Triterpenoid saponins from Clinopodium chinense (Benth.) O. Kuntze and their biological activity.

Four new ursane-type triterpenoid saponins, clinopoursaponins A-D (1-4), six new oleanane-type triterpenoid saponins, clinopodiside VII-XII (5-10), as well as eight known triterpene analogues (11-18), were isolated from the aerial parts of Clinopodium chinense (Benth.) O. Kuntze. The structures of the new compounds were determined based on extensive spectral analyses, including 1D (1 H and 13 C) and 2D NMR experiments (COSY, NOESY, HSQC, 2D TOCSY, HSQC-TOCSY and HMBC), HR-ESI-MS and chemical methods. Compounds 1-18 were evaluated for their protective effects against anoxia/reoxygenation-induced apoptosis in H9c2 cells and cytotoxicities against murine mammary carcinoma cell line 4T1. Compounds 8, 9 and 18 exhibited significant protective effects, while compound 1 exhibited cytotoxic activity with IC50 value of 7.4 μm compared to 7.6 μm for the positive control 10-hydroxycamptothecin.