Increased synthesis of a new oleanane-type saponin in hairy roots of marigold (Calendula officinalis) after treatment with jasmonic acid

Native plant of marigold (Calendula officinalis L.) synthesizes oleanolic acid saponins classified as glucosides or glucuronides according to the first residue in sugar chain bound to C-3 hydroxyl group. Hairy root culture, obtained by transformation with Agrobacterium rhizogenes strain 15834, exhibit a potent ability of synthesis of oleanolic acid glycosides. The HPLC profile of saponin fraction obtained from C. officinalis hairy roots treated with plant stress hormone, jasmonic acid, showed the 10-times increase of the content of one particular compound, determined by NMR and MALDI TOF as a new bisdesmoside saponin, 3-O-β-d-glucuronopyranosyl-28-O-β-d-galactopyranosyl-oleanolic acid. Such a diglycoside does not occur in native C. officinalis plant. It is a glucuronide, whereas in the native plant glucuronides are mainly accumulated in flowers, while glucosides are the most abundant saponins in roots. Thus, our results revealed that the pathways of saponin biosynthesis, particularly reactions of glycosylation, are altered in C. officinalis hairy root culture.     

Schefflerins A-G, new triterpene glucosides from the leaves of Schefflera arboricola

From the 1-BuOH-soluble fraction of a MeOH extract of leaves of Schefflera arboricola, collected in Okinawa, six new lupane glucosides, named schefflerins A-F (1-6) and one new dammarane glucoside, named schefflerin G (7), were isolated together with three known compounds, citroside A (8), and oleanane saponins, oleanolic acid (9) and echinocystic acid (10) 3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1→4')-O-β-D-glucuronopynosides. Their structures were elucidated through a combination of spectroscopic analyses and the structure of schefflerin F (6) was determined by X-ray crystallographic method using SPring-8 synchrotron radiation.     

Evaluation of the Saponin Content in Panax vietnamensis Acclimatized to Lam Dong Province by HPLC–UV/CAD

Panax vietnamensis, or Vietnamese ginseng (VG), an endemic Panax species in Vietnam, possesses a unique saponin profile and interesting biological activities. This plant is presently in danger of extinction due to over-exploitation, resulting in many preservation efforts towards the geographical acclimatization of VG. Yet, no information on the saponin content of the acclimatized VG, an important quality indicator, is available. Here, we analyzed the saponin content in the underground parts of two- to five-year-old VG plants acclimatized to Lam Dong province. Nine characteristic saponins, including notoginsenoside-R1, ginsenoside-Rg1, -Rb1, -Rd, majonoside-R1, -R2 vina-ginsenoside-R2, -R11, and pseudoginsenoside-RT4, were simultaneously determined by HPLC coupled with UV and with a charged aerosol detector (CAD). Analyzing the results illustrated that the detection of characteristic ocotillol-type saponins in VG by CAD presented a superior capacity compared with that of UV, thus implying a preferential choice of CAD for the analysis of VG. The quantitative results indicating the saponin content in the underground parts of VG showed an increasing tendency from two to five years old, with the root and the rhizome exhibiting different saponin accumulation patterns. This is the first study that reveals the preliminary success of VG acclimatization and thereby encourages the continuing efforts to develop this valuable saponin-rich plant.     

New Dammarane‐Type Saponins from the Rhizomes of Panax japonicus

Phytochemical investigation of the rhizomes of Panax japonicus C. A. Meyer (Araliaceae) resulted in the isolation of two new dammarane‐type triterpenoid saponins, yesanchinoside R₁ ( 1 ) and yesanchinoside R₂ ( 2 ), together with one new natural product, 6′′′‐O‐acetylginsenoside Re ( 3 ). In addition, 25 known compounds, including 23 triterpenoid saponins, 4 – 26 , β‐sitosterol 3‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 27 ), and ecdysterone ( 28 ), were also identified. The known saponins 12, 15 , and 18 – 22 were reported for the first time from the title plant. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of detailed spectroscopic analyses, including 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR techniques, as well as acidic hydrolysis.     

Constituents of Panacis Japonici Rhizoma. VI The Structure of Chikusetsu-Saponin II,IVC

Chikusetsusaponin II and IVc, the minorsaponins of Panacis japonici rhizoma (rhizome of Panax japonicum C.A. MEYER) have been isolated. The structure of these saponins were established as being oleanolic acid-(3)-[β-D-glucopyranosyl (1→6)]-β-D-glucuronopyranoside and 20S-protopanaxatriol-6-(O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1→2)-β-D-glucopyranoside]-20-O-β-D-glucopyranoside. Chikusetsusaponin II is a new structure, while chikusetsusaponin IVc is identical with ginsenoside-Re, isolated from P. ginseng C. A. MEYER.     

