Triterpenoid saponins and anti-inflammatory activity of Codonopsis lanceolata.

The ethanolic root extract of Codonopsis lanceolata were evaluated for anti-inflammatory activity using the carrageenan induced rat hind paw edema model and displayed a significant activity of 51.82% inhibition at 200 mg/kg at 3 h (p < 0.05). Further isolation of the extract yielded two new triterpenoid saponins, named codonolaside I (1) and codonolaside II (2). The spectroscopic and chemical data revealed their structures to be 3-O-[beta-D-xylopyranosyl (1->3)-(6'-O-methyl)-beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl]-30, 16a-dihydroxyolean-12-ene-28-oic acid 28-O-[P-D-xylopyranosyl (1-->4)-alpha-L-rhamnpyranosyl (1-->2)-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl] ester (1), and 3beta, 16alpha-dihydroxyolean-12-ene-28-oic acid 28-O-[beta-D-xylopyranosyl (1-->3)-beta-D-xylopyranosyl (1-->4)-alpha-L-rhamnpyranosyl (1-->2)-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl] ester (2).