Ginsenjilinol, a new protopanaxatriol-type saponin with inhibitory activity on LPS-activated NO production in macrophage RAW 264.7 cells from the roots and rhizomes of Panax ginseng

One new dammarane triterpene saponin named ginsenjilinol (1) was isolated from the roots and rhizomes of Panax ginseng C.A. Mey., together with two known saponins ginsenoside Rf (2) and ginsenoside Re5 ( = panajaponol A, 3). Based on IR, HR–ESI–MS, and 1D as well as 2D NMR (1H–1H COSY, NOESY, HSQC, and HMBC) spectral data, the chemical structure of the new saponin was elucidated as 3β,12β,20S,26-tetrahydroxydammar-24E-en-6α-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-O-β-d-glucopyranoside. The ability of the isolated saponins to inhibit nitric oxide production by lipopolysaccharide-activated RAW 264.7 cells was also assayed. All of the isolated saponins exhibited the significant activity in a concentration-dependent manner at concentrations of 60–200 μM with the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of 70.96 ± 2.05 μM for 1, 74.14 ± 2.65 μM for 2, and 79.83 ± 1.78 μM for 3, respectively, whereas indomethacin had an IC50 of 63.75 ± 3.33 μM as a positive control drug.