Isolation of dammarane saponins from Panax notoginseng by high-speed counter-current chromatography

The Chinese phytomedicinal formulation Sanqi Zongdai Pian, traditionally prepared from crude extracts from roots of Panax notoginseng (Araliaceae), contains highly polar dammarane saponins which were separated at a preparative scale using high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC). In each operation, 283 mg methanolic extract of five tablets was separated and yielded pure 157, 17, 13 and 56 mg of ginsenoside-Rb1, notoginsenoside-R1, ginsenoside-Re and ginsenoside-Rg1, respectively, n-hexane-n-butanol-water (3:4:7, v/v/v) was used for the two-phase solvent system of the HSCCC separation. The chemical structures of three ginsenosides and one notoginsenoside were elaborated by means of electrospray ionization MS-MS and NMR analysis.     

Simultaneous determination of triterpene saponins in ginseng drugs by high-performance liquid chromatography

A HPLC method for the simultaneous determination of 11 triterpene saponins with four-type aglycones (protopanaxadiol, protopanaxatriol, ocotillol and oleanolic acid types) in Ginseng drugs was developed and validated. Using a gradient of acetonitrile and 10 mM K-phosphate buffer (pH 5.80) as the mobile phase and UV detection at 196 nm, more than 18 ginsenosides with different aglycones were separated satisfactorily within 60 min. The detection limits (signal/noise> or =3) were 0.1 microg for ginsenosides Rb1, Rc, Rd, Re and Rg1, chikusetsusaponin III, and notoginsenoside R2, 0.2 microg for gisenoside Ro and chikusetsusaponin IVa, 0.3 microg for chikusetsusaponin IV, and 3 microg for majonoside R2. The calibration curve of each saponin had a correlation coefficient close to 1. Intra- and interday precisions were less than 2.1% (n=5) and 3.3% (n=15), respectively. The recovery rates of extraction were in the range of 96.4-102.7% for all ginsenosides. By adopting this method, the determinations of 11 ginsenosides in three Ginseng drugs derived from Panax ginseng, Panax vietnamensis var. fuscidiscus and Panax japonicus (Japan) were achieved.     

Four new oleanane saponins from Anemone anhuiensis

Four new oleanane triterpene saponins, anhuienosides C-F, together with three known saponins, were isolated from the rhizomes of Anemone anhuiensis (Ranunculaceae). The structures of anhuienosides C-F were elucidated as 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-xylopyranosyl oleanolic acid 28-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester, 3-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl oleanolic acid 28-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester, 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl oleanolic acid 28-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester, 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-xylopyranosyl oleanolic acid 28-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester, respectively.     

Effect of methyl jasmonate on the ginsenoside content of Panax ginseng adventitious root cultures and on the genes involved in triterpene biosynthesis

Methyl jasmonate (MJ)-induced changes of triterpene saponins in Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer adventitious roots, and expression of the genes involved in triterpene biosynthesis, were analyzed. Compared with controls, expression of the squalene epoxidase and dammarenediol synthase genes was clearly upregulated and total saponin content increased in response to MJ. The highest total saponin content was obtained by use of 10 mg L^?1 MJ for 24 h, and was 4.76-fold greater than in the control group. Expression of the two genes associated with the cytochrome P450 family was no different from that in controls. The level of ginsenoside in the Rg group thus increased much less than that in the Rb group. This investigation showed that the total saponin content of ginseng adventitious root is related to gene expression in ginsenoside biosynthesis.     

Hepatoprotective and hepatotoxic actions of oleanolic acid-type triterpenoidal glucuronides on rat primary hepatocyte cultures

The protective effects of oleanolic acid-type saponins and their derivatives on in vitro immunological liver injury of primary cultured rat hepatocytes were studied. A known antihepatotoxic saponin (chikusetsusaponin IVa, 1) showed hepatoprotective activity in this model. Although a rhamnosyl derivative (2) of 1 similarly showed hepatoprotective activity, its prosapogenin (5) did not show any hepatoprotective activity. On the contrary, 5 exhibited cytotoxicity toward liver cells. In the absence of antiserum, monodesmosyl saponins showed hepatotoxicity, while the bisdesmosyl saponins except for 1, did not show such hepatotoxicity. In order to clarify the effects of the sugar residues at C-3 and C-28 responsible for hepatoprotective and hepatotoxic actions, oleanolic acid 3-O-glucuronide (2a) and oleanolic acid 28-O-glucoside (2b) were prepared and tested. 2b showed neither hepatoprotective action nor hepatotoxicity. In contrast, 2a was effective at 90 microM on hepatoprotection, although it showed strong hepatotoxicity. Oleanolic acid (2c) itself showed both hepatoprotective action and weak hepatotoxicity. Therefore, the hepatoprotective activity of these types of saponins could represent a balance between hepatoprotective action and hepatotoxicity.     

