These findings suggested that triterpene saponins from C. asiatica were worthy of further biological research to develop new neuroprotective agents. - GreenMedInfo Summary

Six new pentacyclic triterpenoid saponins, centelloside F (), centelloside G (), 11--asiaticoside B (), 11--madecassoside (), 11(β)-methoxy asiaticoside B (), and 11(β)-methoxy madecassoside (), along with seven known ones, asiaticoside (), asiaticoside B (), madecassoside (), centellasaponin A (), isoasiaticoside (), scheffoleoside A (), and centelloside E (), were separated from the 80% MeOH extract of the whole plant of, which has been used as a medicinal plant and is now commercially available as a diatery supplement in many countries. Compoundsand,and, andandare three pairs of isomers with oleanane- or ursane-type triterpenes as aglycones. The chemical structures of the new triterpene saponins were fully characterized by extensive analysis of their nuclear magnetic resonance and high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry data. The protective effects of compounds-on PC12 cells induced by 6-OHDA were screened, and compounddisplayed the best neuroprotective effect, with 91.75% cell viability at the concentration of 100μM. Moreover, compoundalso attenuated cell apoptosis and increased the mRNA expression of antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase and catalase. Additionally, compoundactivated the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt pathway, including PDK1, Akt, and GSK-3β. These findings suggested that triterpene saponins fromwere worthy of further biological research to develop new neuroprotective agents.