RESUMO
AIM: To study structure-activity relationship of tubeimosides isolated from Bolbostemma paniculatum for their anti-inflammatory, antitumor, and antitumor-promoting effects. METHODS: Tubeimosides I, II, and III were isolated from tubers of Bolbostemma paniculatum (Maxim) Franquet (Cucurbitaceae), a Chinese folk medicine,"Tubeimu", and their anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-tumorigenic activities, and acute toxicity were studied in vivo. RESULTS: Tubeimosides I, II, and III are all natural analogues of oleanane type of triterpenoid saponins from the same medicinal plant, and all show anti-inflammatory, antitumor, and antitumor-promo ting effects. However, the anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and anti-tumorigenic activities of tubeimoside II are stronger than those of tubeimoside I, and the acute toxicity of tubeimoside II is lower than that of tubeimoside I; the anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and anti-tumorigenic activities of tubeimoside III are stronger than those of tubeimoside II, and the acute toxicity of tubeimoside III is also stronger than that of tubeimoside II. CONCLUSION: C-16 hydroxyl group of tubeimoside II plays an important role in enhancing biological activity of tubeimoside II and in decreasing its toxicity. The difference of chemical structure in B and/or C position between tubeimosides III and II plays an important role in enhancing biological activity and toxicity of tubeimoside III. Therefore tubeimosidre II may be the most promising agent for cancer chemoprevention and chemotherapy among tubeimosides I, II, and III.