Anti-inflammatory properties of a triterpenoidal glycoside from Momordica cochinchinensis in LPS-stimulated macrophages

Abstract

Two triterpenoidal saponins were isolated from the seeds of Momordica cochinchinensis Sprenger (Cucurbitaceae). Identification of chemical structures has been performed by H-1- and C-13-NMR spectroscopy and gas chromatography (GC). One of the saponins is a new gypsogenin glycoside, named as gypsogenin 3-O-beta-D-galactopyranosyl(1 -> 2)-[alpha- L-rhamnopyranosyl(1 -> 3)]-beta-D-glucuronopyranoside (compound 1), which is reported for the first time from natural resources. The other saponin is a quillaic acid glycoside (compound 2), which showed anti-inflammatory activities in RAW 264.7 cells. The mechanistic understanding of anti-inflammatory activities demonstrates that compound 2 inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced expression of nitric oxide and IL-6 via NF-kappa B pathway.