13C NMR spectra of pentacyclic triterpenoids--a compilation and some salient features

Triterpenoid saponins of the Caryophyllaceae and Illecebraceae family

13C NMR spectroscopy of oleanane triterpenoids

The Quillaja saponaria Molina (Rosaceae) tree, first described in 17821, has remained of special interest ever since, because of its bark (soap bark, Panama wood), containing 9–10% saponins.

Molecular Structures of Saponins from Quillaja saponaria Molina

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is an age-related disease of unknown aetiology characterized by prostatic enlargement coincident with distinct alterations in tissue histomorphology. Instead of therapeutic agents that can cause severe side effects, plant extracts are frequently used to treat BPH. In this study, we investigated whether the Melandrium firmum methanolic extract (MFME) improves BPH, using the testosterone propionate (TP)-induced BPH rat model. Castration was performed via the scrotal route under sodium pentobarbital anaesthesia. BPH in castrated rats was generated via daily subcutaneous injections of TP (3 mg kg(-1)) dissolved in corn oil, for 4 weeks. MFME was administered daily by oral gavage at a dose of 200 mg kg(-1) for 4 weeks, along with the TP injections. The control group received injections of corn oil subcutaneously. At the scheduled termination of the experiment, all rats were killed and their prostates weighed; the relative prostate weight (prostate/body weight ratio) was calculated, and histomorphological changes in the prostate were examined. Additionally, we measured the levels of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in the serum and the prostate. Experimentally induced BPH led to marked decreases in the relative prostate weight and the DHT levels in the serum and the prostate. Histologically, BPH was evident in the ventral lobe of the prostate, and MFME treatment suppressed the severity of the lesions. These results indicate that MFME effectively inhibits the development of BPH induced by testosterone in a rat model. Further studies will be needed to identify the compound(s) responsibility for inducing the protective effect against BPH and determine its mechanism of action.

http://www.asiaandro.com/news/upload/20130905-aja2011166a.pdf

Effects of Melandrium firmum methanolic extract on testosterone-induced benign prostatic hyperplasia in Wistar rats.

Two sapogenins isolated from MELANDRIUM FIRMUM are shown to have the structures of 3beta,21beta-dihydroxy-16,23,dioxo-28-nor-17alpha,18beta-olean-12-ene and 3beta-16alpha-dihydroxy-23-oxo-olean-13(18)-en-28-oic acid, respectively by spectral data and X-ray crystallographic analysis.

Ilye Soon Chang

Papers

Sapogenins from Melandrium firmum