Antiviral, Haemolytic and Molluscicidal Activities of Triterpenoid Saponins from Maesa lanceolata: Establishment of Structure-Activity Relationships

Abstract

Ten saponins isolated from the leaves of Maesa lanceolata were tested for their antiviral, haemolytic and molluscicidal activities. The influence of the substitution pattern of these acylated triterpenoid saponins on their biological activities was investigated and structure-activity relationships were established. Maesasaponin VI₂ (3β-O-{[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-β-D-galactopyranosyl-(1 → 3)]-[β-D-galactopyranosyl-(1 → 2)]-β-D-glucopyranuronyl}-21β,22α-diangeloyloxy-13 β,28-epoxyolean-16α,28α-diol), the most potent molluscicidal compound (LC₅₀ 0.5 ppm), also showed virucidal and haemolytic activity. In general, 21,22-diacylation appeared to be associated with a virucidal (reduction factor of the viral titer ≥ 10³ at 50 μg/ml) and haemolytic activity (HC₅₀ ≤ 1 μg/ml).

Maesa lanceolata - triterpenoid saponins - saponin esters - antiviral activity - haemolytic activity - molluscicidal activity

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