One new sterpurane sesquiterpene from cultures of the basidiomycete Pholiota nameko.

One new sterpurane sesquiterpene (1), named (3R,6S,7S,8R,10S)-3,7,14-trihydroxy-1-sterpurene was isolated from cultures of the basidiomycete Pholiota nameko. The structure of new compound was elucidated by extensive spectroscopic. Additionally, a single crystal X-ray diffraction not only confirmed the structure, but also determined the absolute configuration of the new compound. The compound was evaluated for cytotoxicity against five human cancer cell lines, but no significant cytotoxicity were found (IC50 values > 40 µM).

[The Content Determination of Biotransformation of Rb1 in the Total Saponins of Panax notoginseng by A Plant Endophyte Coniochaeta sp.].

Objective: To investigate the specific biotransformation product of ginsenoside Rb1 of Panax notoginseng saponins( PNS) by an individual plant endophyte. Methods: The endophytes of an invasive plant were selected as the screening targets of active conversion strains. The chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography were used to detemine the metabolite. Results: Totally, an active strain of conversion of ginsenoside Rb1 were achieved. The strain can specifically convert ginsenoside Rb1 of PNS to ginsenoside Rd and rare saponin ginsenoside C-K,with the conversion rate of 11. 62% of ginsenoside C-K by fermentation for 12 d. Conclusion: This transformation can obviously increase the content of minor ginsenoside C-K in PNS,and it is expected to be a new way to obtain the active saponin ginsenoside C-K in quantity.

[Simultaneous Determination of Ten Kinds of Saponins in Raw and Steamed Panax notoginseng Root and Rhizome by HPLC].

OBJECTIVE: To develop an HPLC method for simultaneous determination of notoginsenoside R1 and ginsenosides Rg1 Re, Rh1, Rb1, Rd, Rk3, Rh4, 20(S)-Rg3 and 20(R)-Rg3 in raw and steamed Panax notoginseng root and rhizome. METHODS: Vision HT C18 column (250 mm x 4.6 mm, 5 µm) was used with the mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile-H2O in a gradient elution mode at the flow rate of 1.2 ml/min. The column temperature was maintained at 20 °C and the detection wavelength was set at 203 nm. RESULTS: The methodological study showed a good linear relationship ( r > 0. 9995 ) . The average recoveries of the ten saponins were 95.93%-102.54%. CONCLUSION: The method is accurate and reproducible, which can be used for simultaneous determination of saponins in raw and steamed Panax notoginseng root and rhizome, and can provide reference for the relationship between material basis and pharmacological effects.

[Advances in studies on biotransformation of ginsensides].

Ginseng saponins are a type of important active substances in the ginseng genus plants. They have notable pharmacological activities of antineoplastic, neuroprotective, and hepatoprotective activities, which have been drawn more attention to obtain minor ginsenosides by all kinds of methods. In this review, we discussed the latest progress for enrichment of minor ginsenosides by biological transformation of major ginsenosides. At the same time, we have a brief outlook of the research at bioconversion of ginseng saponins.