Glandulosides A-D, triterpene saponins from Acanthophyllum glandulosum.

Four novel triterpenoid saponins, glandulosides A (1), B (2), C (3), and D (4), together with two known saponins (5 and 6) have been isolated from the roots of Acanthophyllum glandulosum. Their structures were elucidated using a combination of homo- and heteronuclear 2D NMR techniques (COSY, TOCSY, NOESY, HSQC, and HMBC) and by FABMS. The new compounds were characterized as 23-O-beta-D-galactopyranosylgypsogenic acid-28-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)-[beta-d-galactopyranosyl-(1-->6)]-beta-D-galactopyranoside (1), 3-O-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-(1-->2)-[beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->3)]-beta-D-glucuronopyranosylgypsogenin-28-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->3)-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->4)-alpha-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-3-O-acetyl-beta-D-fucopyranoside (2), 3-O-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-(1-->2)-[beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->3)]-beta-D-glucuronopyranosylgypsogenin-28-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->3)-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->4)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-3,4-di-O-acetyl-beta-D-fucopyranoside (3), and 3-O-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-(1-->2)-[beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->3)]-beta-D-glucuronopyranosylgypsogenin-28-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->3)-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->4)-alpha-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-[3-O-acetyl-beta-D-quinovopyranosyl-(1-->4)]-beta-D-fucopyranoside (4).

New acylated triterpene saponins from Silene fortunei that modulate lymphocyte proliferation.

Three new acylated triterpene saponins 1-3, with a quillaic acid as aglycon, were isolated from the roots of Silene fortunei together with a known phytoecdysteroid (20-hydroxyecdysone). The compounds were characterized mainly by a combination of 2D NMR techniques, mass spectrometry, and chemical methods. Saponins 1-3, jenisseensosides C and D (4, 5), and 6 (deacylated form of 2/3 and 4/5) were found to stimulate the proliferation of the Jurkat tumor cell lines at low concentration.

Saponins-mediated potentiation of cisplatin accumulation and cytotoxicity in human colon cancer cells.

The triterpene saponins jenisseensosides A, B, C, D were found to increase the accumulation and cytotoxicity of the anticancer agent cisplatin in human colon tumor cells. These compounds are glycosides of quillaic acid whose fucose residue was acylated by a trans- or cis-p methoxycinnamic acid. In contrast, other saponins derivatives without this acyl moiety were not found to potentiate the accumulation and cytotoxicity of cisplatin.