Triterpenoid saponins from Ilex mamillata CY Wu ex CJ Tseng

Two new triterpenoid saponins, ilemaminosides A and B (1 and 2) along with six known saponins (3-8) were isolated from 70% ethanolic extract of the leaves of Ilex mamillata C.Y. Wu ex C.J. Tseng. The new saponins were characterised as 3-O-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-ilexgenin B (1) and 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 -> 3)-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-ilexgenin B (2). The structures of compounds 1 and 2 were elucidated on the basis of the chemical and spectroscopic methods, and the structures of known compounds were identified by comparison of their spectroscopic data with those reported in the literature. The compounds showed inhibitory activities in anti-inflammatory assay in vitro with IC50 values in the range 25.37-38.33 mu gmL(-1).