Ten compounds were isolated and identified from green vegetable soya beans, of which five are new triterpenoid saponins (1–5) and five are known compounds (6–10). The chemical structures of the five triterpenoid saponins (1–5) were elucidated to be 3β,24-dihydroxy-22β,30-epoxy-30-oxoolean-12-en 3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-β-d-glucuronopyranoside, 1; 3β,24-dihydroxy-22β,30-epoxy-30-oxoolean-12-en 3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-β-d-(3″-O-formyl)-galactopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-β-d-glucuronopyranoside, 2; 22-keto-3β,24-dihydroxy oleanane-12-ene 3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-β-d-(3″-O-formyl)-galactopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-β-d-glucuronopyranoside, 3; 3β,22β,24-trihydroxy oxyolean-18(19)-ene-29-acid 3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-β-d-galactopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-β-d-glucuronopyranoside, 4; and punicanolic acid 3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-β-d-galactopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-β-d-glucuronopyranoside, 5 from the spectroscopic data (IR, GTC/FID, HR-ESI-MS, and 1D and 2D NMR). The nitric oxide release inhibitions of compounds 1–10 in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells were evaluated, and the data suggested that compounds 1, 2, and 5 might possess moderate anti-inflammatory activities, with IC50 values of 18.8, 16.1, and 13.2 μM, respectively.Keywords: anti-inflammatory activities; Glycine max; soya beans; structure elucidation; triterpenoid saponin;

Previous studies have indicated that the Ilex genus exhibits antioxidant, neuroprotective, hepatoprotective, and anti-inflammatory activities. However, the pharmacologic action and mechanisms of Ilex cornuta against cardiac diseases have not yet been explored. The present study was designed to investigate the antioxidant and cardioprotective effects of Ilex cornuta root with in vitro and in vivo models. The anti-oxidative effects of the extract of Ilex cornuta root (ICR) were measured by 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free-radical scavenging and MTT assays as well as immunoassay. Furthermore, a rat model of myocardial ischemia was established to investigate the cardioprotective effect of ICR in vivo. Eight compounds were isolated and identified from ICR and exhibited DPPH free-radical scavenging activities. They also could increase cell viability and inhibit morphological changes induced by H2O2 or Na2S2O4 in H9c2 cardiomyocytes, followed by increasing the SOD activities and decreasing the MDA and ROS levels. In addition, it could suppress the apoptosis of cardiomyocytes. In the rat model of myocardial ischemia, ICR decreased myocardial infarct size and suppressed the activities of LDH and CK. Furthermore, ICR attenuated histopathological alterations of heart tissues and the MDA levels, while increasing SOD activities in serum. In conclusion, these results suggest that ICR has cardioprotective activity and could be developed as a new food supplement for the prevention of ischemic heart disease.

In the present study, three new triterpenoids, 23-hydroxyurs-12, 18-dien-28-oic acid 3β-O-α-L-arabinopyranoside (1), 23-hydroxyurs-12, 18-dien-28-oic acid 3β-O-β-D-glucuronopyranoside-6-O-methyl ester (2), and urs-12, 18-dien-28-oic acid 3β-O-β-D-glucuronopyranoside-6-O-methyl ester (3), and a known triterpenoid, 3β-hydroxy-urs-2, 18-dien-28-oic acid (4, randialic acid B), were isolated from the aerial parts of Ilex cornuta. Their structures were identified by the spectroscopic analyses (IR, ESI-MS, HR-ESI-MS, and 1D and 2D NMR) and chemical reactions. Compound 4 showed significant cell-protective effects against H2O2-induced H9c2 cardiomyocyte injury. Compounds 1–4 did not show any significant DPPH radical scavenging activity.

A comprehensive phytochemical study of the chemical constituents of green vegetable soybeans resulted in the isolation of two new alkaloids, soyalkaloid A, 1, and isoginsenine, 2, together with four known ones, ginsenine, 3, (1S,3S)-1-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-β-carboline-3-carboxylic acid, 4, (1R,3S)-1-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-β-carboline-3-carboxylic acid, 5, and indole-3-carboxylic acid, 6. The structures of compounds 1–6 were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic and chemical analyses. All of the alkaloids were isolated from soybeans for the first time, and compound 1 was a new indole-type alkaloid with a novel carbocyclic skeleton. Their inhibitory activities on the proliferation of concanalin A-activated lymphocytes were assessed by CCK8 assay.

