Eight new oleanane-type triterpenoid saponins from Platycodon Root

Article abstract of DOI:10.3987/COM-10-12058

Eight new triterpenoid saponins, platyconic acids B (1), C (2), D (3), E (4), platycodins J (5), K (6), L (7) and platycosaponin A (8), were isolated from Platycodon Root, together with twelve known compounds, and they were characterized on the basis of their spectroscopic and chemical data. The Japan Institute of Heterocyclic Chemistry.

Full text of DOI:10.3987/COM-10-12058

HETEROCYCLES, Vol. 81, No. 12, 2010
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HETEROCYCLES, Vol. 81, No. 12, 2010, pp. 2793 - 2806. © The Japan Institute of Heterocyclic Chemistry
Received, 1st September, 2010, Accepted, 21st October, 2010, Published online, 29th October, 2010
DOI: 10.3987/COM-10-12058
EIGHT NEW OLEANANE-TYPE TRITERPENOID SAPONINS FROM
PLATYCODON ROOT1
Motonori Fukumura,a Daigo Iwasaki,a Yasuaki Hirai,a Yumiko Hori,a Kazuo
Toriizuka,a Peter T. M. Kenny,b Yoshiyuki Kuchino,a, c and Yoshiteru Idaa, c*
a School of Pharmacy, Showa University, 1-5-8, Hatanodai, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo
142-8555, Japan; b School of Chemical Sciences, Dublin City University, Dublin 9,
c
Ireland;
Yokohama College of Pharmacy, 601, Matano-cho, Totsuka-ku,
Yokohama 245-0066, Japan; E-mail: y.ida@hamayaku.ac.jp
Abstract – Eight new triterpenoid saponins, platyconic acids B (1), C (2), D (3),
E (4), platycodins J (5), K (6), L (7) and platycosaponin A (8), were isolated from
Platycodon Root, together with twelve known compounds, and they were
characterized on the basis of their spectroscopic and chemical data.
INTRODUCTION
The Platycodon Root, the dried root of Platycodon grandiflorum A. DC., is one of the most important
crude drugs in kampo medicine, and has been used as an antiphlogistic, antitussivic and expectorant agent.
As for the constituents of Platycodon Root (dried Platycodon grandiflorum roots), platycodins D (9), A
(10), and C (11) were the first triterpenoidal saponins isolated from the Platycodon Root in our laboratory
35 years ago.2, 3 Thereafter, a number of oleanane-type triterpenoidal saponins were further isolated
namely: deapioplatycodin
D
(12), platycodin D2 (13), 2”-O-acetylplatycodin D2 (14),
3”-O-acetylplatycodin D2, platycodin D3 (15), deapioplatycodin D3, polygalacin D,
2”-O-acetylpolygalacin D (17), 3”-O-acetylpolygalacin D, polygalacin D2, 2”-O-acetylpolygalacin D2,
3”-O-acetylpolygalacin D2, methyl platyconate A (= platyconic acid A methyl ester), methyl
2-O-methylplatyconate A, platyconic acid A lactone, platycosides A, B, C, D, E (16) and F, platycosides
G1, G2 and G3 (18), deapioplatycoside E, platycosides H, K and L, M1, M2 and M3, 16-oxo-platycodin
D and platyconic acid A (21). 4-13
It has recently been shown that platycodins D (9), A (10) and C (11) exhibited cytotoxicity against human
cancer cells.14 In order to continue the studies for the estimation of their cytotoxicity against human

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cancer cells, we commenced a phytochemical survey again on the plant to furnish the desired saponins,
and isolated eight new saponins as well as twelve known compounds. This paper describes the isolation
and characterization of eight new triterpenoid saponins.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Commercial Platycodon Root (1.5 kg) was extracted with 70% aqueous methanol, and the extract, after
concentration, was subjected to column chromatography over silica gel and octadecylsilanized silica gel
(ODS) repeatedly, to give twenty compounds (see experimental).
Twelve of the compounds were identified by comparison of their physical and spectral data with those
already reported: platycodins D (9, 101 mg),2, 4 A (10, 426 mg), 3, 4 C (11, 314 mg), 3, 4 deapioplatycodin D
(12, 18 mg),4 platycodin D2 (13, 59 mg),4 2”-O-acetylplatycodin D2 (14, 39 mg), 4 platycodin D3 (15, 1.5
g),4 platycoside E (16, 3.5 g),6 2”-O-acetylpolygalacin D (17, 94 mg),4 platycoside G3 (18, 52 mg),8
lobetyolin (19, 213 mg)15 and hexyl 6-O-!-L-arabinofuranosyl(1"6)-#-D-glucopyranoside (20, 26 mg).16
The remaining eight compounds were found to be new triterpenoid saponins and they were named as
follows after similarities of their structural features to the known compounds: platyconic acids B (1, 501
mg), C (2, 28 mg), D (3, 16 mg), E (4, 31 mg), platycodins J (5, 75 mg), K (6, 104 mg), L (7, 300 mg) and
platycosaponin A(8, 46 mg), respectively (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Structures of 1-21

