Two new asterosaponins from the starfish Asterias rubens: application of a cryogenic NMR probe head

We report two new asterosaponins from the Baltic starfish Asterias rubens along with their ¹H and ¹³C NMR data. The compounds were isolated after on‐flow liquid chromatography–NMR–mass spectrometry screening indicated that they had not been identified before. The one‐ and two‐dimensional NMR experiments used to elucidate the structures were recorded using a 5 mm cryogenic probe head. The advantages of cryogenic probes for this kind of examination in comparison with conventional probe heads are discussed. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Two New Steroidal Saponins from Tacca plantaginea

Two new C27 steroidal glycosides, named taccaoside A(1) and B(2), were isolated from the traditional Chinese herb Tacca plantaginea. The spectroscopic and chemical evidences revealed their structures to be 26-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(25R)-3β,26-dihydroxy furost-5,20-diene-3-O-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1→2)]-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1→3)]-β-D-glucopyranoside(1) and 26-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(25R)-3β,26-dihydroxy furost-5,20-diene-3-O-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)]-[β-D-glucopyranosyl(1→3)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1→3)]-β-D-glucopyranoside(2),respectively.     

Two Novel Antifungal Saponins from Tibetan Herbal Medicine Clematis tangutica

Antifungal assay-guided isolation of the ethanol extract of the aerial parts of Clematis tangutica yielded two novel triterpene saponins. Their structures were determined to be 3-O-α-L-arabinopyranosyl hederagenin 28-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl ester (1) and 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-α-L-arabinopyranosyl hederagenin 28-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl ester (2) on the basis of spectral data and chemical reactions.     

Arjunolic acid derivative glycoside from the stems of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hedera colchica</Emphasis>

Five triterpenoid saponins were isolated from the stems of Hedera colchica K. Koch, Araliaceae. Two of them are new natural substances. HCSt-A (1): 3-O--D-arabinopyranoside; 28-O--L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 4)-O--D-glucopyranosyl-(16)-O--D-glucopyranosyl-arjunolic acid. HCSt-B (2): 3-O--D-xylopyranoside; 28-O--L-rhamnopyranosyl-(14)-O--D-glucopyranosyl-(16)-O--D-glucopyranosyl-hederagenin. The derivative of arjunolic acid is described for the first time in Araliaceae family. The chemical structures of isolated compounds were established on the base of chemical and 1D and 2D NMR experiments.Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 6, pp. 461–463, November–December, 2004.This revised version was published online in April 2005 with a corrected cover date.     

Triterpenoid Saponins from Schefflera arboricola

Four new triterpenoid saponins, named scheffarboside A – D ( 1 – 4 ), along with five known saponins were isolated from the stems of Schefflera arboricola. The structures of the four new saponins were determined as 3‐O‐(O‐β‐glucuronopyranosyl‐(1 → 3)‐O‐α‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1 → 2)‐α‐arabinopyranosyl)oleanolic acid ( 1 ), 3‐O‐(O‐α‐arabinopyranosyl‐(1 → 4)‐O‐α‐arabinopyranosyl‐(1 → 3)‐O‐α‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1 → 2)‐α‐arabinopyranosyl)oleanolic acid ( 2 ), 3‐O‐(O‐α‐arabinopyranosyl‐(1 → 4)‐O‐α‐arabinopyranosyl‐(1 → 3)‐O‐α‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1 → 2)‐α‐arabinopyranosyl)hederagenin ( 3 ), 3‐O‐(O‐α‐arabinopyranosyl‐(1 → 4)‐O‐α‐arabinopyranosyl‐(1 → 3)‐O‐α‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1 → 2)‐α‐arabinopyranosyl)oleanolic acid O‐α‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1 → 4)‐O‐β‐glucopyranosyl‐(1 → 6)‐β‐glucopyranosylester ( 4 ), respectively, on the basis of spectroscopic and chemical degradation methods.     

Triterpenoids from Rhaponticum Uniflorum

The isolation and identification of twenty‐one components (including four new triterpenoid saponins and one new triterpenoid acid) from the root of Rhaponticum uniflorum (L.) DC. (Compositae) are described. Their structures were determined on the basis of spectral analysis and chemical trans formation. The new compounds were identified as 3‐O‐α‐L‐arabinopyranosyl‐urs‐12,18(19)‐dien‐28‐oic acid β‐D‐glucopyranosyl ester, 3β‐ hydroxyurs‐12,18(19)‐dien‐28‐oic acid β‐D‐glucopyranosyl ester, 3β‐hydroxyurs‐12,19(29)‐dien‐28‐oic acid β‐D‐glucopyranosylester, 3‐O‐α‐L‐arabinopyranosyl‐urs‐9(11),12‐dien‐28‐oic acid β‐D‐glucopyranosyl ester and 2 α,3 α, 19α,25‐tetrahydroxyurs‐12‐en‐23,28‐dioic acid.     

