New Dammarane-Type Triterpenoid Saponins from Panax notoginseng Leaves and Their Nitric Oxide Inhibitory Activities

Inflammation is a very common and important pathological process that can cause many diseases. The discovery of anti-inflammatory drugs and the treatment of inflammation are particularly essential. Dammarane-type triterpenoid saponins (PNS) were demonstrated to show anti-inflammatory effects in the leaves of Panax notoginseng. Chromatographies and spectral analysis methods were combined to isolate and identify PNS. Moreover, the nitric oxide (NO) inhibitory activities of all compounds were examined in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. As a result, eleven new dammarane-type triterpenoid saponins, notoginsenosides NL-A1–NL-A4 (1–4), NL-B1–NL-B3 (5–7), NL-C1–NL-C3 (8–10), and NL-D (11) were isolated, and their structures were identified by using various spectrometric techniques and chemical reactions. Among them, compounds 4 and 11 were characterized by the malonyl substitution at 3-position. The 3-malonyl substituted dammarane-type terpennoids were first obtained from natural products. In addition, compounds 1, 2, 5, 6, and 8–10 were found to play an important role in suppressing NO levels at 50 μM, without cytotoxicity. All inhibitory activities were found to be dose-dependent.