Phytochemical and Biological Investigations on Cephalaria anatolica

The aerial parts of Cephalariaanatolica yielded two previously undescribed hederagenin-type triterpene glycosides, namely cephosides B (1) and C (2), in addition to eleven known natural compounds. The new compounds were identified as 3-O-β- D -glucopyranosyl-(1 ® 3)- b - D -glucopyranosyl-(1 ® 3)-α- L -rhamnopyranosyl-(1 ® 2)-α- L -arabinopyranosyl hederagenin 28-O-β- D -galactopyranosyl-(1 ® 6)-β- D -glucopyranosyl ester (1) and 3-O-α- L -rhamnopyranosyl-(1 ® 4)- b - D -glucopyranosyl-( 1 ® 3)-α- L -rhamnopyranosyl-(1 ® 2)-α- L -arabinopyranosyl hederagenin 28-O-β- D -galactopyranosyl-(1 ® 6)-β- D -glucopyranosyl ester (2) by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data, HRESIMS analysis and chemical evidence. The two new triterpenoid saponins and the n-butanol extract were evaluated for their hemolytic activity in human erythrocyte cells and immunomodulatory properties in activated whole blood cells by PMA plus ionomycin. While only n-butanol extract increased IL-1β concentration strongly with a value of 760.52 pg/mL, cephoside C and n-butanol extract augmented a slight IFN-γ secretion with values of 4874.11 and 4750.20 pg/mL, respectively. None of the compounds changed IL-2 levels significantly and showed hemolytic activity.