Two new sesquiterpene lactone glycosides from <i>Cnicus benedictus</i>

<p>Two new sesquiterpene lactone glycosides, namely melitensin 15-<i>O</i>-<i>β</i>-D-glucoside (<b>1</b>) and 11<i>β</i>,13-dihydrosalonitenolide 15-<i>O</i>-<i>β</i>-D-glucoside (<b>2</b>), along with eight known compounds (<b>3–10</b>) were isolated from the aerial part of <i>Cnicus benedictus</i> L. Their structures were elucidated from analyses of extensive spectroscopic data. Compounds <b>1–6</b> all possessed an <i>α</i>-methyl-<i>γ</i>-lactone moiety. Moreover, compound <b>5</b> exhibited moderate activity against the growth of <i>Aspergillus fumigatus</i>, with IC₅₀ values of 17.67 μg mL⁻¹.</p

Polyacetylenic Oleanane-Type Triterpene Saponins from the Roots of <i>Panax japonicus</i>

Three new polyacetylenic oleanane-type triterpenoids, baisanqisaponins A–C (<b>1</b>–<b>3</b>), and one new oleanane-type triterpenoid, chikusetsusaponin-V ethyl ester (<b>4</b>), together with 19 known compounds (<b>5</b>–<b>23</b>), were isolated from the roots of <i>Panax japonicus</i>. The structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analyses and chemical methods. Compounds <b>1</b>–<b>3</b> feature a rare panaxytriol group containing a polyacetylene on the saponin skeleton. Neuroprotective activity was evaluated for compounds <b>1</b>–<b>17</b>, and angiotensin II-induced vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation inhibition was tested for compounds <b>5</b>–<b>7</b> and <b>10</b>–<b>12</b>