Bioactive 30-Noroleanane Triterpenes from the Pericarps of Akebia trifoliata

Abstract

Two new 30-noroleanane triterpenes, 2α,3β,20α-trihydroxy-30-norolean-12-en-28-oic acid (1), 2α,3β-dihydroxy-23-oxo-30-norolean-12,20(29)-dien-28-oic acid (2), were isolated from the pericarps of Akebia trifoliata, together with four known ones, 3β-akebonoic acid (3), 2α,3β-dihydroxy-30-noroleana-12,20(29)-dien-28-oic acid (4), 3α-akebonoic acid (5) and quinatic acid (6). Their structures were established on the basis of detailed spectroscopic analysis, and they were all isolated from the pericarps of A. trifoliata for the first time. Compounds 3−6 showed in vitro bacteriostatic activity against four assayed Gram-positive bacterial strains. In particular 3 showed antibacterial activity toward MRSA with a MIC value 25 μg/mL, which was more potent than kanamycin (MIC 125 μg/mL). No compounds showed antibacterial activity toward the three Gram-negative bacteria tested. Compounds 4 and 5 showed interesting in vitro growth inhibitory activity against human tumor A549 and HeLa cell lines, with IC₅₀ values ranging from 8.8 and 5.6 μM, respectively. Compounds 1, 2, 5 and 6 were further revealed to show significant in vitro α-glucosidase inhibitory activity with IC₅₀ values from 0.035 to 0.367 mM, which were more potent than the reference compound acarbose (IC₅₀ 0.409 mM).

1. Introduction

Akebia trifoliata (Thunb.) Koidz., belonging to the family Lardizabalaceae, is a perennial, woody liana mainly distributed in the eastern part of Asia [1]. The fruit of A. trifoliata, commonly called ‘Bayuezha’ in China, has long been consumed by the local people as a delicious food [2]. The air-dried stems and fruits of A. trifoliata have also traditionally been used in China as an antiphlogistic, antineoplastic and diuretic agent for hundreds of years [3,4]. Previously, phytochemical studies have revealed many triterpenes and triterpene saponins from A. trifoliata [5,6,7], and phenolics and lignans were also reported from this species [8,9]. However, those studies were mainly concentrated on the stems and seldom focused on the pericarps, although it is highly possible that the pericarps of A. trifoliata would be a promising source of functional bioactive natural products [10,11,12]. Very recently, a phytochemical study revealed fifteen compounds, including eleven noroleanane triterpenoids from a methanol extract of pericarps of A. trifoliata [13], suggesting noroleanane triterpenoids to be characteristic in the pericarps of this species. Noroleanane triterpenoids are a group of novel natural products bearing skeletons with one or two carbons missing from the basic oleanane skeleton, which are so far only discovered in a small group of plants and some of them have been revealed to show significant bioactivities [14]. With the aim of clarifying the uncharacterized bioactive compounds in the pericarps of A. trifoliata, a phytochemical study on the pericarps of this species was carried out, whereby two new (compounds 1–2) and four known 30-noroleanane triterpenes (compounds 3–6) were obtained (Figure 1). Herein reported are the isolation and structure elucidation of these compounds, as well as their bacteriostatic, cytotoxic and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities.

Figure 1. Chemical structures of compounds 1−6.

Figure 1. Chemical structures of compounds 1−6.

