Asparinins, asparosides, curillins, curillosides and shavatarins: structural clarification with the isolation of shatavarin V, a new steroidal saponin from the root of Asparagus racemosus

A new steroidal saponin, shatavarin V, (3-O-{[α-l-rhamnopyranosyl(1→2)][β-d-glucopyranosyl(1→4)]-β-d-glucopyranosyl}-(25S)-5β-spirostan-3β-ol), was isolated from the roots of Asparagus racemosus by RP-HPLC, and its structure determined by 1D and 2D NMR studies. This data permits clarification of the structures reported for several known saponins: asparinins A and B; asparosides A and B; curillin H; curillosides G and H and shavatarins I and IV.     

Highly glycosylated flavonoids from the pods of Bobgunnia madagascariensis

Methanolic extracts of the pods of Bobgunnia madagascariensis (Leguminosae) yielded four pentaglycosylated flavonoids, including the 3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl(1→3)-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl(1→2)[α-l-rhamnopyranosyl(1→6)]-β-d-glucopyranoside-7-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosides of 3,5,7-trihydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4H-benzopyran-4-one (kaempferol) and 3,5,7-trihydroxy-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-4H-benzopyran-4-one (quercetin), which were characterized by a novel O-linked branched tetrasaccharide. Spectroscopic and chemical methods were used to determine the structures of the latter, which co-occurred with the corresponding β-d-galactopyranosyl isomers, and two saponins. Conformational isomerism of quercetin 3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl(1→3)-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl(1→2)[α-l-rhamnopyranosyl(1→6)]-β-d-glucopyranoside-7-O-α-l-rhamnopyranoside was detected in solution by NMR, a phenomenon previously associated only with C-glycosylflavonoids.     

Mildbraedin, a novel kaempferol tetraglycoside from the tropical forest legume Mildbraediodendron excelsum

Aqueous methanol extracts of the leaves of Mildbraediodendron excelsum yielded a novel flavonol glycoside characterized by an O-linked branched tetrasaccharide. The structure of the compound was determined by spectroscopic methods to be kaempferol 3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl(1→3)-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl(1→2)[α-l-rhamnopyranosyl(1→6)]-β-d-galactopyranoside. This previously unrecorded natural product was the major phenolic component of leaf material obtained both from a living specimen of the plant and a historic collection made in the field in 1928.     

A general method for the synthesis of oligosaccharides consisting of α-(1→2)- and α-(1→3)-linked rhamnan backbones and GlcNAc side chains

A general method has been developed for the synthesis of oligosaccharides consisting of (1→2)- and (1→3)-linked rhamnans with GlcNAc side chains. As examples, highly effective and convergent syntheses of two decasaccharides in the O polysaccharide moiety of the lipopolysaccharide of the phytopathogenic bacterium Pseudomonas syringae pv. ribicola NCPPB 1010 were achieved. The two decasaccharides consist of O polysaccharide repeating units I+II and II+I, respectively. Allyl 3-O-acetyl-4-O-benzoyl-α-l-rhamnopyranoside, allyl 2-O-benzoyl-3-O-chloroacetyl-α-l-rhamnopyranoside, 2,4-di-O-benzoyl-3-O-chloroacetyl-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate, and 3-O-acetyl-2,4-di-O-benzoyl-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate, which were obtained by highly regioselective 3-O-acylations, were used as the key synthons to obtain the required α-(1→2)- and α-(1→3)-linked rhamnoocta saccharide acceptors with 3³- and 3⁷-free hydroxyl groups. Therefore, several disaccharides were synthesized, from which tetrasaccharides and hexasaccharides were then synthesized. Coupling of the hexasaccharide donors with the disaccharide acceptors gave the octasaccharide acceptors. Finally, the coupling of 3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-2-phthalimido-β-d-glucopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate with the octasaccharide acceptors, followed by deprotection, afforded the two target decasaccharides. A repeating hexasaccharide unit of the cell wall polysaccharide of β-hemolytic Streptococci Group A was also synthesized in a similar way.     

