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

Patrinia villosa, regarding its functions in clearing heat and detoxification and eliminating carbuncles and pus, is widely used as a traditional medicinal herb that contains rich nutrition and substances such as various amino acids, vitamins, and soluble su-gar, and it is also an edible wild herb in Chinese folk tradition for 2 000 years. In 1973, Japanese scholars firstly separated three iridoids from Japanese P. villosa, and by 2021, chemical components such as flavonoids, iridoids, organic acids, triterpenoids, phenylpropanoids, and steroids have been found, which have multiple pharmacological effects, including antioxidant, antitumor, anti-diarrhea, antibacterial, sedative, and liver protection capabilities. Studies indicate that flavonoids, saponins, phenylpropanoids, and triterpenoids in P. villosa are vital substances for its pharmacological activities. However, the quality of this medicinal material cannot be controlled due to the unclear records in ancient books in the past dynasties and different drug use habits in different places, and thus its circulation is chaotic. At present, researchers have used flavonoids, organic acids, phenylpropanoids, triterpenoid saponins, and other compounds to conduct studies in this regard. Therefore, on the basis of the existing literature resources, we comprehensively summarize the chemical constituents, pharmacological activities, and quality control of P. villosa to further provide a reference for the safety and effectiveness of clinical drug use and lay a foundation for the follow-up experimental research.
Patrinia/chemistry* ; Flavonoids/pharmacology* ; Saponins ; Triterpenes/pharmacology* ; Iridoids ; Quality Control

Anemone is an important genus which was distributed widely and used to folk medicines in China. It is rich of pentacyclic triterpenoid saponins,and more than 100 kinds of pentacyclic triterpenoid saponins had been isolated and identified. Anemone has been used to treat punch injury and rheumatoid arthritis. This article reviews the latest research progress of Anemone decoction from two aspects: chemical constituents and pharmacological. It will provide reference for further research and development of Anemone.
Anemone ; chemistry ; China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Phytochemicals ; pharmacology ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Saponins ; pharmacology ; Triterpenes ; pharmacology

Three new cucurbitane-type triterpenoid glycosides were separated from the ethyl acetate extract of Citrullus colocynthis by a variety of chromatographic techniques. According to the data of NMR, HR-ESI-MS, and/or comparison with the reported data, the three novel cucurbitane-type triterpenoid glycosides were identified as colocynthenin E(1), colocynthenin G(2), and colocynthenin H(3). The cell inflammation model was established with RAW264.7 macrophages exposed to lipopolysaccharide and then used to determine the anti-inflammatory activities of the three compounds. Compounds 2 and 3 showed mild anti-inflammatory activities with the IC_(50) of 48.21 and 40.11 μmol·L~(-1), respectively, compared with that(IC_(50)=7.57 μmol·L~(-1)) of the positive control dexamethasone.
Citrullus colocynthis/chemistry* ; Triterpenes/chemistry* ; Glycosides/chemistry* ; Plant Extracts/chemistry* ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology*

The constituents of Cimicifuga plants have been extensively investigated, and the principal metabolites are 9,19-cyclolanostane triterpenoid glycosides, which are distributed widely in Cimicifuga plants, but not in other members of the Ranunculaceae family, and are considered to be characteristics of the Cimicifuga genus. This type of triterpenoid glycoside possesses several important biological activities. More than 120 cycloartane triterpene glycosides have been isolated from Cimicifuga simplex Wormsk. The aim of this review article is to summarize all the major findings based on the available scientific literatures on C. simplex, with a focus on the identified 9,19-cyclolanostane triterpenoid glycosides. Biological studies of cycloartane triterpene glycosides from Cimicifuga spp. are also discussed.
Animals ; Cimicifuga ; chemistry ; Humans ; Phytosterols ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Saponins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Triterpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology

Astragali Radix, as a tonic with a long history, is one of the most common traditional Chinese medicines. Recently, chemical composition and pharmacological activities of Astragali Radix have been widely reported. Polysaccharide, triterpenes and flavonoids are regarded to its effective components. Pharmacological experiments and clinical reports show that Astragali Radix has good effects on immune-regulation, anti-tumor, anti-virus, diabetes, anti-aging and so on. Therefore, it shows a good prospect to make good use of its effective components.
Astragalus Plant ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Polysaccharides ; analysis ; Triterpenes ; analysis

