Cycloartane Triterpenes from the Aerial Parts of Actaea racemosa

J Nat Prod. 2016 Mar 25;79(3):541-54. doi: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.5b00927. Epub 2016 Jan 13.

Abstract

Investigating the phytochemical equivalence of the aerial parts of Actaea racemosa (syn. Cimicifuga racemosa) relative to the widely used roots/rhizomes, this study provides a perspective for the potential use of renewable ("green") plant parts as a source of black cohosh botanical preparations. In addition to the characterization of Nω-methylserotonin as one representative marker of the Actaea alkaloids, nine cycloartane triterpenes were isolated and characterized, including the two new triterpene glycosides (1S,15R)-1,15,25-trihydroxy-3-O-β-d-xylopyranosyl-acta-(16S,23R,24R)-16,23;16,24-binoxoside (1) and 3-O-α-l-arabinopyranosyl-(1S,24R)-1,24,25-trihydroxy-15-oxo-acta-(16R,23R)-16,23-monoxoside (2). Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic data interpretation. The relative configuration of 1 was deduced by (1)H iterative full-spin analysis (HiFSA), making it the first example of the complete analysis of the complex (1)H NMR spectrum of a triterpene glycoside. In addition to the new compounds 1 and 2, the aerial plant parts were shown to contain the previously known binoxosides 3, 4, 6, and 7, the monoxoside 8, and the binoxols 5 and 9. Overall, the metabolome of the aerial plant parts consists of a variety of Actaea triterpenes, similar to those found in roots/rhizomes, a tendency toward C-1 and C-7 hydroxylation of the cycloartanol skeleton, a greater abundance of aglycones, and the presence of comparable amounts of Nω-methylserotonin.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Actaea / chemistry
  • Alkaloids / chemistry
  • Alkaloids / isolation & purification*
  • Alkaloids / pharmacology
  • Cimicifuga / chemistry*
  • Glycosides / chemistry
  • Glycosides / isolation & purification*
  • Glycosides / pharmacology
  • Molecular Structure
  • Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular
  • Plant Components, Aerial / chemistry*
  • Rhizome / chemistry
  • Serotonin / analogs & derivatives
  • Serotonin / analysis
  • Stereoisomerism
  • Tennessee
  • Triterpenes / chemistry
  • Triterpenes / isolation & purification*
  • Triterpenes / pharmacology

Substances

  • (1S,15R)-1,15,25-trihydroxy-3-O-beta-d-xylopyranosyl-acta-(16S,23R,24R)-16,23;16,24-binoxoside
  • 3-O-alpha-l-arabinopyranosyl-(1S,24R)-1,24,25-trihydroxy-15-oxo-acta-(16R,23R)-16,23-monoxoside
  • Alkaloids
  • Glycosides
  • Triterpenes
  • N-methylserotonin
  • Serotonin
  • cycloartane