Dammarane saponins of leaves of Panax pseudo-ginseng subsp. himalaicus

From dried leaves of Panax pseudo-ginseng subsp. himalaicus collected in Eastern Himalaya, new dammarane saponins, named pseudo-ginsenosides-F₁₁ and -F₈ were isolated along with the known Ginseng-root saponins, ginsenosides-Rb₃, Rd and -Re. Pseudo-ginsenoside-F₈ was proved to be a mono-acetyl-ginsenoside-Rb₃ and the location of its acetyl group was established mainly by ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. Pseudo-ginsenoside-F₁₁, was identified as the 6-O-α-rhamnopyransyl(1 → 2)-β-glucopyranoside of 3β,6α,12β,25-tetrahydoxy-(20S,24R)-epoxy-dammarane. The C-24 configuration of ocotillone and its related triterpenes was confirmed to be 24R excluding the recent comment by Lavie et al.     

Triterpenoid saponins and sapogenins: 1973–1978

The triterpenoid saponins identified in plants during the period 1973 to 1978 inclusive are reviewed. Their natural occurrence, chemistry and biological activities are discussed. A compilation of all saponins, the structures of which have been fully elucidated, is included.     

Diosgenin saponins from Dioscorea floribunda

Five spirostanol glycosides and two furostanol glycosides were isolated from Dioscorea floribunda. In addition to the IR spectra of the free glycosides and the MS of the peracetates and permethyl ethers, the most effective method for structural determination proved to be the NMR spectra of the free saponins in pyridine-d₅.     

夹竹桃皂甙对福寿螺的毒杀效果及其对水稻幼苗的影响

室内条件下研究了夹竹桃皂甙对福寿螺的杀灭效果及其对水稻幼苗的影响。结果表明,福寿螺的致死率随着皂甙浓度的增加和处理时间的延长而显著上升,其中50mg/L 浓度皂甙处理48h的致死率达100%,与0.156g/L氯硝柳胺水溶液的灭螺效果相当。皂甙对福寿螺的杀灭效果与福寿螺的大小有关。皂甙对壳高h＜10 mm的福寿螺的杀螺效果最好, 而对20≤h<30 mm的杀螺效果最差。水稻幼苗的存活率随着皂甙浓度的增加而显著增加,且低浓度皂甙处理24h也具有较高的值。此外,采用水培方法研究了皂甙对水稻幼苗鲜重的影响。高浓度(≥40 mg/L)的皂甙处理7d显著地抑制了水稻幼苗根部和地上部分的鲜重,其中对根部的影响大于地上部分。当处理时间延长到14d时,皂甙对水稻幼苗鲜重的抑制作用逐渐减弱,仅50mg/L 皂甙处理对根部鲜重有显著地抑制。而在氯硝柳胺水溶液处理下,水稻幼苗停止生长。综合结果表明夹竹桃皂甙是一种环境友好且能高效防治福寿螺的灭螺剂。     

白穗花的甾体皂甙

从中国特有植物白穗花（Speiranthagardenii（Hook．）Baill．）根茎中分离得到两个新的甾体皂甙。经化学和光谱方法鉴定其化学结构分别为22－甲氧基－（25R）－5β－呋喃甾烷－1β,3β,4β,5β,26-五羟基26－O-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖甙（Ⅰ）和22-甲氧基-（25R）－5β-呋喃甾烷-1β,2β,3β,4β,5β,26-六羟基26－O－β-D-吡喃葡萄糖甙（Ⅱ）。     

Variable sensitivity of Trichoderma viride to Medicago sativa saponins

Eight saponins were isolated from alfalfa roots (Medicago sativa). The sensitivity of Trichoderma viride to the saponin varied with the individual saponin isolate. Seven isolates appeared to contain the aglycone, medicagenic acid, and while the other did not, it inhibited the growth of the fungus at higher concentrations than the other isolates. One pair and a triplet of saponins with divergent R_fs evoked near identical biological responses suggesting structural similarity toxic to T. viride.     

Triterpenoid saponins from Eryngium yuccifolium ‘Kershaw Blue’

Phytochemical investigation on the root of Eryngium yuccifolium ‘Kershaw Blue’ resulted in the isolation and identification of two new polyhydroxyoleanene saponins, named eryngioside M and eryngioside N, together with 15 known triterpenoid saponins eryngiosides A-L, 21β-angeloyloxy-3β-[β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 2)]-[β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 3)]-β-d-glucuronopyranosyloxyolean-12-ene-15α,16α,22α,28-tetrol, saniculasaponin III, and saniculasaponin II. Their structures were established by extensive spectroscopic and chemical analyses. Eryngioside M and saniculasaponin II showed week cytotoxicity against human non-small cell lung tumor cells (A549) with GI₅₀ values of 37.5 ± 1.59 μM and 35.5 ± 1.11 μM, respectively.     

Steroidal glycosides from the bulbs of Bessera elegans and their cytotoxic activities

Examination of the bulbs of Bessera elegans (Liliaceae) led to isolation of nine new and five known steroidal glycosides. The structures of the nine compounds were determined based on the results of spectroscopic analysis, including two-dimensional NMR, and hydrolysis followed by chromatographic and spectroscopic analysis. The isolated compounds and derivatives were evaluated for cytotoxicity against HL-60 human promyelocytic leukemia cells, A549 human lung adenocarcinoma cells, and TIG-3 normal human diploid fibroblasts. One compound, the pseudo-furostanol glycoside, induced apoptosis in HL-60 and A549 cells in a time-dependent manner and cell-cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase in A549 cells.     

Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry in study of the pharmacokinetics of six steroidal saponins in rats

A rapid, simple and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method was developed and validated for simultaneous determination of six main steroidal saponins in Paris polyphylla in rat plasma. Ginsenoside Rg3 was selected as the internal standard (IS). Plasma samples were pretreated with protein precipitation, and the separation was achieved on a reverse phase Agilent poroshell120 EC-C18 column using a gradient mobile phase system of acetonitrile–water containing 0.1% formic acid. The triple quadruple mass spectrometer was set in negative electrospray ionization mode and multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) was used for six steroidal saponins quantification. The precursors to produce ion transitions monitored for polyphyllin I, polyphyllin II, polyphyllin VI, polyphyllin VII, dioscin, gracillin and IS were m/z 899.5 > 853.4, 1059.5 > 1013.5, 783.4 > 737.4, 1075.5 > 1029.5, 913.5 > 867.4, 929.5 > 883.4 and 819.5 > 783.4, respectively. The intra- and inter-day precisions (RSD%) were less than 13% and the average extraction recoveries ranged from 85% to 97.0% for each analyte. Six steroidal saponins were proved to be stable during sample storage, preparation and analytical procedures. The established method was employed for simultaneous quantification and successfully used for the first time for the pharmacokinetics evaluation of the six main compounds after intragastric administration of P. polyphylla extract in Sprague–Dawley rats.