2. Results and Discussion

Compound 1 was obtained as a white, amorphous powder. Positive mode HRESIMS indicated a molecular formula of C₂₉H₄₆O₅ ([M+Na]⁺ m/z 497.3235, calcd. 497.3237), implying seven degrees of unsaturation. The ¹H-NMR spectrum of 1 (Table 1) showed signals readily recognized for six tertiary methyl groups at δ 1.32 (3H, Me-29), 1.06 (3H, Me-27), 1.03 (3H, Me-23), 0.82 (3H, Me-25), 0.81 (3H, Me-24) and 0.76 (3H, Me-26). In addition, proton signals for two oxymethines at δ 3.77 (1H, H-2) and 3.09 (1H, H-3), and an olefinic proton at δ 5.26 (1H, H-12) were also observed. The ¹³C-NMR and DEPT spectra (Table 1) of 1 supported the above analysis, which showed 29 carbons including six methyls (δ_C 29.2, 17.6, 16.7, 17.4, 25.9 and 25.6), nine methylenes, six methines [including one olefinic methine at δ 122.5 (C-12), two oxy-methines at δ 68.5 (C-2) and 83.7 (C-3)], and eight quaternary carbons [including an olefinic quaternary carbon at δ 144.3 (C-13), a carboxyl carbon at δ 179.9 (C-28), and an oxy-quaternary carbon at δ 69.8 (C-20)]. These above findings accounted for two of the seven degrees of unsaturation, suggesting that 1 is a pentacyclic nortriterpenoid. Comparison of the NMR data of 1 with those of maslinic acid indicated that they were structurally closely related, with the major difference of a germinal methyl group attached at C-20 in maslinic acid being replaced by a hydroxyl group in 1 [15]. This assignment was consistent with the molecular formula of 1 and in accord with the significant change of the chemical shift value for C-20 from δ_C 30.8 in maslinic acid to δ_C 69.7 in 1. The location of the hydroxyl group at C-20 was furhter supported by HMBC correlations from δ_H 1.32 (H₃-29) to δ_C 47.6 (C-19), 69.8 (C-20), 36.1 (C-21) and from δ_H 1.75 (H₂-22) to C-20. In the NOESY spectrum, the important NOE correlation between Me-29 (δ_H 1.32) and H-18 (δ_H 2.98) was observed, which supported the hydroxyl group at C-20 was α-orientation (Figure 2). In addition, the HMBC correlations (Figure 3) from δ_H 1.75 (H-22) and 2.98 (H-18) to δ_C 179.9 (C-28) supported the location of the carboxyl group at C-17. The HMBC correlations from δ_H 5.26 (H-12) to δ_C 42.1 (C-14), 44.3 (C-18) and 47.9 (C-9) supported the location of double bond at C-12(13). The HMBC correlations from δ_H 3.77 (H-2) to δ_C 47.7 (C-1) and δ_C 83.7 (C-3), and from δ_H 3.09 (H-3) to δ_C 47.7 (C-1), 68.5 (C-2), 39.7 (C-4), 29.2 (C-23) and 17.6 (C-24) supported that each of C-2 and C-3 was attached with a hydroxyl group.

Table 1. ¹H-NMR and ¹³C-NMR data for compounds 1 and 2, δ in ppm and J in Hz.

No.	δC (1)	δH (1)	δC (2)	δH (2)
1	47.7 CH2	1.95 (dd, 11.8, 3.7), 0.97 (m)	47.8 CH2	2.29 (dd, 12.0, 4.2), 1.41 (m)
2	68.5 CH	3.77 (td, 11.8, 9.5, 3.7)	67.9 CH	4.24 (td, 12.0, 9.3, 4.2)
3	83.7 CH	3.09 (d, 9.5)	77.0 CH	4.06 (d, 9.3)
4	39.7 C	―	56.5 C	―
5	55.8 CH	0.77 (m)	47.9 CH	1.64 (dd, 10.5, 1.8)
6	18.7 CH2	1.41 (m), 1.23 (m)	20.5 CH2	1.50 (m), 1.10 (m)
7	33.1 CH2	1.34 (m), 1.13 (m)	32.3 CH2	1.51 (m), 1.21 (m)
8	39.7 C	―	39.7 C	―
9	47.9 CH	1.53 (m)	47.8 CH	1.89 (m)
10	38.4 C	―	38.2 C	―
11	23.8 CH2	2.03 (m), 1.75 (m)	23.6 CH2	2.07 (d, 11.1), 1.97 (dd, 11,1, 3.4)
12	122.5 CH	5.26 (t, 3.2)	122.5 CH	5.48 (t, 3.4)
13	144.3 C	―	144.1 C	―
14	42.1 C	―	42.0 C	―
15	28.2 CH2	1.86 (m), 0.98 (m)	28.1 CH2	2.17 (m), 1.99 (m)
16	23.7 CH2	2.03 (m), 1.76 (m)	23.7 CH2	2.18 (m), 1.93 (m)
17	46.6 C	―	46.9 C	―
18	44.3 CH	2.98 (dd, 14.0, 3.7)	47.4 CH	3.23 (dd, 13.5, 4.6)
19	47.6 CH2	2.10 (bt, 14.0), 1.57 (m)	41.8 CH2	2.64 (bt, 13.5), 2.25 (m)
20	69.8 C	―	148.9 C	―
21	36.1 CH2	1.73 (m), 1.57 (m)	30.2 CH2	2.30 (m), 2.20 (m)
22	35.0 CH2	1.75 (m, overlap)	38.3 CH2	2.13 (m), 1.93 (m)
23	29.2 CH3	1.03 (s)	206.3 CH	9.67 (s)
24	17.6 CH3	0.81 (s)	10.6 CH3	1.43 (s)
25	16.7 CH3	0.82 (s)	16.9 CH3	1.00 (s)
26	17.4 CH3	0.76 (s)	17.2 CH3	0.96 (s)
27	25.9 CH3	1.06 (s)	26.0 CH3	1.23 (s)
28	179.9 C	―	179.4 C	―
29	25.6 CH3	1.32 (s)	107.0 CH2	4.77 (s), 4.81 (s)

Recorded in pydine-d₅ at 600 MHz for ¹H-NMR, 150 MHz for ¹³C-NMR.

