properties and potential benefits in bone health. Although specific studies on the flavonoids of Achyranthes bidentata were not provided in the data, flavonoids in general are recognized for their role in reducing oxidative stress and inflammation, which are critical factors in bone metabolism and health (Fu et al., 2022).
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