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.     

Two Antiproliferative Triterpene Saponins from Nematostylis anthophylla from the Highlands of Central Madagascar

Investigation of the endemic Madagascan plant Nematostylis anthophylla (Rubiaceae) for antiproliferative activity against the A2780 ovarian cancer cell line led to the isolation of the known triterpene saponin randianin ( 1 ), and the two new bioactive triterpene saponins 2″‐O‐acetylrandianin ( 2 ) and 6″‐O‐acetylrandianin ( 3 ). The structures of the two new compounds were elucidated based on analysis of their 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR spectra, and mass spectrometric data. The three isolated triterpene saponins displayed moderate but selective antiproliferative activities, with IC₅₀ values of 1.2, 1.7, and 2.2 μM , respectively, against the A2780 ovarian cancer, but only weak inhibitions of the proliferation of A2058 melanoma and the H522 lung cancer cell lines.     

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.     

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.     

Characterization of saponins and phenolic compounds: antioxidant activity and inhibitory effects on α-glucosidase in different varieties of colored quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd)

ABSTRACT

This study investigated the contents of saponins and phenolic compounds in relation to their antioxidant activity and α-glucosidase inhibition activity of 7 colored quinoa varieties. The total saponin content was significantly different among 7 varieties and ranged from 7.51 to 12.12 mg OAE/g DW. Darker quinoa had a higher content of phenolic compounds, as well as higher flavonoids and antioxidant activity than that of light varieties. Nine individual phenolic compounds were detected in free and bound form, with gallic acid and ferulic acid representing the major compounds. The free and bound phenolic compounds (gallic acid and ferulic acid in particular) exhibited high linear correlation with their corresponding antioxidant values. In addition, the free phenolic extracts from colored quinoa exhibited higher inhibitory activity against α-glucosidase than the bound phenolic extracts. These findings imply that colored quinoa with abundant bioactive phytochemicals could be an important natural source for preparing functional food.     

Dammarane-type saponins from Ziziphus jujube and their inhibitory effects against TNF-α release in LPS-induced RAW 246.7 macrophages

Four new dammarane-type saponins jujubosides F–J, together with six known compounds were isolated from the seeds of Ziziphus jujube. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of chemical and spectroscopic evidences. Compounds 1–10 showed moderate inhibitory effects against pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α release in LPS-induced RAW 246.7 macrophages.     

The potential of click reactions for the synthesis of bioactive triterpenes

Click reactions between alkynes and azides using the privileged scaffold of triterpenes have been of interest for biological chemistry. Many publications deal with the synthesis of novel bioactive molecules; these conjugates have also been used for bioanalytical and diagnostic purposes. As a result, conjugates of better physicochemical properties were obtained; even compounds of improved solubility in water and physiological fluids were made through the introduction of a triazol residue. “Hybrid-structures“, i.e. molecules consisting of two independently bioactive subunits linked by a triazole residue were higher bioactive than their parent compounds but not as active as expected, and with a few exceptions the ultimate breakthrough has not yet been achieved. Only in the synthesis of compounds with anti-leishmanial activity some new and promising lead structures were found. As a consequence, triazole modified triterpenes seem to hold their greatest future prospect rather as diagnostic reagents and molecular probes than as drugs.     

基于转录组学的白扁豆总皂苷抑制前列腺癌细胞系PC-3细胞生长的机制研究

目的 白扁豆总皂苷是中药白扁豆经过提取分离纯化步骤制备得到,关于白扁豆的总皂苷成分如何影响前列腺癌细胞系PC-3细胞的生长情况缺少研究。因此,有必要探讨白扁豆总皂苷对前列腺癌细胞系PC-3细胞生长的机制研究。方法 本研究采用CCK8方法检测不同浓度的白扁豆总皂苷对前列腺癌细胞系PC-3细胞生长的影响。利用转录组学分析白扁豆总皂苷抑制前列腺癌细胞系PC-3细胞生长的分子机制,并且进一步通过实时定量PCR（qRT-PCR）和蛋白质免疫印迹（Western blot）实验对相关差异基因的表达进行验证。利用Western blot和CCK8检测白扁豆总皂苷处理过表达醛脱氢酶7家族成员A1（ALDH7A1）的PC-3细胞存活率。结果 随着白扁豆总皂苷浓度升高,前列腺癌细胞PC-3的存活率显著下降,白扁豆总皂苷的IC₅₀值为1 086 mg/L。转录组学测序结果显示,与对照组相比,白扁豆总皂苷处理的细胞中有2 360个差异表达基因,其中1 982个基因上调,378个基因下调。基因功能注释（GO）结果显示,差异表达基因显著富集到与有丝分裂纺锤体检查点（mitotic spindle checkpoint）、纺锤体组装检查点（spindle assembly checkpoint）等一系列跟癌症的发生发展密切相关的生物学过程。此外,基因组京都百科全书（KEGG）分析结果也显示,差异表达基因富集在肿瘤代谢等信号通路。进一步对其中的差异基因进行验证,结果显示,与对照组相比,白扁豆总皂苷处理的前列腺癌细胞中ALDH7A1、甘氨酸C-乙酰转移酶（GCAT）和磷酸甘油酸变位酶家族成员4（PGAM4）的蛋白质表达水平明显降低（P<0.05）,而二甲基甘氨酸脱氢酶（DMGDH）和胱硫醚β合成酶样（CBSL）的蛋白质表达水平显著升高（P<0.001）。体外细胞实验结果表明,白扁豆总皂苷通过下调前列腺癌细胞中ALDH7A1的表达抑制PC-3细胞生长。结论 白扁豆总皂苷可能通过下调ALDH7A1表达从而在体外抑制前列腺癌细胞的生长。     

Triterpenoid saponins stimulate the sugar taste receptor cell through a G protein-mediated mechanism in the blowfly,Phormia regina

The blowfly has taste chemosensilla on the labellum. The sensory receptor cells in the chemosensillum are highly specialized for the tastes of sugar, salt and water, respectively. Previously we introduced chromosaponin I (CSI) and glycyrrhizin (GL), as sweet substances for the blowfly, Phormia regina. Application of these triterpenoid saponins induced feeding responses as well as impulses of the sugar taste receptor cell in the LL-type sensillum at a much lower concentration than that of sucrose. In the present paper, we show the involvement of G protein-mediated cascade in the CSI- and GL-responses as well as in sugar responses. CSI activates the sugar signal transduction cascade after penetrating through the membrane. On the other hand, GL exerts dual effects to stimulate the sugar signal transduction possibly by activating it inside the cell and also by interacting with the pyranose sugar receptor site. A non hydrolyzable G protein inhibitor guanosine 5′-O-(2-thiodiphosphate), GDPβS, markedly decreased the responses of the sugar receptor cell to the two triterpenoid saponins as well as the response to sucrose and fructose. These results suggest that CSI and GL are direct activators of G protein.