•Three new monoterpene glycosides were isolated and identified from sunflower seeds.•Cardiovascular-cell protective effects of the isolated compounds were investigated.•Compounds 1 and 2 showed protective effects against H2O2-induced cardiomyocyte injury.•No significant DPPH radical scavenging activity was observed for the isolates.Three new monoterpene glycosides (1–3) and eleven known compounds (4–14) were isolated from seeds of Helianthus annuus L. (sunflower). Their structures were determined by spectroscopic and chemical methods. All the compounds were isolated from sunflower seeds for the first time. Protective effects of compounds 1–14 against H2O2-induced H9c2 cardiomyocyte injury were evaluated, and compounds 1 and 2 showed some cell-protective effects. No significant DPPH radical scavenging activity was observed for compounds 1–14.

•Seven new triterpenoids (1–7) were isolated from the aerial parts of Ilex cornuta.•All compounds were characterized by spectroscopic methods.•Compound 4 had significant cell-protective effect.Seven new triterpenoids (1–7), together with two known ones (8–9), were isolated from the aerial parts ofIlex cornuta. The leaves of I. cornuta are the major source of “Kudingcha”, a popular herbal tea consumed in China and other countries. The structures of compounds 1–7 were determined as 20-epi-urs-12,18-dien-28-oic acid 3β-O-α-l-arabinopyranoside (1), 20-epi-urs-12,18-dien-28-oic acid 2′-O-acetyl-3β-O-α-l-arabinopyranoside (2), 20-epi-urs-12,18-dien-28-oic acid 3β-O-β-d-glucuronopyranoside-6-O-methyl ester (3), 3β,23-dihydroxy-20-epi-urs-12,18-dien-28-oic acid (4), 23-hydroxy-20-epi-urs-12,18-dien-28-oic acid 3β-O-α-l-arabinopyranoside (5), 23-hydroxy-20-epi-urs-12,18-dien-28-oic acid 3β-O-β-d-glucuronic acid (6), 23-hydroxy-20-epi-urs-12,18-dien-28-oic acid 3β-O-β-d-glucuronopyranoside-6-O-methyl ester (7), on the basis of spectroscopic analyses (IR, ESI–MS, HR-ESI–MS, 1D and 2D NMR) and chemical reactions. Protective effects against H2O2-induced H9c2 cardiomyocyte injury were tested in vitro for compounds 1–9, and the data showed that compound 4 had significant cell-protective effect. Compounds 1-9 did not show significant DPPH radical scavenging activity.

Five new triterpenoid saponins, 1–5, together with 10 known ones, 6–15 were isolated from the aerial parts of Ilex cornuta. The structures of compounds 1–5 were determined as 3β-O-α-l-arabinopyranosyl-19α,23-dihydroxy-20α-urs-12-en-28-oic acid 28-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl ester, 1; 3β-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-α-l-arabinopyranosyl-19-hydroxy-20α-urs-12-en-28-oic acid 28-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl ester, 2; 19α,23-dihydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid 3β-O-β-d-glucuronopyranoside-6-O-methyl ester, 3; 19α,23-dihydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid 3β-O-[β-d-glucuronopyranoside-6-O-methyl ester]-28-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl ester, 4; and 3β-O-[α-l-arabinopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-d-glucuronic acid]-oleanolic acid 28-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl ester, 5, on the basis of spectroscopic analyses (IR, ESI-MS, HR-ESI-MS, 1D and 2D NMR) and chemical reactions. Protective effects of compounds 1–15 were tested against H2O2-induced H9c2 cardiomyocyte injury, and the data showed that compounds 1, 4, 6, and 13 had significant cell-protective effects. No significant DPPH radical scavenging activity was observed for compounds 1–15.

The anticomplementary activities of 12 ginseng saponins obtained from Panax ginseng were investigated. The total saponin and its major components showed strong anticomplementary activities through classic pathway. The targets research indicated that 12 ginseng saponins imposed their effects on complements C1q, C2, C3, C4, and C5, however, maybe not C9.Highlights► Twelve ginsenosides were isolated and identified from Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer. ► All the ginsenosides showed definite anticomplement activity. ► Sugar moiety facilitates the anticomplement activity for oleanolic acid type ginsenosides. ► The targets research partly explains the antiinflammatory activity of some ginsenosides.

