Saponins are secondary metabolites that are abundant and diversified in echinoderms. Mass spectrometry is increasingly used not only to identify saponin congeners within animal extracts but also to decipher the structure/biological activity relationships of these molecules by determining their inter-organ and inter-individual variability. The usual method requires extensive purification procedu...

Background: Astragalus memebranaceus is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine used in treatment of common cold, diarrhea, fatigue, anorexia and cardiac diseases. Recently, there are growing evidences that Astragalus extract may be a potential anti-tumorigenic agent. Some research showed that the total saponins obtained from Astragalus membranaceus possess significant antitumorigenic activity. G...

Two new furostanol saponins 1–2 and three new sulphated glycosides 3a,b and 4 were isolated from the underground parts of Ruscus aculeatus L., along with four known furostanol and one spirostanol saponins 5–9 and three free sterols. All of the structures have been elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data 1D and 2D NMR experiments, MS spectra and GC analyses.

Saponins extracted from Panax notoginseng are neuroprotective, but the mechanisms underlying this effect remain unclear. In the present study, we established a rat model of thoracic (T10) spinal cord transection, and injected Panax notoginseng saponins (100 mg/kg) or saline 30 minutes after injury. Locomotor functions were assessed using the Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan (BBB) scale from 1 to 3...

CONTEXT Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Delile (Zygophyllaceae) is a tropical tree that has many folk uses in various countries. The bark extract is used for the control of the fresh water snails that act as intermediary host of Schistosoma. OBJECTIVE Study the molluscicidal activity and chemical constituents of seed oil and seed glycosides of B. aegyptiaca against Monacha cartusiana and determine ...

BACKGROUND Astragalus memebranaceus is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine used in treatment of common cold, diarrhea, fatigue, anorexia and cardiac diseases. Recently, there are growing evidences that Astragalus extract may be a potential anti-tumorigenic agent. Some research showed that the total saponins obtained from Astragalus membranaceus possess significant antitumorigenic activity. Ga...