Abstract:Four new dammarane-type triterpenoid saponins, namely notoginsenosides SFt 1 -SFt 4 (1-4) were isolated from the steamed leaves of Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F. H. Chen (Araliaceae), together with 17 known saponins. Their structures were established on the basis of detailed spectroscopic analyses and acidic hydrolysis. The known ginsenosides Rk 2 and Rh 3 were obtained from P. notoginseng for the first time. All of these new saponins showed no in vitro cytotoxicity against five human cancer cell lines (HL-60, SMMC-7712, A-549, MCF-7, and SW480).
Keywords: Panax notoginseng, steamed leave, dammarane-type saponin, notoginsenoside
IntroductionPanax notoginseng (Burk.) F. H. Chen (Araliaceae), a famous traditional Chinese medicinal (TCM) herb, is mainly cultivated in Yunnan and Guangxi province of China. Both roots and leaves have been used medicinally by the local people of its growing area for a long time. 1 Traditionally, the roots have been used in both raw and processed forms. The raw one has been mainly used for injuries from falls and removing blood stasis, while the processed one has been used as a tonic to promote blood circulation. 2 The leaves had the similar effects on hematological and cardiovascular systems as the roots. Dammarane-type triterpenoid saponins are known to be the main bioactive constituents in P. notoginseng. So far, more than 70 saponins have been isolated from different organs of this herbs. 3 Our previous study on the steamed roots of P. notoginseng resulted in the identification of five new and 23 known dammarane-type saponins, part of which are the minor constituents in non-processed roots. 4 As part of our continuing search for new saponins from Panax plants, a detailed chemical investigation on the steamed leaves of P. notoginseng was carried out, which led to the isolation of four new dammarane-type triterpenoid saponins (1-4), along with 17 known ones. Their structures were established based on the detailed spectroscopic analyses and acidic hydrolysis. The new saponins 1-4 were tested for their cytotoxic activities against five human cancer cell lines (HL-60, SMMC-7712, A-549, MCF-7, and SW480) in vitro.