Benincasa hispida (Thunb.) Cogn. fruits are widely consumed in China and tropical countries. This study identifies three new triterpenoids, 3α,29-O-di-trans-cinnamoyl-D:C-friedooleana-7,9(11)-diene (1), oleanolic acid 28-O-β-d-xylopyranosyl-[β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1→4)]-(1→3)-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-α-l-arabinopyranoside (2), and oleanolic acid 28-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-β-d-xylopyranosyl-[β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1→4)]-(1→3)-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-α-l-arabinopyranoside (3), together with 12 known compounds, multiflorenol (4), isomultiflorenyl acetate (5), stigmasterol (6), stigmasterol3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (7), α-spinasterol (8), α-spinasterol 3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (9), β-sitosterol (10), daucosterol (11), arbutin (12), nicotinic acid (13), (+)-pinonesinol (14), and ethyl β-d-glucopyranoside (15). The structures of compounds 1–15 were determined by spectroscopic and chemical methods. All the compounds with the exception of 4, 5, and 9–11 were isolated from B. hispida for the first time. The anticomplement activities of compounds 1–15 were assessed by Mayer’s modified method. Compounds 1–15 showed no significant cytotoxic activity against HeLa human cervical, HL-60 human hepatoma, and SMMC-7721 human hepatoma cell lines.

•Four new triterpenoidal saponins (1–4) were isolated from the roots of Ilex cornuta.•All compounds were characterized by spectroscopic methods.•Compounds 1, 3, 5, and 6 showed moderate cytotoxic activities.Four new triterpenoidal saponins (1–4), oleanolic acid 3β-O-α-l-arabinopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-β-d-glucuronopyranoside-6-O-butyl ester (1), oleanolic acid 3β-O-[α-l-arabinopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-β-d-glucuronopyranoside-6-O-butyl ester]-28-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (2), 19α-hydroxy oleanolic acid 3β-O-β-d-glucuronopyranoside-6-O-methyl ester (3), and 19α-hydroxy urs-12-en-28-oic acid 3β-O-α-l-arabinopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-β-d-glucuronopyranoside-6-O-methyl ester (4) were isolated from the roots of Ilex cornuta. Their structures were determined by means of extensive spectroscopic analyses (IR, ESIMS, HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR). Compounds 1–9 were tested for their cytotoxic activities by MTT assay, and 1, 3, 5 and 6 showed moderate cytotoxic activities against HeLa, SMMC-7721, and HL-60 human tumor cell lines.

•Five new saponins, oleiferosides P–T (1–5) were isolated from the roots of Camellia oleifera C. Abel.•All compounds were characterized by spectroscopic methods.•Cytotoxic activities of these saponins were evaluated by using the MTT assay.Five new triterpenoid saponins, oleiferosides P–T (1–5) were isolated from the EtOH extract of the roots of Camellia oleifera C. Abel. The structures of saponins 1–5 were elucidated on the basis of integrated spectroscopic techniques. All the compounds were characterized to be oleanane-type saponins with sugar moieties linked to the C-3 of the aglycone. By using the MTT assay, an in vitro analysis of the cytotoxic activities of these saponins on the human tumor cell lines (lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells, hepatic carcinoma SMMC-7721 cells and breast cancer MCF-7 cells). Among them, compound 4 showed a certain cytotoxic activity against all the tested cell lines.Download full-size image

The present study was designed to investigate the cardioprotective effect of total phenylethanoid glycosides from Monochasma savatieri Franch (TPG). The data showed that there were mainly four phenylethanoid glycosides isolated and identified from TPG. TPG significantly increased cells viability and inhibited morphological changes on H9c2 cardiomyocytes induced by H2O2 or Na2S2O4. In addition, TPG significantly decreased T-wave elevation and histopathological changes of heart tissues in myocardial infracted rats induced by isoproterenol. It also significantly reduced the infarct size induced by ligating the coronary artery in rats, increased the activities of antioxidative enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), the content of glutathione (GSH), and decreased the leakage of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), the activities of creatine kinase (CK) and the content of maleic dialdehyde (MDA). In conclusion, these results suggested that TPG from Monochasma savatieri Franch might be developed as new natural medicine or food additives with effects of prevention of coronary artery disease due to its significant antioxidant activity.