AIM: To study structure-activity relationship of tubeimosides isolated from Bolbostemma paniculatum for their anti-inflammatory, antitumor, and antitumor-promoting effects.
METHODS: Tubeimosides I, II, and III were isolated from tubers of Bolbostemma paniculatum (Maxim) Franquet (Cucurbitaceae), a Chinese folk medicine,"Tubeimu", and their anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-tumorigenic activities, and acute toxicity were studied in vivo.
RESULTS: Tubeimosides I, II, and III are all natural analogues of oleanane type of triterpenoid saponins from the same medicinal plant, and all show anti-inflammatory, antitumor, and antitumor-promo ting effects. However, the anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and anti-tumorigenic activities of tubeimoside II are stronger than those of tubeimoside I, and the acute toxicity of tubeimoside II is lower than that of tubeimoside I; the anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and anti-tumorigenic activities of tubeimoside III are stronger than those of tubeimoside II, and the acute toxicity of tubeimoside III is also stronger than that of tubeimoside
