Phenylethanoid glycosides from the Schnabelia nepetifolia (Benth.) P.D.Cantino promote the proliferation of osteoblasts.

An investigation of the n-BuOH fraction of Schnabelia nepetifolia (Benth.) P.D.Cantino led to the isolation and identification of 12 undescribed phenylethanoid glycosides (nepetifosides A-L) and one undescribed phenylmethanoid glycoside (nepetifoside M), together with 23 known compounds. The structures of these compounds were determined by spectroscopic analyses including two-dimensional nuclear-magnetic-resonance (2D-NMR) spectroscopy and chemical-hydrolysis methods. Nepetifoside F exhibited strong activity that significantly increased osteoblast proliferation at three concentrations of 0.1, 1, and 10 μM. Moreover, nepetifoside C and nepetifoside D exhibited moderate activities in promoting the proliferation of osteoblasts at medium and high concentrations of 1 μM and 10 μM, respectively.