A New Steroidal Saponin from the Tubers of Ophiopogon japonicus and Its Protective Effect Against Cisplatin-Induced Renal Cell Toxicity

Abstract

A new furostanol saponin, ophiopogonin T, was isolated from the tubers of Ophiopogon japonicus. Its structure was established by extensive spectroscopic techniques including 1D (H-1 and C-13) and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments (correlation spectroscopy (COSY), heteronuclear single quantum coherence (HSQC), heteronuclear multiple bond correlation (HMBC) and nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy (NOESY)), high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESIMS), and chemical methods. Using cell-based assays, this compound was evaluated for its cytotoxic effect on cancer cell lines and its protective effect against anticancer drug-induced nephrotoxicity. Cisplatin-induced cytotoxicity in porcine kidney (LLC-PK1) cells was significantly reduced upon treatment with ophiopogonin T, without affecting human hepatoma (HepG2) cancer cell proliferation or tube formation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). These results collectively reflect the beneficial effect of ophiopogonin T on the side effects of cisplatin.