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Saponaria officinalis L., commonly known as "Soapwort", is a rich source of triterpene glycosides; however, the chemical constituents of S. officinalis seeds have not been fully identified. In this study, we conducted a systematic phytochemical investigation of the seeds of S. officinalis and obtained 17 oleanane-type triterpene glycosides ( 1 - 17 ), including seven new glycosides ( 1 - 7 ). The structures of 1 - 7 were determined based on a detailed analysis of NMR spectroscopic data and chromatographic and spectroscopic analyses following specific chemical transformation. The cytotoxicities of the isolated compounds were evaluated against HL-60 human promyelocytic leukemia cells, A549 human adenocarcinoma lung cancer cells, and SBC-3 human small-cell lung cancer cells. The cytotoxicities of 1 , 4 , and 10 toward HL-60 cells and SBC-3 cells were nearly as potent as that of cisplatin. Compound 1 , a bisdesmosidic triterpene glycoside obtained in good yield, arrested the cell cycle of SBC-3 cells at the G 2 /M phase, and induced apoptosis through an intrinsic pathway, accompanied by ROS generation. As a result of the mitochondrial dysfunction induced by 1 , mitochondria selective autophagy, termed mitophagy, occurred in SBC-3 cells.

Purpose. In a continuation of our search for novel antifungal compounds from higher plants, the standard extract of the bark of Pithecellobium racemosum was found to have good activity against important AIDS-related opportunistic yeasts. Methods. The extract was subjected to bioguided fractionation using silica gel column chromatography which led to purification of triterpene glycosides. The structures of these compounds were determined by a combination of spectroscopic (IR, NMR, HRMS) and chemical methods. Results. Compound 1 is a new glycoside, 3-O[α-L-arabinopyranosyl (1 -2)][α-L arabinopyranosyl (1 -6)]2-acetoamido-2-deoxy-β-D-gluco-pyranosyl oleanolic acid and Compound 2 was identified as the known compound 3-O-[α-L-arabinopyranosyl (l-2)]α-L-arabinopyranosyl (1-6)] 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranosyl echinocystic acid. Conclusions. Compound 1 is a new glycoside, 3-O-[α-L-arabinopyranosyl (1-2)]α-L-arabinopyranosyl (l-6)]-2-acetoamido-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranosyl oleanolic acid and exhibits moderate antifungal activity against T. mentogrophytes, C. albicans and S. cerevisiae with MIC values of 6.25, 12.5 and 12.5 μg/ml respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]