Steroidal saponins from Smilax china and their anti-inflammatory activities

Steroidal saponins 1, 2, 3 and 4 were isolated from Smilax china L. These compounds showed inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 enzyme (COX-2) activity and mild inhibition of TNFα (tumor necrosis factor α) production. Steroidal saponins, 1, 2, 3 and 4, were isolated from the BuOH extract of Smilax china L., along with 13 known compounds, 5– 17. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of MS, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic analyses and chemical evidence. In the bioassay tests, all compounds showed inhibitory effects on cyclooxygenase-2 enzyme (COX-2) activities at final concentration of 10 −5 M, and only compound 5 showed an inhibitory effect on production of TNFα (tumor necrosis factor α) in murine peritoneal macrophages at the same concentration.