Ligand fishing from Dioscorea nipponica extract using human serum albumin functionalized magnetic nanoparticles

Dioscorea nipponica and the preparations made from it have been used for long to prevent and treat coronary heart disease in traditional Chinese medicine. A group of steroidal saponins present in the plant are believed to be the active ingredients. It has been a challenge to study the individual saponins separately due to the similarities in their chemical and physical properties. In this work, human serum albumin (HSA) functionalized magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) were used to isolate and identify saponin ligands that bind to HSA from D. nipponica extract. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) was used for compound identification and semi-quantification. Three saponins, i.e. dioscin, gracillin, and pseudo-protodioscin showed affinity to HSA-MNPs and thus isolated effectively from the extract. The other two saponins detected in the extract (i.e. protodioscin and 26-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-3β,20α,26-triol-25(R)-Δ^5,22-dienofurostan-3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl (1→2)-[α-l-rhamnopyranosyl (1 → 4)]-β-d-glucopyranoside) exhibited no affinity at all. Among the three saponins fished out, dioscin bound to HSA much stronger than gracillin and pseudo-protodioscin did. The results indicated that affinity interaction between HSA immobilized on MNPs and small molecule compounds were highly dependent on chemical structures and, potentially, medicinal usefulness. The present work demonstrates a facile and effective way to isolate and identify ligands of receptors from medicinal plants.     

The microbiological transformation of steroidal saponins by Curvularia lunata

The microbiological transformation of polyphyllin I (compound I), polyphyllin III (compound II), polyphyllin V (compound III) and polyphyllin VI (compound IV) by Curvularia lunata into their corresponding subsaponins, for example, diosgenin-3-O-α-l-arabinofuranosyl (1→4)-β-d-glucopyranoside (compound V), diosgenin-3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl (1→4)-β-d-glucopyranoside (compound VI), diosgenin-3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (compound VII) and pennogenin-3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (compound VIII), were studied in this paper. Curvularia lunata is able to hydrolyze terminal rhamnosyls that are linked by 1→2 C- bond to sugar residues of steroidal saponins at C-3 position with high activity and regioselectivity.     

Furostanol saponins with inhibitory action against COX-2 production from Tupistra chinensis rhizomes

Two furostanol saponins were obtained from the n-butanol fraction of methanol extract from Tupistra chinensis rhizomes,a folk medicine of Shennongjia Forest District of Hubei Province.Their structures were determined as (25S)-26-O-(β-D-glucopyranosyl)- furost-1β,3β,22α,26-tetrol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-glucopyranoside (1) and (25R)- 26-O-(β-D-glucopyranosyl)-furost-1β,3β22α,26-tetrol 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-glu- copyranoside (2),on basis of chemical and spectroscopic evidences.1 and 2 displayed marked inhibitory action towards COX-2 production in macrophages of the rat abdomen induced by LPS at 20μg/mL.     

Thyonosides A and B, two new saponins isolated from the holothurian Thyone aurea

The structures of two saponins, thyonosides A and B, isolated from the holothurian Thyone aurea collected in Namibia, were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR (¹H, ¹³C, ¹H-¹H COSY, ¹H-¹H J-resolved, TOCSY, HMQC, HMBC and NOESY). The two compounds have the same aglycon but different oligosaccharidic chains. Thyonoside A has a 3-O-methyl-β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1→3)-6-O-sodium sulphate-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-d-quinovopyranosyl-(1→2)-4-O-sodium sulphate-β-d-xylopyranosyl chain, and thyonoside B a 3-O-methyl-β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-d-quinovopyranosyl-(1→2)-4-O-sodium sulphate-β-d-xylopyranosyl chain. The holostane-type aglycon features an endocyclic double bond at position 7-8, a double bond at position 25-26 and a β-acetoxy group at C16.     

Justiciosides E-G, triterpenoidal glycosides with an unusual skeleton from Justicia betonica

Three new triterpenoidal glucosides, justiciosides E, F and G, were isolated from the aerial portion of Justicia betonica. Their structures were established through chemical and spectroscopic analyses, and showed an unusual A-nor-B-homo oleanan-12-ene skeleton type for the aglycone moiety as A-nor-B-homo-oleanan-10,12-diene-3β,11α,28-triol 28-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-d-glucopyranoside, A-nor-B-homo-oleanan-10,12-diene-3β,11α,28-triol 28-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-d-glucopyranoside, and 11α-methoxy-A-nor-B-homo-oleanan-10,12-diene-3β,11α,28-triol 28-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-d-glucopyranoside, respectively.     

