Triterpene saponins from the leaves of Ilex kudingcha

Three new triterpene saponins, ilekudinosides T–V (1–3), along with six known saponins were isolated from the 70% ethanolic extract of the leaves of Ilex kudingcha. The new saponins were characterized as 3-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-[α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)]-α-l-arabinopyranosyl-3β,19α-dihydroxy-urs-12(13)-en-28,20β-lactone (1), 3-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-[α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)]-α-l-arabinopyranosyl-3β,19α-dihydroxy-12-ethoxy-urs-13(18)-ene-28,20β-lactone (2), 3-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-[α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)]-α-l-arabinopyranosyl-3β,19α-dihydroxy-11-oxo-urs-13(18)-ene-28,20β-lactone (3), respectively. The structures of compounds 1–3 were elucidated on the basis of the chemical and spectroscopic evidence, and the structures of known compounds were identified by comparison of their spectroscopic data with those reported in the literature.     

A new triterpenoid saponin from Ardisia gigantifolia

A new triterpenoid saponin, named 3-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-[α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 3)]-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-[β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 2)]-α-l-arabinopyranosyl-3β,16α,28,30-tetrahydroxy-olean-12-ene (1), along with four known triterpenoids (2–5), was isolated from the rhizomes of Ardisia gigantifolia. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. Compounds 1–4 showed cytotoxic activity against Hela, EJ, BCG, and HepG-2 cell lines. The percentage of early apoptotic cells after treatment with 1 was significantly increased compared with control cells (p < 0.05).     

Phytolacacinoside A,a new triterpenoid saponin from Phytolacca acinosa Roxb

Phytolacacinoside A (1), a novel triterpenoid saponin, together with the seven known compounds, was isolated from 75% ethanol extract of the root of Phytolacca acinosa Roxb (Phytolaccaceae). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of analysis of spectroscopic data and physicochemical properties as 3-O-β-[(β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-O-β-d-xylopyranosyl)]-11β-methoxy-jaligonic acid 30-methyl ester 28-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (1), 3-O-β-[(β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-O-β-d-xylopyranosyl)]-jaligonic acid 30-methyl ester 28-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (2, esculentoside G), 3-O-β-[(β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-O-β-d-xylopyranosyl)]-jaligonic acid 30-methyl ester (3, phytolaccoside E), 3-O-β-d-xylopyranosyl-jaligonic acid 30-methyl ester (4, phytolaccoside B), hypaphorine (5), palmitic acid monoglyceride (6), β-sitosterol (7), and daucosterol (8).     

Four new triterpenoid glycosides from the seed residue of Hippophae rhamnoides subsp. sinensis

Four new triterpenoid saponins (1–4) were isolated from the seed residue of Hippophae rhamnoides subsp. sinensis, named 3-O-[β-d-glucopyranosyl(1 → 2)-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 3)]-[α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)]-α-l-arabinopyranosyl-13-ene-19-one-28-oic acid 28-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl ester (1), 3-O-[β-d-glucopyranosyl(1 → 2)-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 3)]-[α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)]-α-l-arabinopyranosyl-13-ene-19-one-30-hydroxyolean-28-oic acid 28-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl ester (2), 3-O-[β-d-glucopyranosyl(1 → 2)-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 3)]-[α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)]-β-d-glucopyranosyl-13-ene-19-one-28-oic acid 28-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl ester (3), and 3-O-[β-d-glucopyranosyl(1 → 2)-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 3)]-[α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)]-β-d-glucopyranosyl-13-ene-19-one-30-hydroxyolean-28-oic acid 28-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl ester (4), and their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic and chemical methods.     

A new triterpenoid saponin from the stem of Akebia trifoliata var. australis

A new triterpene glycoside mutongsaponin F (1), together with five known saponins and two known lipids, was isolated from the 70% ethanol extract of the stems of Akebia trifoliata (Thunb.) Koidz. var. australis (Diels) Rehd. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of the spectroscopic analysis and physicochemical properties as 3-β-[(β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-O-[β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-O-]-α-l-arabinopyranosyl)oxy]-30-norolean-12-en-28-oic acid α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 6)-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl ester (1), 3-β-[(β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-O-[β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-O-]-α-l-arabinopyranosyl)oxy]-30-norolean-12-en-28-oic acid (2), leonticin E (3), collinsonidin (4), arjunolic acid 28-O-glucopyranoside (5), asiatic acid 28-O-glucopyranoside (6), soya-cerebroside I (7), and 1-O-α-l-galactosyl-(1 → 6)-O-β-d-galactosyl-3-O-hexadecanoyl-glycerol (8), respectively.     

