Bioactive flavonoids and saponins from Climacoptera obtusifolia

Two bidesmosidic saponins were isolated from Climacoptera obtusifolia (Chenopodiaceae) and their structures were determined as gypsogenin 3-O-[beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->3)-beta-D-glucopyranoside]-28-O-{beta-D-glucopyranosyl} ester (1) and hederagenin 3-O-[beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->3)-beta-D-glucopyranoside]-28-O-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl} ester (2), by spectroscopic methods. Two known compounds, isorhamnetin 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (3), and isorhamnetin 3-O-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (4) were also isolated for the first time from this plant. Compounds 1-4 were tested in various immunomodulatory assays. Compound 2 suppressed (92%) the reactive oxygen species (ROS) production on mononuclear cells in luminol-based chemiluminescence (CL) assay at a higher concentration (50 microg/mL). Compounds 3 and 4 demonstrated a strong inhibition on ROS production in the oxidative burst activity of whole blood, neutrophils, and mononuclear cells. Additionally compounds 3 and 4 also suppressed PHA T-cell proliferation with no cytotoxic effects.