The genus Actaea plants are widely distributed in China, and the cycloartane triterpenoids are the characteristic constituents of this genus. They are divided into types of cimigenol, hydroshengmanol, shengmanol, cimiacerogenin, acteol, 16, 23-diketo, foetidonol, dahurinol, etc. Cycloartane triterpenoids show many biological activities, such as cytotoxicity, anti-osteoporosis, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, anti-nucleoside transport, neuroprotective, anti-oxidant, antibacterial activities. The present paper reviewed the distribution of the plant resources of Actaea, chemical structures and biological activities of cycloartane triterpenoids, aiming to provide a reference for the further research in the future.
Actaea ; chemistry ; China ; Phytochemicals ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Triterpenes ; chemistry ; pharmacology

The 70% ethanol extract of the whole plant of Souliea vaginata was purified by multi-chromatographic methods including macroporous resin,silica gel,Sephadex LH-20,and C18-reversed-phase column chromatography. A new spirocyclic cycloartane triterpenoid was isolated and identified as( 16 R*,20 R*,23 S*,24 R*,25 S*)-16,23: 23,26-diepoxy-15α,24,25-trihydroxy-9,19-cycloart-3β-O-β-D-xylopyranoside( 1),and named as soulieoside S. Its planar structure and relative configuration were determined by spectroscopic techniques including 2 D NMR and HRESI-MS. As one of the main components of S. vaginata,compound 1 was evaluated for its anti-inflammatory activity by a lipopolysaccharide( LPS)-stimulated NO production model in RAW264. 7 macrophages,but it didn't show NO production inhibitory effect.
Actaea/metabolism* ; Glycosides ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Molecular Structure ; Triterpenes/metabolism*

OBJECTIVETo isolate and elucidate the chemical constituents with the cytotoxicity activity from the rhizome of Actaea asiatica.

METHODThe chemical constituents were isolated by repeated column chromatography (Toyopearl HW40C and preparative HPLC) and the structure of compound 1 was elucidated by spectral data analysis.

RESULTA cycloartane triterpene saponin com- pound was isolated and identified to be (23R)-16beta, 23: 23alpha, 26: 24alpha: 25-triepoxy-9, 19-cyclolanost-7-en-3beta-O-beta-D-xylopyranoside.

CONCLUSIONCompound 1 was a new compound and named (23R)-26-deoxycimicifugoside. The IC50 values of compound 1 for cell growth inhibition of Hela and L929 cell lines were 72.24 and 55.97 mg x L(-1), respectively.

Actaea ; chemistry ; Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Humans ; Mice ; Plant Structures ; chemistry ; Saponins ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the chemical constituents of the rhizomes of Actaea asiatica in order to obtain a more comprehensive understanding of its effective components.

METHODCompounds were separated by silica gel chromatography, RP-C18 chromatography and semi-preparative high performance liquid chromatography, and their structures were established by spectral analysis and chemical evidence.

RESULTSix compounds were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract. Their structures were identified as 25-O-acetylcimigenol (1), 12beta-hydroxycimigenol (2), 23-epi-26-deoxyactein (3), 27-deoxyacetylacteol (4), 26-deoxycimicifugenin (5) and beta-sitosterol (6).

CONCLUSIONAll these compounds mentioned above were isolated from the plant for the first time.

Actaea ; chemistry ; Lanosterol ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; Saponins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Sitosterols ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Triterpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification