Xiao-Yang Wang

Cytotoxic triterpenoid saponins from the rhizomes of Anemone taipaiensis.

Two new oleanane-type triterpenoid saponins, 1 and 2, and a new natural product, 3, together with five known saponins, 4- 8, were isolated from the rhizomes of ANEMONE TAIPAIENSIS. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis and chemical evidences. Six saponins, 1, 2, 4- 7, which possessed a free carboxylic group at C-28, exhibited significant cytotoxicity against human leukemia HL-60 cells and human hepatocellular carcinoma Hep-G2 cells with IC (50) values in the range of 1.31-10.12 µM.

Triterpenoid saponins from Clematis tangutica and their cardioprotective activities.

Phytochemical investigation of the whole plants of Clematis tangutica led to the isolation of three new triterpenoid saponins (1-3), together with four known saponins (4-7). Their structures were determined by extensive spectral analysis and chemical evidences. Compounds 1-7 were evaluated for their cardioprotective activities in cardiomyocytes anoxia/reoxygenation (A/R) model. The results showed that those saponins exhibited cardioprotective effects by decreasing the levels of creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH).

Oleanane-type saponins from Anemone taipaiensis and their cytotoxic activities

Phytochemical investigation of the n-BuOH extract of the rhizomes of Anemone taipaiensis led to the isolation of three new oleanane-type triterpenoid saponins (1-3), together with four known saponins (4-7). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis and chemical derivatization. All the compounds were isolated for the first time from A. taipaiensis. The cytotoxicity of these compounds was evaluated in five human cancer cell lines including A549 (lung carcinoma), HeLa (cervical carcinoma), HepG2 (hepatocellular carcinoma), HL-60 (promyelocytic leukemia), and U87MG (glioblastoma). The monodesmosidic saponin 4 exhibited cytotoxic activity toward all cancer cell lines, with IC50 values ranging from 6.42 to 18.16 μM. In addition, the bisdesmosidic saponins 1 and 7 showed selective cytotoxicity against the U87MG cells.

Bioactive oleanane-type saponins from the rhizomes of Anemone taipaiensis.

Investigation of the n-BuOH extract of the rhizomes of Anemone taipaiensis led to the isolation of five new oleanane-type triterpenoid saponins (1-5), together with seven known saponins (6-12). Their structures were determined by the extensive use of (1)D and (2)D NMR experiments along with ESIMS analyses and acid hydrolysis. The aglycone of 1, 2 and 4 was determined as siaresinolic acid, which was reported in this genus for the first time. The cytotoxicities of the saponins 1-12, prosapogenins 4a, 5a, 10a-12a and sapogenins siaresinolic acid (SA), oleanolic acid (OA), hederagenin (HE) were evaluated against five human cancer cell lines, including HepG2, HL-60, A549, HeLa and U87MG. The monodesmosidic saponins 6-8, 5a, 10a-12a and sapogenins SA, OA, HE exhibited cytotoxic activity toward all cancer cell lines, with IC50 values ranging from 2.25 to 57.28 μM. Remarkably, the bisdesmosidic saponins 1-4 and 9 showed selective cytotoxicity against the U87MG cells.

Cytotoxic Oleanane-Type Triterpenoid Saponins from the Rhizomes of Anemone rivularis var. flore-minore

Phytochemical investigation of the n-BuOH extract of the rhizomes of Anemone rivularis var. flore-minore led to the isolation of five new oleanane-type triterpenoid saponins 1–5, together with five known saponins 6–10. Their structures were determined by the extensive use of 1D and 2D NMR experiments, along with ESIMS analyses and acid hydrolysis. The aglycone of 4 and 5 was determined as 21α-hydroxyoleanolic acid, which was reported in this genus for the first time. The cytotoxicity of these compounds was evaluated against four human cancer cell line, including HL-60 (promyelocytic leukemia), HepG2 (hepatocellular carcinoma), A549 (lung carcinoma) and HeLa (cervical carcinoma). The monodesmosidic saponins 6–8 exhibited cytotoxic activity toward all tested cancer cell lines, with IC50 values in the 7.25–22.38 μM range.

Saponin 1 Induces Apoptosis and Suppresses NF-κB-Mediated Survival Signaling in Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM)

Saponin 1 is a triterpeniod saponin extracted from Anemone taipaiensis, a traditional Chinese medicine against rheumatism and phlebitis. It has also been shown to exhibit significant anti-tumor activity against human leukemia (HL-60 cells) and human hepatocellular carcinoma (Hep-G2 cells). Herein we investigated the effect of saponin 1 in human glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) U251MG and U87MG cells. Saponin 1 induced significant growth inhibition in both glioblastoma cell lines, with a 50% inhibitory concentration at 24 h of 7.4 µg/ml in U251MG cells and 8.6 µg/ml in U87MG cells, respectively. Nuclear fluorescent staining and electron microscopy showed that saponin 1 caused characteristic apoptotic morphological changes in the GBM cell lines. Saponin 1-induced apoptosis was also verified by DNA ladder electrophoresis and flow cytometry. Additionally, immunocytochemistry and western blotting analyses revealed a time-dependent decrease in the expression and nuclear location of NF-κB following saponin 1 treatment. Western blotting data indicated a significant decreased expression of inhibitors of apoptosis (IAP) family members,(e.g., survivin and XIAP) by saponin 1. Moreover, saponin 1 caused a decrease in the Bcl-2/Bax ratio and initiated apoptosis by activating caspase-9 and caspase-3 in the GBM cell lines. These findings indicate that saponin 1 inhibits cell growth of GBM cells at least partially by inducing apoptosis and inhibiting survival signaling mediated by NF-κB. In addition, in vivo study also demonstrated an obvious inhibition of saponin 1 treatment on the tumor growth of U251MG and U87MG cells-produced xenograft tumors in nude mice. Given the minimal toxicities of saponin 1 in non-neoplastic astrocytes, our results suggest that saponin 1 exhibits significant in vitro and in vivo anti-tumor efficacy and merits further investigation as a potential therapeutic agent for GBM.

Triterpenoid saponins from the root of Anemone tomentosa

Three new triterpenoid saponins, tomentoside A (1), B (2) and C (3), along with four known saponins (4–7) were isolated from the root of Anemone tomentosa. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated as 3-O-β-d-ribopyranosyl-(1→3)-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-[β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)]-α-l-arabinopyranosyl hederagenin 28-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-d-glucopyranoside (1), 3-O-β-d-ribopyranosyl-(1→3)-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-[β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)]-β-d-xylopyranosyl hederagenin 28-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-d-glucopyranoside (2) and 3-O-β-d-galactopyranosyl-(1→3)-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-d-xylopyranosyl oleanolic acid 28-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-d-glucopyranoside (3) on the basis of chemical and spectral evidence. In the oligosaccharide chains of compound 3, the characteristic d-galactose residue is a rare structural feature and secondly encountered among triterpenoid saponins from Anemone.

Five New Alkaloids from the Stem Bark of Daphniphyllum macropodum

Five new alkaloids, daphnicyclidins M and N (compounds 1 and 2) and calyciphyllines Q–S (compounds 3–5), along with four known ones, paxiphylline C (6), macropodumine B (7), macropodumine C (8) and daphnicyclidin A (9) were isolated from the stem bark of Daphniphyllum macropodum. Calyciphylline Q (3) is the first calyciphylline A derivative possessing a double bond between C-18 and C-19. Their structures and relative configurations were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods, especially 2D NMR techniques. Compounds 1, 2, 8 and 9 exhibited cytotoxic activity against P-388 cells with IC50 values of 5.7, 6.5, 10.3 and 13.8 µM, respectively. Compounds 1 and 2 also showed cytotoxic activity against SGC-7901 cells with IC50 values of 22.4 and 25.6 µM.

Triterpenoid Saponins from Anemone rivularis var. Flore-Minore and Their Anti-Proliferative Activity on HSC-T6 Cells

Five previously undescribed triterpenoid saponins (1-5), along with eight known ones (6-13), were isolated from the whole plants of Anemone rivularis var. flore-minore. Their structures were clarified by extensive spectroscopic data and chemical evidence. For the first time, the lupane-type saponins (3 and 12) were reported from the Anemone genus. The anti-proliferative activity of all isolated saponins was evaluated on hepatic stellate cells (HSC-T6). Saponins 12 and 13, which possess more monosaccharides than the others, displayed potent anti-proliferative activity, with IC50 values of 18.21 and 15.56 μM, respectively.