Chemical analysis of codonopsis lanceolata roots shows important vasodilatory effects from compounds

The research group led by Professor Wai Lee, Pharmacy Professor at Tohhon University, along with Professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy Science at Eastern University, is a collaboration between Professor Sugiyama Atsuiyama from the Faculty of Pharmacy Science at the Faculty of Medicine, and the Industrial Association Collaboration It’s the It’s Industrial Association, and Kodonopsis lanceolata (commonly known as “Turus Carrots”) is cultivated in Nagano Prefecture.

Their findings reveal plant compounds, demonstrating in particular that its major compound, Lancemaside A, exhibits vasodilatory effects, suggesting that in the future lanceolata codonopsis lanceolata could be effectively used as a health promotion material.

This study was published in the Journal of Chemistry on January 6, 2025.

The roots of Codonopsis lanceolata, cultivated in Nagano Prefecture, were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography mass analysis (LC-MS). Twenty-seven compounds were identified, including triterpenoid saponins, polycetylenes, flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, lignanes, glycolipids, phospholipids, and amino acids. This study represents the first systematic report of a compound of codonopsis lanceolata in Japan.

This study confirmed that lansemaside A exhibits a significant vasodilating effect when assessing the vasodilating effect of root fractions containing the major compounds, lansemaside A and lobuthiolin, using rat aortic ring specimens.

The findings of chemical and biological activity of this study provide valuable insight into the future use of codonopsis lanceolata as a health material.