Structure of tecophilin,a tri-caffeoylanthocyanin from the blue petals of Tecophilaea cyanocrocus, and the mechanism of blue color development

The pigment, tecophilin, in blue flowers of Tecophilaea cyanocrocus was isolated and the structure was determined to be 3-O-(6-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl)-7-O-(6-O-(4-O-(2-O-(4-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(E)-caffeoyl)-6-O-(4-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(E)-caffeoyl)-β-d-glucopyranosyl)-(E)-caffeoyl)-β-d-glucopyranosyl)delphinidin. The reproduction experiment of the same color as petals according to the results of chemical analysis and measurement of vacuolar pH of blue cells clarified that the blue color solely develops by tecophilin without interaction of metal ions nor co-pigments. ¹H NMR analysis and CD spectrum indicate the co-existence of clockwise intermolecular self-association of the delphinidin nuclei and intramolecular π–π stacking between the chromophore and caffeoyl residues to derive bathochromic shift of the absorption spectrum and stabilize the color by preventing hydration reaction.     

Synthesis of quercetin 3-O-β-d-apiofuranosyl-(1→2)-[α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→6)]-β-d-glucopyranoside

A concise method to construct a unique 2,6-branched trisaccharide was established by regioselective glycosylation of three free hydroxyl groups on a 3-O-protected glucose moiety, and successfully used in the synthesis of quercetin 3-O-β-d-apiofuranosyl-(1→2)-[α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→6)]-β-d-glucopyranoside, a flavonol O-glycoside isolated from glandless cotton seeds which showed notable antidepressant activities.     

Synthesis of a common trisaccharide fragment of glycoforms of the outer core region of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa lipopolysaccharide

The first synthesis of the common trisaccharide of glycoforms of the outer core region of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa lipopolysaccharide is reported. A fully protected trisaccharide precursor was prepared via a highly efficient α-(1→4)-glucosylation of a β-(1→3)-linked 6-O-benzyl-2-azido-2-deoxy-3-O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl)-α-d-galactopyranoside. In contrast, an alternative sequence of glycosylations, which involves β-glucosylation of an α-(1→4)-linked Glc-GalN₃ unit, did not lead to the target trisaccharide backbone. Further O-deacetylation, azido group reduction and debenzylation of the protected trisaccharide precursor gave the corresponding trisaccharide amine. The latter structure was used in the synthesis of a series of trisaccharides bearing an acetyl group, an l-alanine or an N-acetylated l-alanine residue on its amino group at C-2 of GalN.     

First synthesis of 5,6-branched galacto-hexasaccharide,the dimer of the trisaccharide repeating unit of the cell-wall galactans of Bifidobacterium catenulatum YIT 4016

α-d-Galactopyranosyl-(1→6)-[β-d-galactofuranosyl-(1→5)]-β-d-galactofuranosyl-(1→6)-β-d-galactofuranosyl-(1→5)-[α-d-galactopyranosyl-(1→6)]-β-d-galactofuranose, the dimer of the trisaccharide repeating unit of the cell-wall galactans of Bifidobacterium catenulatum YIT 4016, has been synthesized as its dodecyl glycoside 2 by coupling of 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzyl-α-d-galactopyranosyl-(1→6)-[6-O-acetyl-2,3,5-tri-O-benzoyl-β-d-galactofuranosyl-(1→5)]-2-O-acetyl-3-O-benzyl-β-d-galactofuranosyl trichloroacetimidate 14 with dodecyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzyl-α-d-galactopyranosyl-(1→6)-[2,3,5-tri-O-benzoyl-β-d-galactofuranosyl-(1→5)]-2-O-acetyl-3-O-benzyl-β-d-galactofuranoside 16. The trisaccharide trichloroacetimidate donor 14 and trisaccharide acceptor 16 were regiospecifically prepared by employing 3-O-benzyl-1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-d-galactofuranose 4 as the glycosyl acceptor, and isopropyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzyl-1-thio-β-d-galactopyranoside 5 and 6-O-acetyl-2,3,5-tri-O-benzoyl-β-d-galactofuranosyl trichloroacetimidate 9 as glycosyl donors.     

Two new saponins from Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bge.

Two new saponins 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl (1→2)-β-D-mannopyranosyl sarsasapogenin, named timosaponin A IV(1) and (5β, 25S)-26-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-furost-20(22)-en-3,26-diol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl (1→4) glucopyranosyl (1→2)-β-D-galacopyranoside, named timosaponin B IV(2), were isolated by silica gel column chromatography and preparative HPLC from Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bge. Their structures were elucidated by chemical characters and spectroscopic analysis.     

