Separation and Bio-activities of Spirostanol Saponin from Tribulus terrestris

Gross saponins of Tribulus terrestris(GSTT) have exact effect on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. But as a mixture, the specific efficient component of GSTT is still unknown. Nine monomers of spirostanol saponins were isolated and idendified as JA―JI(named transitorily) by means of NMR spectrometry. After bio- activity screening on them, we defined that monomers tigogenin 3-O-β-D-xylopyranosyl(1→2)-[β-D-xylopyranosyl (1→3)]-β-D-glucopyranosyl(1→4)-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1→2)]-β-D-galactopyranoside(compound JB) and hecogenin3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl(1→4)-β-D-galactopyranoside(compound JG) have cytoprotective bio-activity. Compound JB display effective dose in 10–8 and 10–9 mol/L, and JG in 10–6―10–9 mol/L. Survival rate, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and apoptosis also show that JB(at dose 10–8, 10–9 and 10–10 mol/L) can protect myocardial injury caused by hypoxia/reoxygenation(H/R). While morphology change also shows JG has cytoprotective bio-activity.