Ginsenoside Rg8, a new dammarane-type triterpenoid saponin from roots of Panax quinquefolium

A new dammarane-type triterpenoid saponin, ginsenoside Rg(8) (1), was isolated from the roots of Panax quinquefolium, along with five known saponins, (20E)-ginsenoside F(4) (2), ginsenosides Rh(1) (3), Rg(2) (4), F(1) (5), and (20R)-ginsenoside Rh(1) (6). The structure of ginsenoside Rg(8) (1) was determined to be (3beta,6alpha,12beta,20E)-24,25-epoxy-3,12,23-trihydroxydammar-20(22)-en-6-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranoside by various spectroscopic analyses. Among the known saponins, (20E)-ginsenoside F(4) (2) and ginsenoside F(1) (5) were first reported from the title plant.     

Enhanced secondary metabolite biosynthesis by elicitation in transformed plant root system

Plants generally produce secondary metabolites in nature as a defense mechanism against pathogenic and insect attack. In this study, we applied several abiotic elicitors in order to enhance growth and ginseng saponin biosynthesis in the hairy roots of Panax ginseng. Generally, elicitor treatments were found to inhibit the growth of the hairy roots, although simultaneously enhancing ginseng saponin biosynthesis. Tannic acid profoundly inhibited the hairy root growth during growth period. Also, ginseng saponin content was not significantly different from that of the control. The addition of selenium at inoculum time did not significantly affect ginseng saponin biosynthesis. However, when 0.5 mM selenium was added as an elicitor after 21 d of culture, ginseng saponin content and productivity increased to about 1.31 and 1.33 times control levels, respectively. Also, the addition of 20μM NiSO₄ resulted in an increase in ginseng saponin content and productivity, to about 1.20 and 1.23 times control levels, respectively, and also did not inhibit the growth of the roots. Sodium chloride treatment inhibited hairy root growth, except at a concentration of 0.3% (w/v). Increases in the amounts of synthesized ginseng saponin were observed at all concentrations of added sodium chloride. At 0.1% (w/v) sodium chloride, ginseng saponin content and productivity were increased to approx, 1.15 and 1.13 times control values, respectively. These results suggest that processing time for the generation of ginseng saponin in a hairy root culture can be reduced via the application of an elicitor.     

Phytochemical Characterization and Bioactivity of Asparagus acutifolius: A Focus on Antioxidant,Cytotoxic, Lipase Inhibitory and Antimicrobial Activities

The phytochemical composition of leaves, stems, pericarps and rhizomes ethanolic extracts of Asparagus acutifolius were characterized by HPLC-DAD-MS. A. acutifolius samples contain at least eleven simple phenolics, one flavonon, two flavonols and six steroidal saponins. The stem extracts showed the highest total phenolic acid and flavonoid contents, where cafeic acid and rutin were the main compounds. No flavonoids were detected in the leaf, pericarp or rhizome while caffeic acid and ferulic acid were the predominant. Steroidal saponins were detected in the different plant parts of A. acutifolius, and the highest contents were found in the rhizome extracts. The stem extracts exhibited the highest antioxidant activity against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and the highest 2,2-azino-bis (3 ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) scavenging activity was found in the pericarp extracts. The rhizome and leaf extracts showed a potent cytotoxic activity against HCT-116 and HepG2 cell lines. Moreover, the pericarp and rhizome extracts revealed a moderate lipase inhibitory activity. The leaf and rhizome extracts were screened for their antimicrobial activity against human pathogenic isolates. The leaf extract exhibited a powerful inhibitory activity against all the bacteria and fungi tested.     

Preliminary results of a chemical study of the roots of Aralia manshurica

Summary It was shown that triterpene saponins derived from oleanolic acid are present in the roots ofAralia manshurica.     