Table 1. ¹H-NMR and ¹³C-NMR data for compounds 1 and 2, δ in ppm and J in Hz.

No.	δC (1)	δH (1)	δC (2)	δH (2)
1	47.7 CH2	1.95 (dd, 11.8, 3.7), 0.97 (m)	47.8 CH2	2.29 (dd, 12.0, 4.2), 1.41 (m)
2	68.5 CH	3.77 (td, 11.8, 9.5, 3.7)	67.9 CH	4.24 (td, 12.0, 9.3, 4.2)
3	83.7 CH	3.09 (d, 9.5)	77.0 CH	4.06 (d, 9.3)
4	39.7 C	―	56.5 C	―
5	55.8 CH	0.77 (m)	47.9 CH	1.64 (dd, 10.5, 1.8)
6	18.7 CH2	1.41 (m), 1.23 (m)	20.5 CH2	1.50 (m), 1.10 (m)
7	33.1 CH2	1.34 (m), 1.13 (m)	32.3 CH2	1.51 (m), 1.21 (m)
8	39.7 C	―	39.7 C	―
9	47.9 CH	1.53 (m)	47.8 CH	1.89 (m)
10	38.4 C	―	38.2 C	―
11	23.8 CH2	2.03 (m), 1.75 (m)	23.6 CH2	2.07 (d, 11.1), 1.97 (dd, 11,1, 3.4)
12	122.5 CH	5.26 (t, 3.2)	122.5 CH	5.48 (t, 3.4)
13	144.3 C	―	144.1 C	―
14	42.1 C	―	42.0 C	―
15	28.2 CH2	1.86 (m), 0.98 (m)	28.1 CH2	2.17 (m), 1.99 (m)
16	23.7 CH2	2.03 (m), 1.76 (m)	23.7 CH2	2.18 (m), 1.93 (m)
17	46.6 C	―	46.9 C	―
18	44.3 CH	2.98 (dd, 14.0, 3.7)	47.4 CH	3.23 (dd, 13.5, 4.6)
19	47.6 CH2	2.10 (bt, 14.0), 1.57 (m)	41.8 CH2	2.64 (bt, 13.5), 2.25 (m)
20	69.8 C	―	148.9 C	―
21	36.1 CH2	1.73 (m), 1.57 (m)	30.2 CH2	2.30 (m), 2.20 (m)
22	35.0 CH2	1.75 (m, overlap)	38.3 CH2	2.13 (m), 1.93 (m)
23	29.2 CH3	1.03 (s)	206.3 CH	9.67 (s)
24	17.6 CH3	0.81 (s)	10.6 CH3	1.43 (s)
25	16.7 CH3	0.82 (s)	16.9 CH3	1.00 (s)
26	17.4 CH3	0.76 (s)	17.2 CH3	0.96 (s)
27	25.9 CH3	1.06 (s)	26.0 CH3	1.23 (s)
28	179.9 C	―	179.4 C	―
29	25.6 CH3	1.32 (s)	107.0 CH2	4.77 (s), 4.81 (s)

Recorded in pydine-d₅ at 600 MHz for ¹H-NMR, 150 MHz for ¹³C-NMR.

Figure 2. Important NOESY correlations of compounds 1 and 2.

Figure 2. Important NOESY correlations of compounds 1 and 2.

Figure 3. Selected HMBC correlations of compounds 1 and 2.

Figure 3. Selected HMBC correlations of compounds 1 and 2.

The NOE correlations of H-2 with Me-24 (δ_H 0.81) and Me-25 (δ_H 0.82), and the large proton spin-coupling constant of H-3 (³J_H-2,H-3 = 9.5 Hz) further supported that the hydroxyl groups at C-2 and C-3 were α- and β-orientation, respectively [5]. Therefore, 1 was unambiguously identified as 2α,3β,20α-trihydroxy-30-norolean-12-en-28-oic acid.

