Anti-inflammatory activity of unusual lupane saponins from Bupleurum fruticescens

Abstract Extracts from BUPLEURUM FRUTICESCENS were examined for oral and topical anti-inflammatory activities. The BuOH extract proved to be active against carrageenan and tetradecanoylphorbol acetate acute edemas and allowed the isolation of three saponins identified by spectroscopic techniques as 3β-O-(O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→4)-O[β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)]-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl)lup-20(29)-ene-23,28-dioic acid (fruticesaponin A), 3β-O-(O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→4)-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl)lup-20(29)-ene-23,28-dioic acid 28-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester (fruticesaponin B), and 3β-O-(O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→4)-O-[β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)]-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl)lup-20(29)-ene-23,28-dioic acid 28-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester (fruticesaponin C). These compounds were studied against carrageenan, tetradecanoylphorbol acetate, arachidonic acid and ethyl phenylpropiolate acute edemas. Fruticesaponin B, a bidesmosidic saponin with an unbranched saccharide moiety was the most active in all the tests applied.