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Further phytochemical investigation of the steaming treated roots of Panax notoginseng (Araliaceae) led to the identification of two new dammarane-type triterpenoid saponins, notoginsenoside SP20 (1) and SP21 (2). In addition, a pair of new phenolic glycosides (3a and 3b) was also isolated together with two known compounds. Their structures were elucidated by HRESIMS, 1D- and 2D-NMR spectra. Compounds 1 and 2 showed no in vitro cytotoxicity against five human cancer cell lines (HL-60, SMMC-7712, A-549, MCF-9 and SW480).

The roots of Panax notoginseng, an important Chinese medicinal plant, have been used traditionally in both the raw and processed forms, due to the different chemical constituents and bioactivities found. Thirty-eight dammarane-type triterpenoid saponins were isolated from the steam-processed roots of P. notoginseng, including 18 new substances, namely, notoginsenosides SP1-SP18 (1-18). The structures of 1-18 were determined on the basis of spectroscopic analysis and acidic hydrolysis. The absolute configuration of the hydroxy group at C-24 in 1-4, 19, and 20 was determined in each case by Mo2(AcO)4-induced circular dichroism. The new compounds were found to feature a diversity of highly oxygenated side chains, formed by hydrolysis of the C-20 sugar moiety followed by dehydration, dehydrogenation, epoxidation, hydroxylation, or methoxylation of the main saponins in the raw roots. The new saponins 1, 2, 6-8, 14, and 17 and the known compounds 20-27 showed promoting effects on the differentiation of PC12 cells, at a concentration of 10 μM.

Nine new minor dehydrogenated and cleavaged dammarane-type triterpenoid saponins, namely notoginsenosides ST6-ST14 (1-9) were isolated from the steamed roots of Panax notoginseng, together with 14 known ones. Among them, 5-7 and 21-22 were protopanaxadiol type and the left 18 compounds, including 1-4, 8-20, and 23 were protopanaxatriol type saponins. Their structures were identified by extensive analysis of MS, 1D and 2D NMR spectra, and acidic hydrolysis. Resulted from the side chain cleavage, the new saponins 1 and 2 featured in a ketone group at C-25, and 3-5 had an aldehyde unit at C-23. The known saponins 12, 16 and 18 displayed the enhancing potential of neurite outgrowth of NGF-mediated PC12 cells at a concentration of 10 μM, while 20 exhibited acetyl cholinesterase inhibitory activity, with IC50 value of 13.97 μM., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A collection of 70 randomly selected three-year-old Panax notoginseng plants was analyzed to evaluate the germplasmic resources of cultivated notoginseng. The results obtained indicated that the individual plants of P. notoginseng were greatly diversified not only in saponin contents, but also in morphological features. It was further proven that, after hundreds years of cultivation, notoginseng has become a mixed farm cultivar with very large variations occurring. This high variance in saponin contents implies the possibility for breeding of this medicinal plant in order to obtain cultivars with higher saponin production. Statistic analysis of correlation between morphologic variation and chemical variation suggests that some morphological characters, such as root weight, plant height and peduncle length, can be correlated with saponin contents and can be used as important selective traits for selective breeding., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Four new protopanaxatriol-type triterpenes (1–2) and glucosides (3–4), were isolated from the rot roots of Panax notoginseng (Burk.) Chen, along with four known ones (5–8). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis (HRESIMS, NMR, UV, IR, and OR) and acidic hydrolysis. The possible transformation pathway of these compounds were also speculated from ginsenoside Rg1. Compound 1, with a unique α,β-unsaturated ketene in its side chain, showed significant inhibitory effects against NO production on Murine macrophage cells (IC50 = 4.12 ± 0.20 μM) and comparable cytotoxicities against five human cancer cell lines (myeloid leukemia HL-60, lung cancer A-549 cells, hepatocellular carcinoma SMMC7721, breast cancer MCF-7, and colon cancer SW480) to positive control, cisplatin (DDP). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Notoginseng, the root of Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F. H. Chen (Araliaceae), a famous traditional Chinese medicine, has been used in both raw and processed forms due to their different therapeutic functions. In this study, HPLC analyses on saponin composition of processed notoginseng were conducted, which revealed that, during the steaming process, the five main saponin constituents (ginsenosides Rg1, Rb1, Rd, and Re, and notoginsenoside R1) in raw notoginseng decreased gradually and some other new saponins were formed. Among these, eight newly converted ginsenosides were identified as 20(S)-Rh1, 20(R)-Rh1, Rk3, Rh4, 20(S)-Rg3, 20(R)-Rg3, Rk1 and Rg5. Different processing methods, including steaming and baking, were studied, along with the correlative dynamic curves of the transformation of saponins. The results indicated that the moisture content and temperature were the determinant effecting factors in the preparing process, and water content was necessary and high temperature was helpful for saponin transformation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]