Compound 2 was obtained as a white amorphous powder with molecular formula C₂₉H₄₂O₅ as determined by HRESIMS. The ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR data (see Table 1) suggested that 2 is also a pentacyclic nortriterpenoid. Careful analysis of the ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR spectra indicated that 2 closely resembled 2α,3β-dihydroxy-30-noroleana-12,20(29)-dien-28-oic acid [5], a literature reported noroleanane triterpenoid which was also obtained in this study as compound 4. Except that the resonances for the methyl group at C-23 in 4 were replaced by signals [δ_H 9.67 (1H, s, H-23); δ_C 206.3 (C-23)] for an aldehyde group in 2. These findings led to establish the structure of 2 as shown in Figure 1, which was well supported by the 2D NMR data. In the HMBC spectrum, the ¹H−¹³C long-range correlations from δ_H 9.67 (1H, H-23) to δ_C 10.6 (C-24), and from δ_H 4.06 (1H, H-3) to δ_C 206.3 (C-23) and 10.6 (C-24) were observed, which confirmed the attachment of the aldehyde group at C-4 (Figure 3). The HMBC correlations from δ_H 4.24 (1H, H-2) to δ_C 76.9 (C-3), and from δ_H 4.06 (1H, H-3) to δ_C 67.9 (C-2), 56.5 (C-4), 206.3 (C-23) and 10.6 (C-24), and the large proton spin-coupling constant of H-3 (³J_H-2,H-3 = 9.3 Hz) supported the β- and α-orientation of the hydroxyls at C-3 and C-2, respectively [5]. The HMBC correlations from H₂-29 (δ_H 4.81, 4.77) to C-19 (δ_C 41.8) and C-21 (δ_C 30.2) confirmed the exocyclic double bond at C-20(29). The α-orientation of the aldehyde group at C-4 was evidenced by significant NOE correlations in the NOESY spectrum of H-23 (δ_H 9.67) with H-3 (δ_H 4.06) and H-5 (δ_H 1.64), and of H-2 with H₃-24 (δ_H 1.43) and H₃-25 (δ_H 1.00) (Figure 2). Therefore, compound 2 was determined as 2α,3β-dihydroxy-23-oxo-30-norolean-12,20(29)-dien-28-oic acid.

The four known compounds were identified as 3β-akebonoic acid (3) [16], 2α,3β-dihydroxy-30-noroleana-12,20(29)-dien-28-oic acid (4) [5], 3α-akebonoic acid (5) [16] and quinatic acid (6) [17] by comparison of their spectral data (¹H and ¹³C-NMR and MS) to those reported in the literature. They were all reported here from the pericarps of A. trifoliata for the first time.

The in vitro antibacterial activity of the six isolated compounds against four Gram-positive bacteria [St. aureus (CMCC26003), B. cereus (CMCC63302), B. subtilis (CMCC63501) and MRSA] and three Gram-negative bacteria [E. coli (CMCC44102), Sa. typhimurium (CMCC44102) and Sh. dysenteriae (CMCC51252)] were evaluated using a microdilution titre assay as described in the Experimental section. As shown in Table 2, compound 3 displayed the best in vitro bacteriostatic activity against all the Gram positive bacteria assayed with MICs from 12.5 to 25 μg/mL. Compounds 4, 5 and 6 showed bacteriostatic activity against B. cereus CMCC63302 and B. subtilis CMCC63501 with MICs of 50 and 25, of 25 and 50, and of 50 and 12.5 μg/mL, respectively. Neither compound showed antibacterial activity toward the three assayed Gram-negative bacteria strains (MICs > 200 μg/mL). It is noteworthy that compound 3 showed bacteriostatic activity against MRSA with MIC 25 μg/mL, which was much stronger than reference compound of Kanamycin sulfate (MIC 125 μg/mL). MRSA, firstly reported as a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in the U.K. in 1961, is now a multidrug-resistant strain responsible for a rapidly increasing number of serious infectious diseases throughout the world, which is lacking of effective antimicrobial agents for the control and therapy for its infection.

Table 2. MIC values of compounds 1–6 in μg/mL against seven bacterial strains.

Bacteria	1	2	3	4	5	6	K	C
S. aureus (CMCC26003)	>200	>200	25	200	>200	>200	1.9	50
MRSA	>200	>200	25	200	>200	>200	125	>200
B. cereus (CMCC63302)	>200	>200	25	50	25	50	3.9	200
B. subtilis (CMCC63501)	>200	>200	12.5	25	50	12.5	3.9	200
E. coli (CMCC44102)	>200	>200	>200	>200	>200	>200	3.9	12.5
S. typhimurium (CMCC44102)	>200	>200	>200	>200	>200	>200	3.9	12.5
S. dysenteriae (CMCC51252)	>200	>200	>200	>200	>200	>200	3.9	12.5

K = kanamycin sulfate, C = cefradine.

Table 2. MIC values of compounds 1–6 in μg/mL against seven bacterial strains.

Bacteria	1	2	3	4	5	6	K	C
S. aureus (CMCC26003)	>200	>200	25	200	>200	>200	1.9	50
MRSA	>200	>200	25	200	>200	>200	125	>200
B. cereus (CMCC63302)	>200	>200	25	50	25	50	3.9	200
B. subtilis (CMCC63501)	>200	>200	12.5	25	50	12.5	3.9	200
E. coli (CMCC44102)	>200	>200	>200	>200	>200	>200	3.9	12.5
S. typhimurium (CMCC44102)	>200	>200	>200	>200	>200	>200	3.9	12.5
S. dysenteriae (CMCC51252)	>200	>200	>200	>200	>200	>200	3.9	12.5

K = kanamycin sulfate, C = cefradine.

