Chemical components from Metapanax delavayi leaves and their anti-BHP activities in vitro

Two previously undescribed oleanane-type triterpene saponins named liangwanosides III-IV and one on described eudesmane glycoside named liangwanoside A were obtained from the leaves of Metapanax delavayi, a Chinese folk medicine especially for tea used in Yunnan, together with four known compounds. The structures of the undescribed compounds were determined by detailed spectroscopic (1D/2D NMR), HR-ESI-MS data analysis and chemical evidence. The activity against human benign prostate hyperplasia was evaluated with BPH-1 cell line. Most of the isolated compounds showed moderate inhibitory activity against BPH-1 cells at 100 and 50 mu M in vitro.