Cytotoxic Saponins from Schefflera fagueti

Abstract

Six new lupane (1 - 4) and oleanane saponins (5 and 6) were isolated from the aerial parts of Schefflera fagueti Baill. (Araliaceae). Their structures were determined by 2D-NMR spectroscopy (DQF-COSY, 1D-TOCSY, 2D-HOHAHA, 1D-ROESY, HSQC, HMBC). The antiproliferative activity of compounds 1 - 6 and of their prosapogenins (1a - 6a) was evaluated using three continuous murine and human culture cell lines J774, HEK-293, WEHI-164. Oleanane saponins 5 and 6 were the most active, showing significant inhibitory effects on all cell lines, while their prosapogenins 5a and 6a demonstrated minor activity.

Key words

Schefflera fagueti - Araliaceae - triterpene saponins - antiproliferative activity

References

• 1 Hu M, Ogawa K, Sashida Y, Xiao P. Triterpenoid glucuronide saponins from root bark of Aralia armata .  Phytochemistry. 1995;  39 179-84
• 2 Quetin-Leclercq J, Elias R, Balansard G, Bassleer R, Angenot L. Cytotoxic activity of some triterpenoid saponins.  Planta Med. 1992;  58 279-81
• 3 Li G X. Pharmacology, toxicity, and clinic of traditional Chinese medicine. Tianjin Science and Technique Translation Publishing House. Tianjin, PR China; 1992: 111
• 4 De Tommasi N, Pizza C, Bellino A, Venturella P. Triterpenoid saponins from Schefflera divaricata .  J Nat Prod. 1997;  60 663-8
• 5 Cioffi G, Bellino A, Pizza C, Venturella F, De Tommasi N. Triterpene saponins from Tupidanthus calyptratus.  J Nat Prod. 2001;  64 750-3
• 6 Braca A, De Tommasi N, Morelli I, Pizza C. New metabolites from Onopordon illyricum .  J Nat Prod. 1999;  62 1371-5
• 7 De Tommasi N, Autore G, Bellino A, Pinto A, Pizza C, Sorrentino R, Venturella P. Antiproliferative triterpene saponins from Trevesia palmata .  J Nat Prod. 2000;  63 308-14
• 8 Mosmann T. Rapid colorimetric assay for cellular growth and survival: application to proliferation and cytotoxic assay.  J Immunol Methods. 1983;  65 55-63
• 9 Green L M, Reade J L, Ware C F. Rapid colorimetric assay for cell viability: application to the quantitation of cytotoxic and growth inhibitory lymphokines.  J Immunol Methods. 1984;  70 257-68
• 10 Opipari A WJ, Hu H M, Yabkowitz R, Dixit Y M. The A20 zinc finger protein protects cell from tumor necrosis factor cytoxicity.  J Biol Chem. 1992;  267 12 424-7
• 11 Kusumoto H, Maehara Y, Sakaguchi Y, Kohnoe S, Kumashiro R, Sugimachi K. Modulation of cytotoxic effect of anticancer drugs by dipyridamole in HeLa cells in vitro .  Anticancer Res. 1990;  10 1643-5
• 12 Misra T N, Singh R S, Upadhyay J. Triterpenoids from Hyptis suaveolens roots.  Phytochemistry. 1983;  22 603-5
• 13 Bhan S, Kumar R, Kalla A K, Dhar K L. Triterpenoids from Swertia petiolata .  Phytochemistry. 1988;  27 539-42
• 14 Piacente S, Pizza C, De Tommasi N, De Simone F. New dammarane-type glycosides from Gymnostemma penthaphyllum .  J Nat Prod. 1995;  58 512-9