Scheffoleoside A

Oleanane- and Ursane-Type Triterpene Saponins from Centella asiatica Exhibit Neuroprotective Effects.[Pubmed:32502339]

J Agric Food Chem. 2020 Jul 1;68(26):6977-6986.

Six new pentacyclic triterpenoid saponins, centelloside F (1), centelloside G (2), 11-oxo-asiaticoside B (3), 11-oxo-madecassoside (4), 11(beta)-methoxy asiaticoside B (5), and 11(beta)-methoxy madecassoside (6), along with seven known ones, asiaticoside (7), asiaticoside B (8), madecassoside (9), centellasaponin A (10), isoasiaticoside (11), Scheffoleoside A (12), and centelloside E (13), were separated from the 80% MeOH extract of the whole plant of Centella asiatica, which has been used as a medicinal plant and is now commercially available as a diatery supplement in many countries. Compounds 1 and 2, 3 and 4, and 5 and 6 are three pairs of isomers with oleanane- or ursane-type triterpenes as aglycones. The chemical structures of the new triterpene saponins were fully characterized by extensive analysis of their nuclear magnetic resonance and high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry data. The protective effects of compounds 1-13 on PC12 cells induced by 6-OHDA were screened, and compound 3 displayed the best neuroprotective effect, with 91.75% cell viability at the concentration of 100 muM. Moreover, compound 3 also attenuated cell apoptosis and increased the mRNA expression of antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase and catalase. Additionally, compound 3 activated the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt pathway, including PDK1, Akt, and GSK-3beta. These findings suggested that triterpene saponins from C. asiatica were worthy of further biological research to develop new neuroprotective agents.

Validated UHPLC-MS/MS method for simultaneous determination of four triterpene saponins from Akebia trifoliata extract in rat plasma and its application to a pharmacokinetic study.[Pubmed:31099065]

Biomed Chromatogr. 2019 Oct;33(10):e4585.

Saponin PH, akemisaponins E, saponin PJ(1) and Scheffoleoside A, the main bioactive triterpene saponins of Chinese traditional medicine Akebia trifoliata, contribute to its diuretic pharmacological activity. Because of interactions of the multiple ingredients in vivo, pharmacokinetic studies of multiple triterpenes after administration of A. trifoliata extract are essential to clarify their pharmacological effects. The purpose of this study was to develop an efficient and sensitive UHPLC-MS/MS method for simultaneous determination of these four triterpene saponins in rat plasma. The biosamples were prepared by liquid-liquid extraction with n-butanol. The chromatographic separation was performed on a Phenomenex Luna((R)) C(18) (150 x 2 mm, 3 mum) with a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and water at a flow rate of 0.5 mL/min. The MS/MS system was operated in a negative multiple reaction monitoring mode, and the precursor-product ion transitions were optimized as m/z 941.6 --> 471.1 for saponin PH, 941.7 --> 471.2 for akemisaponins E, 1089.7 --> 601.1 for saponin PJ(1) , 957.6 --> 487.4 for Scheffoleoside A and 799.5 --> 637.3 for ginsenoside Rg(1) (Rg(1) , internal standard). Method validation parameters (calibration curve linearity, lower limit of detection, recovery, matrix effect, intra- and inter-day precision) were within the acceptable ranges. This is the first reported on the UHPLC-MS/MS detection of saponin PH, akemisaponins E, saponin PJ(1) and Scheffoleoside A, and applied to a preclinical pharmacokinetic study after oral administration of A. trifoliata extract in rats. This study provides a basis for clinical application and further development of A. trifoliata extract.