Fibrous Roots of Cimicifuga Are at Risk of Hepatotoxicity

The cause of liver damage by using black cohosh preparation has been concerned but remains unclear. After a preliminary investigation, the black cohosh medicinal materials sold in the market were adulterated with Asian cohosh (Cimicifuga) without removing the fibrous roots. The safety of Cimicifuga rhizome and fibrous roots is unknown and has not been reported. Therefore, in this paper, the rhizome and fibrous roots of Cimicifuga dahurica (Turcz.) Maxim (C. dahurica) were completely separated, extracted with 70% ethanol, and freeze-dried to obtain crude rhizome extract (RC) and fibrous roots extract (FRC). UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS was used to identify 39 compounds in the rhizome and fibrous roots of Cimicifuga, mainly saponins and phenolic acids. In the L-02 cytotoxicity experiment, the IC₅₀ of fibrous roots (1.26 mg/mL) was slightly lower than that of rhizomes (1.417 mg/mL). In the 90-day sub-chronic toxicity study, the FRC group significantly increased the level of white blood cells, ALP, ALT, AST, BILI and CHOL (p < 0.05); large area of granular degeneration and balloon degeneration occurred in liver tissue; and the expression of p-NF-kB in the nucleus increased in a dose-dependent manner. Overall, Fibrous roots of Cimicifuga are at risk of hepatotoxicity and should be strictly controlled and removed during the processing.     

Saponins and other constituents from the leaves of Aralia elata

A new triterpenoid saponin, together with five known saponins, were isolated from the nonpolar n-hexane fraction of the leaves of Aralia elata. The structure of the new saponin, durupcoside C, was elucidated as hederagenin 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-->3)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-->3)-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside on the basis of spectroscopic analysis. The known saponins were characterized as 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->2)-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl hederagenin 28-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester, hederagenin 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-->3)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->2)-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside, oleanolic acid 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-->3)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->2)-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside, hederagenin 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->2)-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside (alpha-hederin), and hederagenin 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-->3)-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside (collinsonidin). In addition, two known lipids, Arisaema glyceride 3 and ceramide mixtures were also isolated and characterized. Collinsonidin and two known lipids were isolated for the first time from this plant.     

Determination of Seven Major Ginsenosides in Different Parts of Panax quinquefolius L.(American Ginseng) with Different Ages

Ginsenosides Rg1,Re,Rb1,Rc,Rb2,Rb3,and Rd in different parts of the American ginseng plant were investigated.The extraction process was a pressurized microwave-assisted extraction(PMAE).The seven ginsenosides were separated and determined by high-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) with a ultraviolet(UV) detector,at 203 nm.The experiment results showed significant variations in the individual ginsenoside contents of the American ginseng in different parts and ages of the plant.The results demonstrated that the leaves,root hairs,and rhizomes of Panax quinquefolius L.contained higher ginsenoside contents,followed by the main roots and stems.The leaves contained dramatically higher levels of ginsenoside Rg1,Rb3,and Rd than the other four parts.Higher contents of Rb1 and Re were present in the main roots,root hairs,and rhizomes.The amount of ginsenoside content in the stems was the lowest.The total content of the seven ginsenosides in main roots,root hairs and rhizomes increased with the age of the plant.In contrast,the ginsenoside contents in the leaves and stems decreased with a year of growth.     

A new triterpene saponin from Panax japonicus C. A. Meyer var major (Burk.) C. Y. Wu et K. M. Feng

<正>One new triterpene saponin was isolated from Panaxjaponicus C.A.Meyer var major(Burk.) C.Y.Wu et K.M.Feng,and established as oleanolic acid 3-O-[β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-glucuronopyranosyl-6'-O-n-butyl ester]which showed moderate antitumor activities against the A2780 cells and OVCAR-3 cells.Its structure was established by means of spectral data, particularly NMR,including HSQC and HMBC techniques.     

Studies on the constituents of Aster scaber Thunb. III. Structures of scaberosides B7, B8 and B9, minor oleanolic acid glycosides isolated from the root.

Three new oleanolic acid 3,28-O-bisdesmosides, scaberosides B7, B8 and B9, were isolated as minor saponins from the root of Aster scaber THUNB. (Compositae), and their structures were determined based on spectral and chemical evidence as follows. Scaberoside B7 is 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyluronic acid oleanolic acid 28-[O-beta-D-apiofuranosyl-(1----3)-[O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1---- 4)-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1----2)-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl] ester, scaberoside B8, 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl oleanolic acid 28-[O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1----4)-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1----2)-a lpha-L-arabinopyranosyl] ester, and scaberoside B9, 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyluronic acid oleanolic acid 28-[O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1----2)-[O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1----6)] -beta-D-glucopyranosyl] ester. Scaberosides B7 and B9 were obtained as their methyl esters.     

A pair of diastereoisomeric steroidal saponins from cytotoxic extracts of Tupistra chinensis rhizomes

A pair of diastereoisomeric steroidal saponins were obtained from the saponin fraction (SF) of methanol extracts from Tupistra chinensis rhizomes, collected in Shennongjia Forest District, China. Based on the chemical and spectroscopic evidences, their structures were determined as shown in Fig. 1. The sample SF displayed marked inhibitory action in vitro towards HeLa and HL-60 cancer cell lines at 10 microg/ml by MTT method.