Three new dammarane-type triterpene saponins from the leaves of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer

Three new dammarane-type triterpene ginsenosides, together with six known ginsenosides, were isolated from the leaves of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer. The new saponins were named as ginsenoside Rh₁₁, ginsenoside Rh₁₂, and ginsenoside Rh₁₃. Their structures were elucidated as (20S)-3β,6α,12β,20-tetrahydroxydammara-25-ene-24-one 20-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (1), (20S)-3β,12β,20,24,25-pentahydroxydammarane 20-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (2), and (20S,23E)-3β,12β,20,25-tetrahydroxydammara-23-ene 20-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (3) on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR experiments and mass spectra. The known ginsenosides were identified as ginsenoside M_7cd, ginsenoside Rg₆, ginsenoside Rb₃, gypenoside XVII, gypenoside IX, and 20-(E)-ginsenoside F₄.     

Three triterpenoid saponins acylated with monoterpenic acid from Gymnocladus chinensis

A new triterpenoid saponin acylated with monoterpenic acid, together with two known triterpenoid saponins, has been isolated from the fruit of Gymnocladus chinensis Baill. Their structures were elucidated as 2β,23-dihydroxy-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-21-O-{(6S)-2-trans-2,6-dimethyl-6-O-[3-O-(β-D-glucopyranosyl)-4-O-((6S)-2-trans-2,6-dimethyl-6-hydroxy-2,7-octadienoyl)-β-L-arabinopyranosyl]-2,7-octadienoyl}-acacic acid 28-O-β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 6)]-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester (1), gymnocladus saponin E (2), and gymnocladus saponin F₂ (3).     

Three new sulfated triterpenoids from the roots of Gypsophila pacifica

Three new sulfated triterpenoids (1–3), along with one known compound (4), were isolated from the roots of Gypsophila pacifica Kom. The structures of the new compounds were established as 3β-O-sulfate gypsogenin 28-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl ester (1), 3β-O-sulfate gypsogenin (2), and 3β-O-sulfate quillaic acid (3) on the basis of 1D, 2D NMR, and HR-ESI-MS methods.     

Triterpenoid glycosides from Stauntonia chinensis

A new bidesmoside triterpenoid saponin, named stauntoside C1 (1), along with three known saponins (2–4) was isolated from Stauntonia chinensis DC. (Lardizabalaceae). Their structures were established by means of spectral and chemical methods as 3-O-β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-O-β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-α-l-arabinopyranosyl oleanolic acid 28-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 6)-β-d-glucopyranosyl ester (1), scabiosaponin E (2), sieboldianoside B (3), and kizutasaponin K₁₂ (4).     

Triterpenoid saponins from the rhizome of Polygonatum sibiricum

Three new triterpenoid saponins, polygonoides C (1), D (2), and E (3), were obtained from the ethanolic extract of the rhizome of Polygonatum sibiricum Redoute. On the basis of NMR and ESI-MS spectra, and chemical evidence, the structures of the three new compounds were elucidated as 3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-3β,7β,22β-trihydroxy-oleanolic acid (1), 3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-3β,7β,22β-trihydroxy-oleanolic acid methyl ester (2), and 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-[α-L-rhamno-pyranosyl-(1 → 2)]-β-D-glucopyranosyl-3β,21β-dihydroxy-oleanolic acid 28-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-β-D-glucopyranoside (3).     

Microbial transformation of hederagenin by Cunninghamella echinulate,Mucor subtilissimus,and Pseudomonas oleovorans

The pentacyclic triterpenoid hederagenin (1) was subjected to biotransformation by Cunninghamella echinulate CGMCC 3.2000, Mucor subtilissimus CGMCC 3.2454 and Pseudomonas oleovorans CGMCC 1.1641. Three metabolites were obtained. On the basis of nuclear magnetic resonance and high-resolution mass spectral analyses, their structures were characterized as 3β, 23-dihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid 28-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester (2), 3β, 15α, 23-trihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid (3), 1β, 3β, 23-trihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid (4), and metabolite (3) was a new compound. This was the first report on the biotransformation of hederagenin.     