These compounds were also tested for their in vitro cytotoxicity against three human tumor cell lines, A549 (human lung adenocarcinoma), HeLa (human cervical carcinoma) and HepG2 (human liver hepatocellular carcinoma), using the MTT method as described. The resulting IC₅₀ values are displayed in Table 3. Compounds 4 and 5 showed interesting cytotoxicity against A549 and HeLa cell lines, with IC₅₀ values 8.8 and 5.6 μM, respectively. Compound 3 also showed cytotoxic activity (IC₅₀ 49.48, 28.63 and 52.89 μM) against the three tested tumor cell lines, but it was weaker than 4 and 5. New compounds 1–2 and compound 6 did not exhibit cytotoxic activity (IC₅₀ > 100 μM) in this bioassay. It could be deduced that the exocyclic double bond at C-20(29) might be an important active center for this type of nortriterpenoids to “maintain” their potential cytotoxicity, based on comparison of the structures and activities of 1 to 4. Comparison of the chemical structures of 3 and 4 versus 5 indicated that the α-orientation of the hydroxyl group at C-3 could strengthen the cytotoxic activity of this type of nortriterpenoids, while the α-hydroxyl group at C-2 seems not necessary. Moreover, a negative effect on the cytotoxicity was evident when Me-23 was oxidized (i.e., replaced by an -CHO group), as supported by analyzing the structure-active relationship of 2 and 4.

Table 3. Cytotoxicity of compounds 1–6 (IC₅₀, µM).

Compounds	A549	HeLa	HepG2
1	>100	>100	>100
2	>100	>100	>100
3	49.48 ± 8.64	28.63 ± 7.41	52.89 ± 5.28
4	8.770 ± 0.59	16.33 ± 0.12	14.28 ± 0.49
5	10.59 ± 0.69	5.61 ± 0.00	10.39 ± 1.17
6	>100	>100	>100
Adriamycin	0.69 ± 0.07	0.47 ± 0.06	1.22 ± 0.02

Values represent mean ± SD (n = 3) based on three individual experiments.

Table 3. Cytotoxicity of compounds 1–6 (IC₅₀, µM).

Compounds	A549	HeLa	HepG2
1	>100	>100	>100
2	>100	>100	>100
3	49.48 ± 8.64	28.63 ± 7.41	52.89 ± 5.28
4	8.770 ± 0.59	16.33 ± 0.12	14.28 ± 0.49
5	10.59 ± 0.69	5.61 ± 0.00	10.39 ± 1.17
6	>100	>100	>100
Adriamycin	0.69 ± 0.07	0.47 ± 0.06	1.22 ± 0.02

Values represent mean ± SD (n = 3) based on three individual experiments.

Compounds 1, 2, 5 and 6 were further tested for their α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. The results are listed in Table 4, with acarbose used as a reference compound. Compound 5 showed the best α-glucosidase inhibitory activity with IC₅₀ value 0.035 mM, which was about twelve-fold stronger than acarbose (IC₅₀ 0.409 mM). Compound 6 showed significant α-glucosidase inhibitory activity with IC₅₀ value (0.10 mM) about four-fold stronger than the reference compound. Though the α-glucosidase inhibitory activities of 1 and 2 (IC₅₀ 0.367 and 0.220 mM, respectively) were inferior to 5 and 6, they were still more potent than acarbose. These results indicated that 30-noroleanane triterpenes in the pericarps of A. trifoliata were effective α-glucosidase inhibitors promising to be developed as effective and safe hypoglycemic agents for diabetes chemotherapy [18].

Table 4. α-Glucosidase inhibitory activity of compounds 1, 2, 5 and 6.

Compounds	IC50 (mM)
1	0.367 ± 0.003
2	0.220 ± 0.004
5	0.035 ± 0.002
6	0.100 ± 0.001
Acarbose	0.409 ± 0.006

Values represent mean ± SD (n = 3) based on three individual experiments.

Table 4. α-Glucosidase inhibitory activity of compounds 1, 2, 5 and 6.

Compounds	IC50 (mM)
1	0.367 ± 0.003
2	0.220 ± 0.004
5	0.035 ± 0.002
6	0.100 ± 0.001
Acarbose	0.409 ± 0.006

Values represent mean ± SD (n = 3) based on three individual experiments.

