Bidesmoside triterpenoid glycosides from Stauntonia chinensis and relationship to anti-inflammation.

Ten triterpenoid glycosides, yemuoside YM(26-35) (1-9 and 12), were isolated from a traditional Chinese medicine known as "Ye Mu Gua" (Stauntonia chinensis DC.) along with two known ones, kalopanax saponin C (10) and sieboldianoside A (11). Their structures, as elucidated by spectroscopic analyses and chemical methods, were either penta-saccharidic or hexa-saccharidic bidesmoside triterpenoid glycosides. To help explain the clinical applications of "Ye Mu Gua" for its anti-inflammatory effects, the inhibitory activity on the release of inflammatory mediators (nitric oxide, TNF-alpha and IL-6) of 1-12 and the related aglycone, hederagenin (13), was evaluated in vitro. It was found that compound 13, but not 1-12, exhibited significant inhibitory activity. The abundant triterpenoid glycosides in "Ye Mu Gua" might therefore be transformed into their respective aglycones, and thus inhibit the release of inflammatory factors in vivo. This could then account for the clinical value of "Ye Mu Gua" as regards anti-inflammatory effects. This proposed explanation of how "Ye Mu Gua" may have an effect is similar to the concept of prodrugs for chemical drugs which could be extended to some traditional medicines. That is, the major components might be biologically active not directly, but via biochemical transformation in vivo. Hence, we propose a "traditional medicine's prodrug characteristic" concept.