New oleanane-type triterpenoid saponins isolated from the seeds of Celosia argentea

Three new oleanane-type triterpenoid saponins named celosins H (1), I (2), and J (3) were isolated from the seeds of Celosia argentea L. Their structures were characterized as 3-O-β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-β-d-glucuronopyranosyl-polygalagenin 28-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl ester, 3-O-β-d-glucuronopyranosyl-medicagenic acid 28-O-β-d-xylcopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-β-d-fucopyranosyl ester, and 3-O-β-d-glucuronopyranosyl-medicagenic acid 28-O-α-l-arabinopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-[β-d-xylcopyranosyl-(1 → 4)]-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-β-d-fucopyranosyl ester by NMR, MS, and chemical evidences, respectively. In our opinion, celosins H–J could be used as chemical markers for the quality control of C. argentea seeds.     

Two new triterpenoid saponins from Ilex cornuta

Two new triterpenoid saponins (1 and 2) were isolated from the stems of Ilex cornuta, along with two known triterpenoids (3 and 4). The structures of compounds 1 and 2 were determined as ursane-12,19-diene-28-oic acid 3β-O-β-d-glucuronopyranoside-6-O-methyl ester (1), 3α,23α-dihydroxy-olean-9(11),12-diene-28-oic acid 28-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl ester (2), on the basis of hydrolysis and spectral evidence, including 1D and 2D NMR and high resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HR-ESI-MS) analyses. Protective effects of compounds 1–4 were tested against H₂O₂-induced H9c2 cardiomyocyte injury, and the data showed that all these compounds had no cell-protective effect.     

Two triterpenoid glycosides from the roots of Camellia oleifera and their cytotoxic activity

Two new triterpenoid saponins, oleiferoside N and oleiferoside O, were isolated from the EtOH extract from the roots of Camellia oleifera C. Abel. Their structures were elucidated as 16α-acetoxy-21β,22α-O-diangeloyloxy-23,28-dihydroxyolean-12-ene 3β-O-β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-α-l-arabinopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-β-d-glucuronopyranoside (1), 16α-acetoxy-21β-O-angeloyloxy-23,28-dihydroxy-22α-O-(2-methylbutanoyloxy)olean-12-ene 3β-O-β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-α-l-arabinopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-β-d-glucuronopyranoside (2), on the basis of spectroscopic analyses (IR, ESI-MS, HR-ESI-MS, 1D and 2D NMR) and acid hydrolysis. Both were characterized to be oleanane-type saponins with sugar moieties linked to C-3 of the aglycone. Cytotoxic activities of two saponins were evaluated against four human tumor cell lines (A549, B16, BEL-7402, and MCF-7) by using the MTT in vitro assay. Compounds 1 and 2 showed moderate cytotoxic activities toward the tested cell lines.     

A dimeric triterpenoid glycoside and flavonoid glycosides with free radical-scavenging activity isolated from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rubus rigidus</Emphasis> var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">camerunensis</Emphasis>

The aerial part of Rubus rigidus var. camerunensis (Rosaceae) is used to treat respiratory and cardiovascular disorders in the Cameroonian traditional medicine. The ethanol extract exhibited more potent antioxidant activity (E_maxs of 119% and 229% activity on DPPH and β-carotene test) than aqueous extract. Bioactivity-guided fractionation of the ethanol extract based on free radical-scavenging assay (DPPH assay) afforded five flavonoid glycosides (four flavonol glycosides and an anthocyanin) and three glucosides of 19α-hydroxyursane-type triterpenoid (two monomeric and one dimeric triterpenoids). The flavonoids were identified as kaempferol 3-O-(2″-O-E-p-coumaroyl)-β-D-glucopyranoside (1), kaempferol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (astragalin, 2), kaempferol-3-O-α-L-arabinofuranoside (juglanin, 3), quercetin-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (isoquercitrin, 4), pelargonidin-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (callistephin, 5). The three triterpenoids were 2α, 3β, 19α, 23-tetrahydroxyurs-12-ene-28-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester (nigaichigoside F₁, 6), 2α, 3β, 19α-trihydroxyurs-12-ene-23-carboxyl-28-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester (suavissimoside R₁, 7) as monomeric triterpenoids and coreanoside F₁ (8) as a dimeric triterpenoid. The flavonoids exhibited potent antioxidant activities (66 to 93.56% against DPPH radical) and they were also active on β-carotene test. Coreanoside F₁ exhibited a 63% antioxidant activity, meanwhile the other two triterpenoids showed a weak activity. Three important facts on structure-activity relationship were observed: Compound 8, a dimeric triterpenoid glycoside, strongly enhanced antioxidant activity of its monomers, compound 3 with 3-O-α-L-arabinofuranyl has much more potent activity than compound 2 with 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl, and antocyanin (5) is more potent than its corresponding flavonol glycosides.     