Synthesis of the repeating trisaccharide unit of the cell wall lipopolysaccharide of Escherichia coli type 8

NIS/TfOH mediated glycosidation of methyl 3,4,6-tri-O-benzyl-α-d-mannopyranoside with phenyl 2-O-acetyl-3,4,6-tri-O-benzyl-1-thio-α-d-mannopyranoside furnished the corresponding disaccharide derivative in excellent yield and α-selectivity. Zémplen deacetylation of the same followed by reaction with BSP/Tf₂O-preactivated phenyl 4,6-O-benzylidene-2,3-di-O-benzyl-1-thio-α-d-mannopyranoside generated methyl 4,6-O-benzylidene-2,3-di-O-benzyl-β-d-mannopyranosyl-(1→2)-3,4,6-tri-O-benzyl-α-d-mannopyranosyl-(1→2)-3,4,6-tri-O-benzyl-α-d-mannopyranoside in very good yield and excellent β-selectivity. Pd/C catalyzed hydrogenation of the latter finally afforded the repeating trisaccharide of Escherichia coli 8 O-antigen as its methyl glycoside.     

Tomato steroidal alkaloid glycosides, esculeosides A and B, from ripe fruits

Major novel steroidal alkaloid glycosides, named esculeoside A (1) and esculeoside B (2), have been isolated from the pink color-type and the red color-type, respectively, of the ripe tomato fruits of Lycopersicon esculentum MILL. for the first time. The structures of 1 and 2 have been characterized as 3-O-β-lycotetraosyl (5S,22S,23S,25S)-23-acetoxy-3β,27-dihydroxyspirosolane 27-O-β-d-glucopyranoside and 3-O-β-lycotetraosyl (5S,22S,23R,25S)-22,26-epimino-16β,23-epoxy-3β,23,27-trihydroxycholestane 27-O-β-d-glucopyranoside, respectively.     

Chemical trans-glycosylation of bioactive glycolinkage: synthesis of an α-lycotetraosyl cholesterol

The aim of this study was to verify the antitumor role of the β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-O-[β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1→3)]-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-d-galactopyranosyl (lycotetraosyl) moiety present in steroidal glycosides from Solanaceous plants. We explored a new chemical trans-glycosylation method using an endoglycosidase called tomatinase that is produced by the tomato pathogen, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici. The lycotetraose, which was prepared by enzymatic hydrolysis of α-tomatine with tomatinase, was converted to glycosyl donors such as trichloroacetimidate, fluoride, and thioglycoside. All obtained glycosyl donors were glycosylated with cholesterol to form α-lycotetraosyl cholesterols in a stereoselective manner. The obtained lycotetraosyl derivatives together with typical natural lycotetraosyl glycosides were examined for their antiproliferative activity.     

Synthesis and conjugation of a sulfated disaccharide involved in the aggregation process of the marine sponge Microciona prolifera

The synthesis is reported of allyl (sodium 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-β-d-glucopyranosyl 3-sulfate)-(1→3)-α-l-fucopyranoside which represents an oligosaccharide fragment of the aggregation factor of the marine sponge Microciona prolifera. The title compound was obtained by coupling of 3-O-allyloxycarbonyl-2-deoxy-4,6-O-isopropylidene-2-phthalimido-β-d-glucopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate with allyl 2,4-di-O-benzoyl-α-l-fucopyranoside, followed by de-isopropylidenation, acetylation, de-allyloxycarbonylation, sulfation, de-acylation, and finally N-acetylation. The allyl glycoside was eventually converted into a 3-(2-aminoethylthio)propyl glycoside and then coupled to bovine serum albumin (BSA) using diethyl squarate as the bivalent linker, yielding 8 hapten molecules per molecule of BSA.     

A new triterpene and a saponin from Centella asiatica

A new triterpene and a saponin,named 2α,3β,23-trihydroxyurs-20-en-28-oic acid(1)and 2α,3β,23-trihydroxyurs-20-en-28-oic acid O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→4)-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester(2),have been isolated from the aerial part of Centella asiatica.Their structures were elucidated by spectral methods,including 2D-NMR spectra.