3. Experimental

3.1. General Information

Optical rotation were measured on a Perkin-Elmer 341 polarimeter (Perkin- Elmer, Waltham, MA, USA) with MeOH as solvent at the wavelength of 589 nm and 20 °C to gain their specific optical rotation [α] values after calculation. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra were recorded on a Bruker Advance 600 NMR spectrometer (Bruker Biospin corporation, Billerica, MA, USA), Bruker advance 500M NMR spectrometer (Bruker) and a Bruker DRX-400 NMR spectrometer (Bruker Biospin, Rheistetten, Germany) with the solvent residual peaks of δ_H 7.22, 7.58, 8.74 and δ_C 123.4, 135.4, 149.7 for pyridine-d₅, and δ_H 2.50 and δ_C 39.5 for DMSO-d₆. HR-ESI-MS mass spectra were obtained on a Bruker maXis instrument (Bruker Daltonik GmbH, Bremen, Germany) in a positive ion mode after direct injection of the test solutions. ESI-MS data were obtained using a MDS SCIEX API 2000 LC/MS/MS system (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA, USA) in both positive and negative ion modes in the range of m/z 50–1000 after the test solutions were directly injected into the ESI source by a syringe pump. Preparative HPLC was carried out on a CXTH P3000 HPLC pump and a UV 3000 UV-Vis Detector with a Fuji-C18 column (10 um–100 A, ChuangXinTongHeng Science And Technology Co., Ltd, Beijing, China); the Performance of MPLC (medium pressure liquid chromatography) is a CXTH P3000 HPLC pump, a UV 3000 UV-Vis Detector and a C18 column (400 × 25 mM i.d, 50 μM, YMC Co. Ltd., Kyoto, Japan).

Column chromatography (CC) was performed with silica gel (80–100 and 200–300 mesh, Qingdao Haiyang Chemical Co., Qingdao, China), YMC ODS-A (50 μm, YMC Co. Ltd., Kyoto, Japan), Sephadex LH-20 (Pharmacia Fine Chemical Co. Ltd., Uppsala, Sweden), MCI gel CHP 20P (75–150 μM, Mitsubishi Chemical Corp., Tokyo, Japan). Analytical grade petroleum ether (b.p. 60–90 °C), methanol, ethyl acetate, chloroform, n-butanol, acetone were purchased from Tianjin Fuyu Fine Chemical Industry Co. (Tianjin, China); HPLC grade methanol was purchased from J&K Chemical Ltd. (Beijing, China); Fraction were monitored by precoated HSGF₂₅₄ TLC (Yantai Jiangyou Silica Gel Co. Ltd, Yantai, China), and spot detection was performed under fluorescent light (λ = 254 nm), and then spraying 10% H₂SO₄ in ethanol, followed by heating. Kanamycin sulfate, resazurin, pyridine-d₅, DMSO-d₆, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and α-glucosidase were purchased from Sigma Chemical Co. (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA). Roswell Park Memorial Institute (RPMI)-1640 medium and fetal calf serum were purchased from Gibco BRL (Gaithersburg, MD, USA). Adriamycin was obtained from Pfizer Italia SRL (Roma, Italy). p-Nitrophenyl-α-d-glucopyranoside (PNPG) and acarbose were obtained from Tokyo Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan).

3.2. Plant Materials

The pericarps of Akebia trifoliata were collected in September 2009, at Liye of Longshan, Hunan Province, China, identified by Prof. Fu-Wu Xing at South China Botanical Garden, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). A voucher specimen (No. 20090920) was deposited at the Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry of the South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

