Bioactive Saponins From Panax Bipinnatifidus Seem. Growing in Vietnam

Abstract

Panax bipinnatifidus Seem. belonging to the family Araliaceae has been used as a folk medicine in Viet Nam. Our ongoing study on bioactive compounds from Panax bipinnatifidus Seem. collected in Sapa, Lao Cai resulted in the isolation of two saponins together with the well-known saponin Stipuleanoside R2. Their structures were identified as 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-β-D-glucuronopyranosyloleanolic acid (1) and Stipuleanoside R1 (2) based on NMR spectroscopic data as well as comparison with the literature data. For the first time, 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-β-D-glucuronopyranosyloleanolic acid (1) was found in genus Panax. On biological screening, the crude extract and the principal saponin, stipuleanoside R2 showed weak inhibitory effect on markedly nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccharide-treated RAW 264.7 cells.