Tirucallane Triterpenoid Saponins from Munronia delavayi Franch

Four new tirucallane triterpenoid saponins, named munronosides I–IV ( 2 – 5 ), along with three known triterpenoids, sapelin B ( 1 ), melianodiol, and (3β)‐22,23‐epoxytirucall‐7‐ene‐3,24,25‐triol, were isolated from the EtOH extract of the whole plants of Munronia delavayi Franch by chromatographic methods. On the basis of spectroscopic evidences, the structures of 2 – 5 were elucidated as (20S,23R,24S)‐21,25‐epoxy‐29‐{{O‐β‐d‐ glucopyranosyl‐(1→3)‐O‐[α‐l‐ rhamnopyranosyl‐(1→6)]‐β‐d‐ glucopyranosyl}oxy}‐23,24‐dihydroxytirucall‐7‐ene‐3,21‐dione ( 2 ), (3β,20S,23R,24S)‐21,25‐epoxy‐29‐{{O‐β‐d‐ glucopyranosyl‐(1→3)‐O‐[α‐l‐ rhamnopyranosyl‐(1→6)]‐β‐d‐ glucopyranosyl}oxy}‐3,23,24‐trihydroxytirucall‐7‐en‐21‐one ( 3 ), (20S,23R,24S)‐24‐(acetyloxy)‐21,25‐epoxy‐29‐{{O‐β‐d‐ glucopyranosyl‐(1→3)‐O‐[α‐l‐ rhamnopyranosyl‐(1→6)]‐β‐d‐ glucopyranosyl}oxy}‐23‐hydroxytirucall‐7‐ene‐3,21‐dione ( 4 ), and (3β,20S,23R,24S)‐24‐(acetyloxy)‐21,25‐epoxy‐29‐{{O‐β‐d‐ glucopyranosyl‐(1→3)‐O‐[α‐l‐ rhamnopyranosyl‐(1→6)]‐β‐d‐ glucopyranosyl}oxy}‐3,23‐dihydroxytirucall‐7‐en‐21‐one ( 5 ).     

Biochemical and Molecular Investigation of the Effect of Saponins and Terpenoids Derived from Leaves of Ilex aquifolium on Lipid Metabolism of Obese Zucker Rats

Ilex paraguariensis, the holly tree, is a plant with recognized biological properties, whose aqueous infusions are known as “Yerba mate”, that regulate lipid metabolism, reduce obesity, and improve brain stimulation. In the present study, the effect of standardized saponin and terpenoid fractions of a European taxon, Ilex aquifolium, on blood biochemical parameters in a rat model of metabolic disorder, (fa/fa) Zucker, are presented. The profiles of the volatile fractions of two species and six European varieties of Ilex were investigated. After selecting the best variety, the saponin and terpenoid fractions were isolated and standardized, and animals were fed 10 mg kg⁻¹ b.w. for 8 weeks. A statistically significant decrease in liver adiposity was observed, confirmed by histology and quantitative identification (gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analyses of hepatic lipids. RT-qPCR analysis of gene expression in the aorta revealed that the administration of the terpenoid fraction downregulated LOX-1, suggesting a reduction in atherosclerotic stimuli. In addition, a statistically significant reduction (p < 0.05) in PPARγ for the saponin fraction was observed in the liver. The expression of the ACAT-1 gene in the liver, responsible for the formation of cholesterol esters, increased significantly in the group receiving the terpenoid fraction compared to the control, which was also confirmed by the analysis of individual blood biochemical parameters. The opposite effect was observed for saponins. Taking the above into account, it is shown for the first time that Ilex aquifolium can be a source of compounds that positively influence lipid metabolism.     

Chemical fingerprint analysis and quantitative determination of steroidal compounds from Dioscorea villosa,Dioscorea species and dietary supplements using UHPLC‐ELSD

Ultra high‐performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) with evaporative light scattering detection was used for the quantification of steroidal saponins and diosgenin from the rhizomes or tubers of various Dioscorea species and dietary supplements that were purported to contain Dioscorea. The analysis was performed on an Acquity UPLC? system with an UPLC? BEH Shield RP₁₈ column using a gradient elution with water and acetonitrile. Owing to their low UV absorption, the steroidal saponins were observed by evaporative light scattering detection. The 12 compounds could be separated within 15 min using the developed UHPLC method with detection limits of 5–12 µg/mL with 2 μL injection volume. The analytical method was validated for linearity, repeatability, accuracy, limits of detection and limits of quantification. The relative standard deviations for intra‐ and inter‐day experiments were <3.1%, and the recovery efficiency was 97–101%. The total content of standard compounds was found to be in the ranges 0.01–14.5% and 0.9–28.6 mg daily intake for dry plant materials and solid commercial preparations, respectively. UHPLC–mass spectrometry with a quadrupole mass analyzer and ESI source was used only for confirmation of the identity of the various saponins. The developed method is simple, rapid and especially suitable for quality control analysis of commercial products. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Acid-Catalyzed E-Ring Expansion and Isomerization of 3-Acetylbetulin: Synthesis of Cytotoxic Anhydrobetulin Saponins

22(17 → 28)abeo-Lupene derivatives 5a and 6a were obtained after the acid-catalyzed E-ring expansion of 3-acetylbetulin (1a). Glycosylation of these dehydrated triterpenoids using Schmidt's trichloroacetimidate sugar donors in the presence of trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate (TMSOTf) provided the new anhydrobetulin saponins 7b–7e in which the terminal olefin C-20(29) isomerizes to form a C-19 tetrasubstituted alkene. The preliminary cytotoxic evaluation revealed that saponins 7b–7d exhibited a moderate cytotoxic activity against A549, DLD-1, and WS1 human cell lines with IC₅₀ ranging from 22 to 49 μM.