Poria cocos (Schw.) Wolf, an important medicinal and food fungus, is well known in East Asia. Due to growing market demand, long cultivation period, and consumption of pine trunk during cultivation, developing alternative methods for producing P. cocos and/or its active components is of interest. In the present study, the effects of different culture methods on biomass and accumulation of four triterpenoids were investigated. The ethanol extract of fermented mycelium (EFM) was orally administered to rats. Urine output and concentrations of electrolytes (Na, K, and Cl) were measured. Our results showed that mycelia grew better under continuous shaking culture condition (7.5 g DW·L), and higher triterpenoid levels were accumulated in two-stage culture (112 mg·L, 2.03%). The optimal starting time of static culture for triterpenoid yield was 4 d after shaking culture. Single administration of middle and high dose of EFM significantly increased urine output, Na and Cl excretion, and Na/K ratio. These results suggested that ethanol extract of cultured mycelia showed significant diuretic activity in rats and two-stage culture of P. cocos could be an alternative way to produce mycelia and triterpenoids.
Animals ; Biomass ; Diuretics ; pharmacology ; Mycelium ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Rats ; Triterpenes ; metabolism ; Wolfiporia ; chemistry ; growth & development

OBJECTIVETo study cycloartane triterpenoid of Cimicifuga foetida and their osteoclast inhibition activity.

METHODThe compounds were isolated and purified by normal and reversed phase column chromatographic methods. Structures were identified by spectroscopic analyses. Their osteoclast inhibition activity was then studied.

RESULTThirteen cycloartane triterpenoids were isolated from the rhizomes of C. foetida and were characterized as 25-O-acetyl-cimigenol (1), cimigenol (2), cimicidanol (3), 26-deoxyactein (4), asiaticoside A (5), 23-epi-26-deoxyactein (6), actein (7), 12beta-hydroxycimigenol (8), cimiside E (9), (23R, 24S) 25-O-acetyl-cimigenol-3-O-beta-D-xylopyranoside (10), (23R, 24S) cimigenol-3-O-beta-D-xylopyranoside (11), cimicifugoside H-1 (12) and cimicifugoside H-2 (13).

CONCLUSIONCompound 5 was isolated from this genus for the first time, compound 7 was isolated firstly from the plant and compound 2, 7, 10 and 11 exhibit osteoclast inhibition activity.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Cimicifuga ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Mice ; Osteoclasts ; drug effects ; Triterpenes ; chemistry ; pharmacology

Nine triterpenes compounds were isolated from the male flowers of Eucommia ulmoides by recrystallization and chromatographic techniques over silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, and RP-18 gel. Their chemical structures were identified on the basis of spectral analysis and as 3-oxo-12-en-ursane-28-O-α-L-arabinofuranosyl (1 --> 6) -β-D-glucopyranoside (1), 2α, 3β-dihydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid(28 --> 1) -β-D-glucopyranosyl ester (2), ursolic acid (3), α-amyrin (4), uvaol (5), ursolic acid acetate (6), 3-O-acetate oleanoic acid (7), betulinic acid (8), and betulinol (9). Compound 1 was a new compound, and compounds 2, 4-7 were isolated from the Eucommiu genus for the first time. Cytotoxic activity was tested for all the compounds against K562 and HepG2 cells. The results showed that only compound 3, exhibited cytotoxic activity.
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Eucommiaceae ; chemistry ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Triterpenes ; analysis ; pharmacology

Turpinia species have been used as local Chinese medicines. It has been widely concerned about their antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects. Modern studies showed that the chemical constituents of Turpina species include flavonoids, triterpenoids, megastigans and phenoli acids. Its pharmacological research mainly focused on antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, analgesic, and immuneregulation effect. In this paper, the chemical compositions and pharmacological activities of Turpinia species were summarized, in order to provide scientific basis for the further development and utilization of Turpinia species.
Antioxidants ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Flavonoids ; Magnoliopsida ; chemistry ; Phytochemicals ; analysis ; pharmacology ; Triterpenes