Steroidal Saponins from Water Eggplant (Fruits of Solanum torvum) Exhibit Anti-Epileptic Activity against Pentylenetetrazole-Induced Seizure Model in Zebrafish.

The fruits of Solanum torvum Swartz, a wild relative of eggplant, are consumed as a wild vegetable in tropical regions of Africa, Asia, and South America. In traditional Chinese medicine, it is believed to have anti-inflammatory and sedative effects. In the Philippines, water decoction is used to treat hyperactivity disorder. Twenty-two steroidal saponins were isolated and purified from the fruits grown in Yunnan, China, including six new compounds: torvosides U-Z (1-6). During drying and cooking, the saponins may undergo transformation, resulting in small amounts of sapogenins. These transformations can include dehydration of hydroxyl groups at position C22, formation of double bonds at position 20, 22 or 22, 23, and even formation of peroxide products. Saponin compounds torvoside X (4), torvoside Y (5), torvoside A (7), and (25S)-3-oxo-5α-spirostan-6α-yl-O-ß-d-xylopyranoside (20), which are glycosylated at C-6, showed certain anti-epileptic activity in a pentylenetetrazole-induced zebrafish seizure model. No antiproliferative activity was detected when tested on the cancer cell line HepG2, and no hepatotoxic effect was noted on normal liver cell line LO2.

Sesquiterpenoids from aged Artemisia argyi and their 3D-QSAR for anti-HBV activity.

Artemisia argyi Levl. Et Vant, commonly known as "Chinese Mugwort," has been utilized in traditional Chinese medicine and cuisine for centuries. Aged Chinese Mugwort has been uncovered to possess superior quality and safety, and its ethyl acetate extract has been found to exhibit anti-hepatitis B virus (HBV) activity. In this study, twenty-five sesquiterpenoids were isolated and characterized from three-year-aged A. argyi. Among them, 14 previously undescribed sesquiterpenoids (1-14), featuring double bond oxidation or ring opening. It is hypothesized that during the aging process, sesquiterpenes undergo oxidative transformation of their double bonds to form alcohols due to external factors and inherent properties. The anti-HBV activity and cytotoxicity of all compounds were assessed in vitro using HepG 2.2.15 cells, and their structure-activity relationships were analyzed through three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship (3D-QASR) techniques. The α-methylene-γ-lactone sesquiterpenoid derivatives were discovered to have potent inhibitory activity against HBV. This research may broaden the potential applications of Chinese Mugwort and offer further guidance for its development and utilization as functional food or traditional Chinese medicine.

Undescribed amino acid-sesquiterpene lactone adducts and sesquiterpene glycosides from the roots of Saussurea lappa and their anti-HBV activity.

Saussurea lappa (Asteraceae family), a traditional Chinese medicine, has been found to possess anti-inflammatory, immune-promoting, antibacterial, antitumor, anti-HBV, cholestatic, and hepatoprotective activities. Herein, two undescribed amino acid-sesquiterpene lactone adducts, saussureamines G and H (1 and 2), and two new sesquiterpene glycosides, saussunosids F and G (3 and 4), along with 26 known sesquiterpenoids (5-30) have been isolated from the roots of S. lappa. Their structures and absolute configurations of these compounds were established by physical data analyses such as HRESIMS, IR, 1D and 2D NMR and ECD calculations. All isolated compounds were tested for anti-hepatitis B virus (anti-HBV) activity. Ten compounds (5, 6, 12, 13, 17, 19, 23, 26, 29, and 30) exhibited activities against the secretions of HBsAg and HBeAg. In particular, compound 6 showed inhibition of HBsAg and HBeAg secretion with IC50 values of 11.24 and 15.12 µM, with SI values of 1.25 and 0.93, respectively. Molecular docking studies were also conducted on the anti-HBV compounds. Overall, this study provides insights into the potential therapeutic uses of the compounds found in the roots of S. lappa, particularly in the treatment of hepatitis B virus infections.

Study on Chemical Constituents of Panax notoginseng Leaves.

Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F. H. is a genuine medicinal material in Yunnan Province. As accessories, P. notoginseng leaves mainly contain protopanaxadiol saponins. The preliminary findings have indicated that P. notoginseng leaves contribute to its significant pharmacological effects and have been administrated to tranquilize and treat cancer and nerve injury. Saponins from P. notoginseng leaves were isolated and purified by different chromatographic methods, and the structures of 1-22 were elucidated mainly through comprehensive analyses of spectroscopic data. Moreover, the SH-SY5Y cells protection bioactivities of all isolated compounds were tested by establishing L-glutamate models for nerve cell injury. As a result, twenty-two saponins, including eight dammarane saponins, namely notoginsenosides SL1-SL8 (1-8), were identified as new compounds, together with fourteen known compounds, namely notoginsenoside NL-A3 (9), ginsenoside Rc (10), gypenoside IX (11), gypenoside XVII (12), notoginsenoside Fc (13), quinquenoside L3 (14), notoginsenoside NL-B1 (15), notoginsenoside NL-C2 (16), notoginsenoside NL-H2 (17), notoginsenoside NL-H1 (18), vina-ginsenoside R13 (19), ginsenoside II (20), majoroside F4 (21), and notoginsenoside LK4 (22). Among them, notoginsenoside SL1 (1), notoginsenoside SL3 (3), notoginsenoside NL-A3 (9), and ginsenoside Rc (10) showed slight protective effects against L-glutamate-induced nerve cell injury (30 µM).