Bioactive saponins and glycosides. XIX. Notoginseng (3): immunological adjuvant activity of notoginsenosides and related saponins: structures of notoginsenosides-L, -M, and -N from the roots of Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F. H. Chen.

New dammarane-type triterpene saponins, notoginsenosides-L, -M, and -N, were isolated from the glycosidic fraction of the dried roots of Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F. H. Chen. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of chemical and physicochemical evidence. Immunological adjuvant activities of the principal notoginsenosides and related dammarane-type triterpene saponins were examined and notoginsenosides-D, -G, -H, and -K were found to increase the serum IgG level in mice sensitized with ovalbumin.