3.3. Extraction and Isolation

Air-dried pericarps of Akebia trifoliata (3 kg) were powdered and extracted three times (3 days each) with 95% EtOH (9 L × 3) at room temperature (25–32 °C). The concentration of the solution under vacuum gave a reddish solid. Then, the resulting residue was suspended in H₂O (1.5 L) and successively partitioned with petroleum ether (1.5 L × 3) and ethyl acetate (1.5 L × 3) to afford petroleum ether-soluble (40.0 g) and EtOAc-soluble (180 g) fractions after condensation to dryness in vacuo. The petroleum ether-soluble fraction was subjected to silica gel column chromatography (1000 × 105 mM i.d.) using a gradient system of petroleum ether-acetone (100:0, 20:1, 10:1, 5:1, 2:1, 1:1, 0:100, v/v, each 1.5 L) to give nine fractions (E₁-E₉) after pooled according to their TLC profiles. E₃ (0.45 g) was repeatedly chromatographied on Sephadex LH-20 column (1550 × 13.4 mM i.d.) eluted with acetone to yield compound 5 (6.5 mg). E₄ (1.7 g) was purified on silica gel column chromatography (1000 × 105 mM i.d.) using petroleum ether-acetone (10:1, 9:1, 8:1, 7:1, 6:1, v/v, each 250 mL) as elution system, and then further purified by using MPLC eluted with MeOH-H₂O (95:5, v/v) to yield compound 3 (2.2 mg). E₇ (1.8 g) and E₈ (2 g) were passed through a MCI gel column (200 × 40 mM i.d.) for depigmentation. The resultant methanolic eluate (0.9 g) of E₇ was sequentially separated by MPLC eluted with a gradient of methanol in water (75:25, 80:20, 85:15, 90:10, 100:0, v/v, each 70 mL), and by Sephadex LH-20 column (1550 × 13.4 mM i.d.) chromatography eluted with MeOH, and silica gel CC using CHCl₃-MeOH (98:2, v/v) elution to obtain compounds 2 (4 mg) and compound 4 (2.0 mg). The resultant methanolic eluate (1.1 g) of E₈ was sequentially separated by MPLC eluted with a gradient of methanol in water (60:0, 70:30, 80:20, 90:10, 100:0, v/v, each 100 mL) to give eight fractions (E_8-1-E_8-8). The EtOAc-soluble fraction was subjected to silica gel CC (1000 × 105 mM i.d.) using a gradient of CHCl₃-MeOH (97:3, 90:10, 85:15, 70:30, 60:40, 0:100, v/v, each 3 L) to give ten fractions (F₁-F₆). Fraction F₃ (6.8 g), obtained by elution CHCl₃-MeOH (85:15, v/v), was further subjected to silica gel CC (800 × 50 mM i.d.) and successively eluted with CHCl₃-MeOH (98:2, 95:5, 90:10, v/v, each 0.5 L) to yield six sub-fractions (F_5-1–F_5-6), Sub-fraction F_5-3 (1.6 g) was separated by MPLC using MeOH-H₂O (60:40, 70:30, 80:20, 90:10, 100:0, v/v, each 350 mL) at a flow rate of 10 mL/min, and further purified by Sephadex LH-20 column (1550 × 13.4 mM i.d.) chromatography eluted with MeOH to obtain compound 6 (9 mg). Fraction F₅ (20.5 g), obtained by elution CHCl₃-MeOH (60:40, v/v), was further subjected to silica gel CC (1000 × 105 mM i.d.), and successively eluted with CHCl₃-MeOH (90:10, 80:20, 70:30, 60:40, v/v, each 1.5 L) to obtain six sub-fractions (F_5-1-F_5-6). F_5-3 (10 g) was separated by MPLC, and eluted with MeOH-H₂O (70:30, v/v) to yield compound 1 (5 mg).

2α,3β,20α-Trihydroxy-30-norolean-12-en-28-oic acid (1). White amorphous powder. +106.4 (c 0.70, MeOH). IR (KBr) ν_max 3428, 2939, 2873, 1699, 1459, 1380, 1286, 1450, 1116, 1047 cm⁻¹. ESI-MS (+) m/z: 497 [M+Na]+, 971 [2M+Na]+; ESI-MS (−) m/z: 473 [M−H]^–, 947 [2M−H]^–;. HR-ESI-MS m/z: 497.3235 [M+Na]+ (calcd for C29H46NaO5, 497.3237). For ¹H-NMR (600 MHz, C₅D₅N) and ¹³C-NMR (150 MHz, C₅D₅N) data, see Table 1.

2α,3β-Dihydroxy-23-oxo-30-norolean-12,20(29)-dien-28-oic acid (2). White amorphous powder. +190.0 (c 0.17, MeOH); IR (KBr) ν_max 3413, 2935, 2861, 1720, 1689, 1456, 1384, 1292, 1220, 1054 cm⁻¹. ESI-MS (+) m/z: 493 [M+Na]⁺, ESI-MS (−) m/z: 469 [M−H]^–. HR-ESI-MS m/z: 493.2922 [M+Na]⁺ (calcd for C₂₉H₄₂NaO₅, 493.2924). For ¹H-NMR (600 MHz, C₅D₅N) and ¹³C-NMR (150 MHz, C₅D₅N) data, see Table 1.

3.4. Antibacterial Assay

The bacteriostatic activity of compounds 1–6 were monitored according to the method of Rahman with slight modifications [19]. Briefly, indicator solution (100 μL, resazurin in sterile water, 100 μg/mL) was first placed into each of the sterility control wells (11th column) on the 96 well plates, and indicator solution (about 7.5 mL, 100 μg/mL) was mixed with test organism (5 mL, 10⁶ cfu/mL, OD₆₀₀ = 0.07) followed by transferring (100 μL, each) to growth control wells (12th column) and all test wells (1–10th column). Then, each of 100 μL of the test samples in beef extract peptone medium, the positive control solution were prepared by adding kanamycin sulfate and cefradine instead of the samples and the negative control solution (3% DMSO of beef extract peptone medium) were applied to the wells in the 1st column of the plates. Once all samples and controls were properly applied to the 1st column of wells on the plate, half of the homogenized content (100 μL) from these wells was then parallel transferred to the 2nd column of wells, and each subsequent well was treated similarly (doubling dilution) up to the 10th column, followed by discarding the last 100 μL aliquot. Finally, the plates were incubated at 37 °C for 5–6 h until the color of growth control change to pink. The lowest concentration for each test compound at which color change occurred was recorded as the MIC value of the test compound. The Gram-(+) bacteria, Staphyloccocus aureus (CMCC26003), Bacillus cereus (CMCC63302) and Bacillus subtilis (CMCC63501), and Gram-(‒) bacteria Escherichia coli (CMCC44102), Salmonella typhimurium (CMCC44102) and Shigella dysenteriae (CMCC51252) were obtained from the Guangdong Institute of Microbiology (Guangzhou, China). The multi-drug resistant Staphyloccocus aureus (MRSA) was kindly provided by Dr. Wei, X.Y. (South China Botanical Garden).

