Bioactive constituents from Chinese natural medicines.: XV.1) -: Inhibitory effect on aldose reductase and structures of saussureosides A and B from Saussurea medusa

The 80% aqueous acetone extract from the whole plant of Saussurea medusa MAXIM. was found to inhibit rat lens aldose reductase (IC50=1.4 mu g/ml). From this extract, flavonoids, lignans, and quinic acid derivatives were isolated together with two new ionone glycosides, saussureosides A and B. Their absolute stereostructures were elucidated on the basis of chemical and physicochemical evidence including the application of modified Mosher's method. In addition, some isolates were found to show an inhibitory effect on aldose reductase.