Identification and quantitative analysis of furostanol glycosides in caltrop

This study describes the identification and quantitative determination of furostanol glycosides in caltrop herb harvested in the fructification period. Furostanol glycosides were identified by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and quantified by UV-vis spectrophotometry. The furostanol glycosides were visualized on the TLC plate as pink spots after treatment with dimethylamine benzaldehyde solution. UV-vis spectrophotometry quantified these substances to the amount of at least 0.4 %. The data on the identification and quantification of furostanol glycosides obtained in the course of this research was implemented in the development of the Ukrainian State Pharmacopoeia for caltrop herb.

A Total of Eight Novel Steroidal Glycosides Based on Spirostan, Furostan, Pseudofurostan, and Cholestane from the Leaves of Cestrum newellii

Previously, various steroidal glycosides were reported from plants of Cestrum species. However, phytochemical investigation has not been conducted on Cestrum newellii. A systematic phytochemical investigation of the leaves of C. newellii resulted in the isolation of eight novel steroidal glycosides (1–8), which were classified into three spirostanol glycosides (1–3), two furostanol glycosides (4 and 5), two pseudofurostanol glycosides (6 and 7), and one cholestane glycoside (8). In addition, three known cholestane glycosides (9–11) were isolated and identified. The structures of the new compounds were determined based on spectroscopic data and chemical transformations. Compounds 1 and 2 are spirostanol glycosides having hydroxy groups at C-2, C-3, C-12, and C-24 of the aglycone moiety. Although C. newellii is known to be a poisonous plant, the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide assay exhibited that none of the isolated compounds were cytotoxic to HL-60 human promyelocytic leukemia cells.

Studies to Elucidate the Effects of Furostanol Glycosides from Dioscorea deltoidea Cell Culture in a Rat Model of Endothelial Dysfunction

Currently, there is no doubt surrounding a theory that the cardiotropic effects of sex hormones can be due to their direct effect on the cardiovascular system. In recent years, interest in the study of steroid glycosides has increased. We studied the effects of furostanol glycosides (protodioscin and deltozid) from the cell culture of the Dioscorea deltoidea (laboratory code DM-05) on the physiological and biochemical parameters of vascular endothelial function in hypoestrogen-induced endothelial dysfunction after bilateral ovariectomy. It was shown that the use of DM-05 at a dose of 1 mg/kg makes it possible to prevent the development of arterial hypertension (the level of systolic blood pressure (SBP) decreases by 9.7% (p < 0.05) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) by 8.2%), to achieve a decrease in the coefficient of endothelial dysfunction by 1.75 times against the background of a hypoestrogenic state. With DM-05, an increase in the concentration of stable nitric oxide metabolites (NOx) by 45.6% (p < 0.05) and an increase in mRNA endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression by 34.8% (p < 0.05) was established, which indicates a positive effect of furostanol glycosides on the metabolism of nitric oxide after ovariectomy. Positive dynamics in the histological structure of the heart and the abdominal aorta indicate the pronounced endothelio- and atheroprotective effects of DM-05.

Effect of Elevated Concentrations of Copper Ions on Growth Characteristics and Synthesis of Steroidal Glycosides in Suspension Plant Cell Culture of Tribulus terrestris L.

In order to optimize the productivity of plant cell cultures for pharmacologically valuable compounds(steroidal glycosides), the effect of the elevated concentrations copper ions on growth and biosynthetic characteristics of the suspension culture of Tribulus terrestris L. has been studied. It was shown that the increase in the content of copper ions in nutrient medium by 5-100 times (up to 10 uM) did not practically affect growth characteristics of the cell culture; however, high concentrations (5 and 10 uM) caused a significant (below 50%) decrease in the cell viability. It was proved by UPLC ESI MS that the T. terrestris biomass contains a furostanol glycoside, terrestrinin B, and its 25(R)-stereoisomer. An increase in the concentration of copper ions in the medium provided a significant (up to 3 times) increase in the content of furostanol glycosides in the first cultivation cycle, and this compound was maintained in the next 5-7 cultivation cycles, although its content was 1.5-2 times lower. On the contrary, changes in the hormonal status of the medium (removal of α-NAA) could result in changes in the composition of furostanol glycosides (disappearance or a drastic decrease in the content of terrestrozin N derivatives, the presence of which in this plant cell culture was shown previously). It may be concluded that heavy metals (copper ions) can intensify the formation of steroidal glycosides in T. terrestris cell culture, whereas growth regulators (for example, auxins) can change their qualitative composition. copper ions, steroidal glycosides, plant suspension cell culture, Tribulus terrestris The work was financially supported by the Russian Science Foundation (№ 16-14-00126).