Two new dammarane-type triterpenoid saponins from notoginseng medicinal fungal substance

Two new dammarane-type triterpenoid saponins, namely ginsenoside Rk₆ (1) and ginsenoside-Rh₂₂ (2), were isolated from notoginseng medicinal fungal substance. The structures of 1 and 2 were established as 3β,6α,12β,26-tetrahydroxydammar-20(21),24(25)(E)-diene-6-O-β-D-glucopyranoside and 3β,6α, 20(S)-trihydroxy-12(R),23(R)-expoxy-13(S),17(S)-dammar-24-ene-6-O-β-D-glucopyranoside on the basis of spectroscopic analysis and chemical analysis, respectively.     

Biotransformation of oleanolic acid by Alternaria longipes and Penicillium adametzi

Microbial transformation of oleanolic acid (1) was carried out. Six transformed products (2–7) from 1 by Alternaria longipes and three transformed products (8–10) from 1 by Penicillium adametzi were isolated. Their structures were elucidated as 2α,3α,19α-trihydroxy-ursolic acid-28-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (2), 2α,3β,19α-trihydroxy-ursolic acid-28-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (3), oleanolic acid 28-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl ester (4), oleanolic acid-3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (5), 3-O-(β-d-glucopyranosyl)-oleanolic acid-28-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (6), 2α,3β,19a-trihydroxy-oleanolic acid-28-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (7), 21β-hydroxyl oleanolic acid-28-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (8), 21β-hydroxyl oleanolic acid (9), and 7α,21β-dihydroxyl oleanolic acid (10) based on the extensive NMR studies. Among them, 10 was a new compound and compounds 5 and 8–10 had stronger cytotoxic activities against Hela cell lines than the substrate. At the same time, it was reported for the first time in this paper that the skeletons of compounds 2 and 3 were changed from oleanane to uranane and seven glycosidation products were obtained by biotransformation.     

Triterpenoids from Viburnum betulifolium

Two new triterpenoids, ursa-12-sene-3β,11β-diol 3-O-palmitate (1) and ursa-12-sene-1β,3β,11α-triol 3-O-palmitate (2), were isolated from the 70% aqueous acetone extract of the aerial parts of Viburnum betulifolium, together with the artificial diene derivative of 2, ursa-12-dien-1β,3β-diol 3-O-palmitate (2a). Their structures were characterized by various spectroscopic methods, including 1D NMR, 2D NMR, and HR-ESI-MS.     

Two new triterpenoid glycosides from the leaves of Anthocephalus chinensis

Nine compounds were isolated from the leaves of Anthocephalus chinensis by column chromatography on silica gel and Sephadex LH-20, and their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic techniques as clethric acid-28-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl ester (1), mussaendoside T (2), β-stigmasterol (3), hederagenin (4), ursolic acid (5), clethric acid (6), 3β,6β,19α,24-tetrahydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid (7), mussaendoside I (8), and cadambine (9). Compounds 1 and 2, and 7 and 8 were isolated from the plants of this genus for the first time, and compounds 1 and 2 were new triterpenoid glycosides.     

Bioactive triterpenoids from Atriplex lasiantha

Chromatographic purification of the ethyl acetate soluble fraction from the methanolic extract of Atriplex lasiantha yielded a new triterpenoid, 7β,15α,16β-trihydroxyolean-12-ene-28,30-dioic acid-3-O-β-d-xylopyranoside (1), along with two known triterpenoids, rotundifolioside I (2) and corchorusin B (3). Structures of the compounds 1–3 were elucidated through sophisticated NMR studies and high resolution mass spectrometry. The three isolates (1–3) were evaluated for antibacterial, antioxidant, and antiurease activities. Compound 2 exhibited the best antibacterial activity against Escherichiacoli with IC₅₀ value of 66.25 μg/ml, whereas, all the tested compounds exhibited antioxidant (IC₅₀ values of 68.7–75.4 μg/ml) and antiurease (IC₅₀ values of 25.5–49.3 μg/ml) activities, respectively.