Cytotoxic Triterpenoid Glycosides from the Roots of Camellia oleifera

Abstract

Eight new triterpenoid saponins, oleiferosides A–H (1–8), were isolated from the EtOH extract of the roots of Camellia oleifera. Their structures were elucidated by a combination of 1D and 2D NMR techniques, mass spectrometry, and chemical methods. All were characterized to be oleanane-type saponins with sugar moieties linked to C-3 of the aglycone. Cytotoxic activities of these saponins were evaluated against four human tumor cell lines (A549, B16, BEL-7402, and MCF-7) by using the MTT in vitro assay. Compound 3 exhibited potent cytotoxic activitiy against all the tested cell lines with IC₅₀ values < 10 µM. Compounds 1, 2, 4, and 5 showed moderate cytotoxic activities toward the tested cell lines.

Key words

Camellia oleifera - Theaceae - triterpenoid saponins - oleiferosides A–H - cytotoxic activities

• References

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