Triterpene saponins of Genista ulicina Spach

Abstract : From the n-BuOH extract of the aerial parts of Genista ulicina, six triterpene saponins, 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-olean-12-ene-3β,27,28,30-tetraol, 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-olean-12-ene-3β,27,28,29-tetraol, 3,29-di-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-olean-12-ene-3β,27,28,29-tetraol, 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-olean-12-ene-3β,28,29-triol-27-oic acid, 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-olean-12-ene-3β,27,28-triol-29-oic acid, and 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-14-H-27-nor-olean-12-ene-3β,28,29-triol, were isolated together with eight known triterpene saponins and six flavonoids. Their structures were established mainly by means of spectroscopic methods (1D and 2D-NMR as well as HR-ESI-MS). The n-BuOH extract, investigated for its antitumor growth inhibition of human colon cancer HT-29 cells, presented no significant activity (IC50>100 μg).