Medicinal flowers. XXXIII. Anti-hyperlipidemic and anti-hyperglycemic effects of chakasaponins I-III and structure of chakasaponin IV from flower buds of Chinese tea plant (Camellia sinensis).

Effects of principal saponins, chakasaponins I-III, from the flower buds of Camellia sinensis cultivated in Fujian province, China on plasma triglyceride (TG) and glucose levels in olive oil or sucrose-loaded mice were examined. Chakasaponins I-III at 50 and 100 mg/kg significantly inhibited increases in plasma TG and glucose levels. Furthermore, they prevented gastric emptying, suggesting that the former inhibitory effect is partly dependent on the inhibition of gastric emptying. In addition, the chemical structure of a new acylated oleanane-type triterpene oligoglycoside, chakasaponin IV, was elucidated on the basis of chemical and physicochemical evidence.