New Terpenoids from Potentilla freyniana Bornm. and Their Cytotoxic Activities.

Two new A-ring contracted triterpenoids, madengaisu A and madengaisu B, and one undescribed ent-kaurane diterpenoid, madengaisu C, along with 20 known compounds were isolated from the roots of Potentilla freyniana Bornm. The structures were elucidated using extensive spectroscopic techniques, including 1D and 2D-NMR, HR-ESI-MS, ECD spectra, IR, and UV analysis. Moreover, all isolated constituents were evaluated for their anti-proliferative activity against RA-FLS cells and cytotoxic activities against the human cancer cell lines Hep-G2, HCT-116, BGC-823, and MCF-7. Ursolic acid and pomolic acid displayed moderate inhibitory activity in RA-FLS cells with IC50 values of 24.63 ± 1.96 and 25.12 ± 1.97 µM, respectively. Hyptadienic acid and 2α,3ß-dihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid 28-O-ß-d-glucopyranoside exhibited good cytotoxicity against Hep-G2 cells with IC50 values of 25.16 ± 2.55 and 17.66 ± 1.82 µM, respectively. In addition, 2α,3ß-dihydroxyolean-13(18)-en-28-oic acid and alphitolic acid were observed to inhibit HCT-116 cells (13.25 ± 1.65 and 21.62 ± 0.33 µM, respectively), while madengaisu B and 2α,3ß-dihydroxyolean-13(18)-en-28-oic acid showed cytotoxic activities against BGC-823 cells with IC50 values of 24.76 ± 0.94 and 26.83 ± 2.52 µM, respectively, which demonstrated that triterpenes from P. freyniana may serve as therapeutic agents for RA and cancer treatment.

[Research progress on chemical constituents and pharmacological activities of Potentilla].

There are 200-500 species of Potentilla(Rosaceae) worldwide, among which 90 species are widely distributed in China and have a long history of ethnic medicinal use. According to our statistics, a total of 367 compounds have been isolated and identified from plants of this genus, including terpenoids, flavonoids, phenolic acids, tannins, and phenylpropanoids. The medicinal materials made from these plants mainly have antioxidative, blood sugar-lowering, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, cardiovascular system-protecting, neuroprotective, and hepatoprotective activities. This study systematically reviews the research progress on chemical constituents and pharmacological activities of Potentilla plants to provide a basis for further research and clinical application.