New triterpenoid saponins from the aerial parts of Schefflera kwangsiensis

Heptaellipside A, a rare new 2,28-bidesmosidic lupane-type saponin from the leaves of Heptapleurum ellipticum

For the first time, phytochemical constituents of the leaves of Heptapleurum ellipticum were investigated. One rare new 2,28-bidesmosidic lupane-type saponin, named heptaellipside A (1), along with four other lupane-type analogs (2-5) were purified by combining differently chromatographic methods. All of the separated compounds (1-5) were communicated for the first time from H. ellipticum. The structures of them were definitely illustrated following extensive and comprehensive UV/VIS, FTIR, HRMS/ESI, and NMR techniques. Further, all isolated compounds were evaluated for their α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibition. As the results, compound 3 respectively exhibited stronger in both inhibitory activities against α-glucosidase and α-amylase (IC50 values of 15.53 and 26.93 μM), than the acarbose standard (IC50 values of 214.50 and 143.48 μM).

The genus Schefflera: A review of traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Schefflera is the largest genus in the family Araliaceae, which contains 602 known species indigenous to Asia, Africa, and the southwest Pacific region, several of which are used in traditional medicine.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

The review discusses current knowledge of the traditional uses, phytochemistry, and biological activities of Schefflera species, to assess the medicinal potential of this genus.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The literature were explored using the keyword "Schefflera" in SciFinder®, Google Scholar®, and PubMed® databases. The taxonomy of all reported plants was authenticated using "The Plant List". Additional data on traditional uses was obtained from secondary references including books and online resources.

RESULTS

Fourteen species were documented as traditional medicines in China, India, Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia, specifically to manage rheumatism, pain, and trauma. Other species are used in the treatment of liver disorders, skin conditions, respiratory infections, cancer, diarrhea, malaria, paralysis, and many other conditions. The main phytochemical constituents identified were triterpenoids and saponins, with sesquiterpenes, phenylpropanoids, and lignans. Pharmacological properties of extracts and pure isolated compounds included analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, hypoglycemic, antimicrobial, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, antimalarial, and antiallergic effects.

CONCLUSION

The reported biological activities of Schefflera species support their traditional uses, although the available data, even for medicinal species, was limited. Reports of chemical constituents or biological activities could be found for only about 20 species, but suggest that further investigation of efficacy and safety of the largely unexplored genus Schefflera is necessary.

Eleven New Triterpenoid Glycosides from the Roots of Ilex asprella

Asprellosides A-K, nine new ursane-type triterpenoid glycosides (1-9), and two new oleanane-type triterpenoid glycosides (10 and 11), including six rare sulfated triterpenoid glycosides, were isolated from the roots of Ilex asprella. Their structures were determined on the basis of comprehensive spectroscopic analysis and chemical methods. Among these compounds, asprelloside B (2) and asprelloside C (3) are the first examples of triterpenoid glycosides bearing a rare 3,4-O-disulfo-xylopyranosyl residue. All the saponins isolated showed no significant effects against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide production in Raw264.7 macrophages.

Triterpenoids

Covering 2014. Previous review: Nat. Prod. Rep., 2017, 34, 90-122 This review covers the isolation and structure determination of triterpenoids reported during 2014 including squalene derivatives, lanostanes, holostanes, cycloartanes, cucurbitanes, dammaranes, euphanes, tirucallanes, tetranortriterpenoids, quassinoids, lupanes, oleananes, friedelanes, ursanes, hopanes, serratanes, isomalabaricanes and saponins; 374 references are cited.