title: Anti-depressive activities and biotransformation of timosaponin B-III and its derivatives.
abstract: Timosaponin B-III (TB-III) is a steroidal saponin isolated from the rhizome of Anemarrhenae asphodeloides (Liliaceae). The biotransformation of TB-III by β-glucosidase was investigated. Three biotransformation products were isolated and their structures were identified as timosaponin B-III-a (M1), (20R,25S)-5β-spirostane-3β-ol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-β-D-galacopyanoside (M2) and timosaponin AIII (M3). Then the four compounds were evaluated for their anti-depressive activity in mice by the open field test, tail suspension test and forced swimming test. As a result, TB-III, M1 and M3 exhibited modest anti-depressive activity. Structure-activity relationships were investigated and the preliminary conclusions are summarised as follows: the glycosyl at C-3 and C-26 can increase the activity, the double bond between C-20 and C-22 might be important for the anti-depressive activity, the R-configuration at C-22 and S-configuration at C-20 are necessary for its anti-depressive activity.
authors.affiliation: a Harbin University of Commerce , Harbin 150076 , P.R. China.
authors.forename: WeiXin
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.forename: KaiCheng
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: ZhiXiong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: MingCang
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: ChengGang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001711:Biotransformation; D019668:Liliaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D051379:Mice; D015394:Molecular Structure; D027343:Rhizome / Q000737:chemistry; D012503:Saponins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013256:Steroids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D012503:Saponins; D013256:Steroids; C543146:timosaponin AIII; C553914:timosaponin BIII
keywords: anti-depressive activity; biotransformation; timosaponin B-III; β-glucosidase