Rearranged oleanane type saponins, astraisoolesaponins A1–A3 and B, from the stems of Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge. var. mongholicus (Bge.) Hsiao.

Four novel saponins, astraisoolesaponins A 1 –A 3 and B ( 1 – 4 ) were isolated from the stems of Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge. var. mongholicus (Bge.) Hsiao. Spectroscopic analysis indicated that 1 – 4 are the first example of saponins possessing a 28-methyl-rearranged carbon skeleton. Their absolute configurations were determined by electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations. Both 3 and 4 displayed triglyceride accumulation inhibitory effects in HepG2 cells and glucose uptake increase effects on L6 cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]