3.5. Cytotoxic Assay

Compounds 1−6 were evaluated for their cytotoxicity against three human cancer cell lines, human lung adenocarcinoma (A549), human cervical carcinoma (HeLa) and human liver hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2). The three tumor cell lines were generously provided by Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. The cytotoxic activities of the tested compounds were assayed according to the MTT method by using 96 well plates [20]. Briefly, the cells were cultured in RPMI-1640 medium, supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum in a humidified atmosphere with 5% CO₂ at 37 °C. One hundred μL of adherent cells at the density of 5 × 10⁴ cell/mL was seeded into each well of 96-well cell culture plates and incubated in 5% CO₂ at 37 °C for 24 h to form a monolayer on the flat bottoms. Then, removed the supernatant per well and subsequently added with 100 μL of fresh medium and 100 μL of medium containing a test compound. The plate was then incubated in 5% CO₂at 37 °C. After 72 h, 20 μL of 5 mg/mL MTT in DMSO was added into each well and incubated for 4 h. The supernatant per well was carefully removed and 150 μL of DMSO was added. The plate was then vortex shaken for 15 min to dissolve blue formazan crystals. The optical density (OD) of each well was measured on a Genois microplate reader (Tecan GENios, Männedorf, Switzerland) at the wavelength of 570 nm. All experiments were performed in triplicate and adriamycin was used as a positive control. In each experiment, each of the tumor cell lines was exposed to the test compound at concentrations of 50, 25, 12.5, 6.25, 3.125, 1.5625 µg/mL. The inhibitory rate of cell growth was calculated according to the following formula: Inhibition rate (%) = (OD_control− OD_treated)/OD_control× 100%. IC₅₀ values were calculated by SPSS 16.0 statistic software. The values were based on three individual experiments and expressed as means ± standard deviation (SD).

3.6. α-Glucosidase Inhibition Assay

The a-glucosidase inhibitory activity of 1, 2, 5 and 6 were determined spectrophotometrically in a 96-well microtiter plate based on p-nitrophenyl-α-d-glucopyranoside (PNPG) as a substrate following the method described in the literature with slight modifications [21,22]. In brief, α-glucosidase (20 μL, 0.8 U/mL) and various concentrations (500, 250, 125, 62.5, 31.25, 15.625 µg/mL) of tested compounds (120 μL) in 67 mM phosphate buffer (pH 6.8) were mixed at room temperature for 10 min. Reactions were initiated by addition of 5.0 mM PNPG (20 μL). The reaction mixture was incubated for 15 min at 37 °C in a final volume of 160 μL. Then, 0.2 M Na₂CO₃ (80 μL) was added to the incubation solution to stop the reaction. The activities were detected in a 96-well plate, and the absorbance was determined at 405 nm (for p-nitrophenol). The negative blank was set by adding phosphate buffer instead of the sample via the same way as the test. Acarbose was utilized as positive control. The blank was set by adding phosphate buffer instead of the α-glucosidase using the same method. Inhibition rate (%) = [(OD_{negative control}− OD_blank) − (OD_test − OD_{test blank})]/(OD_{negative blank}− OD_blank) × 100%. IC₅₀ values of the samples were calculated using the Microsoft Office Excel soft.

4. Conclusions

Two new 30-noroleanane triterpenes 1–2 were isolated from the pericarps of A. trifoliata, along with four known ones 3–6. Their structures were identified by spectroscopic means, including NMR and HRESIMS. All the compounds were isolated from the pericarps of A. trifoliata for the first time. Bioassays showed that compounds 3–6 were selectively active against four tested Gram-(+) bacteria, especially 3 toward MRSA with a MIC value about five-fold stronger than the reference compound kanamycin. Compounds 4 and 5 were found to show moderate cytotoxic activity against human tumor A549 and HeLa cell lines. Compounds 1, 2, 5 and 6 were all revealed to show significant in vitro α-glucosidase inhibitory activities which were more potent than reference compound acarbose. These findings indicate that the pericarps of A. trifoliata is rich in 30-noroleanane triterpenoids which are promising for exploitation as functional food ingredients or to be developed as effective and safe agents to contribute to the control and therapy of human diseases.