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Platyconic acid B (1) was isolated as a white amorphous powder, and exhibited a pseudomolecular ion
[M+H]+ at m/z 1281.5729 in the HR-FAB MS corresponding to the molecular formula of C59H92O30, and
characteristic absorption bands at 3434 and 1736 cm-1 due to hydroxyl and ester carbonyl groups were
13
present in the IR spectrum. The C NMR spectrum of 1 showed 59 signals, five of which were
assignable to anomeric carbons suggesting that 1 has five sugar units (Table 1). The 1H NMR spectrum
of 1 indicated a signal due to an acetyl group at $ 2.09 (Table 3). Acid hydrolysis of 1 with 1 M
hydrochloric acid, afforded D-glucose (D-Glc), L-arabinose (L-Ara), L-rhamnose (L-Rha), D-xylose

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(D-Xyl), D-apiose (D-Api) and an aglycone (1a). The molecular formula of 1a was determined to be
C30H44O7 by the HR-FAB MS showing an [M+H]+ peak at m/z 517.3135. The IR spectrum of 1a
exhibited absorption bands at 3447, 1772 and 1750 cm-1 due to hydroxyl, lactone and ester carbonyl
groups respectively. The 13C NMR spectrum of 1a showed thirty signals similar to those of
platycodigenin (9a),5 the aglycone of platycodin D (9), except for a lactone carbonyl carbon signal ($
179.4) present in 1a instead of the C-24 carbinyl carbon signal ($ 65.1) in 9a (Table 1). The carbon
signal at $ 179.4 showed cross peaks with the H-2 and H-5 signals in the HMBC spectrum. Therefore,
1a was characterized as platycogenic acid A lactone, which was thought to be formed from platycogenic
acid A (2#,3#,16!,23-tetrahydroxyolean-12-ene-24,28-dioic acid) (1b)18 under acidic conditions. The
genuine aglycone of 1 must be platycogenic acid A (1b), since 1 showed no signal due to the lactone
carbonyl group both in the IR and 13C NMR spectra.
As for the sugar moieties of 1, their carbon signals were similar to those in platycodin C (11), indicating
that the sugar moieties of 1 are the same as those of platycodin C (11). This was confirmed by HMBC
experiments on 1, in which cross peaks were observed between Glc H-1/aglycone C-3, Ara H-1/aglycone
C-28, Rha H-1/Ara C-2, Xyl H-1/ Rha C-4, Api H-1/Xyl C-3 and Rha H-3/acetyl carbonyl carbon (Table

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1ꢀꢀꢀ3). Therefore, the structure of platyconic acid B (1) was determined as platycogenic acid A
3-O-#-D-glucopyranosido-28-O-#-D-apiofuranosyl(1"3)-#-D-xylopyranosyl(1"4)-[3-O-acetyl-!-L-
rhamnopyranosyl](1"2)-!-L-arabinopyranoside, which is the corresponding 3”-O-acetate of platyconic
acid A(21).1
Platyconic acid C (2), a white amorphous powder, displayed an [M+H]+ peak at m/z 1107.5215
corresponding to the molecular formula of C52H82O25 in the HR-FAB MS, and absorption bands at 3422
and 1736 cm-1 due to hydroxyl and ester groups were present in the IR spectrum. The C NMR
13

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HETEROCYCLES, Vol. 81, No. 12, 2010
spectrum of 2 showed 52 carbon signals including those due to Glc, Ara, Rha, Xyl and platycogenic acid
A (1b) (Table 1). On acid hydrolysis, 2 afforded D-Glc, L-Ara, L-Rha, D-Xyl and 1a instead of 1b as in
the case of 1. The HMBC spectrum of 2 showed cross peaks between Glc H-1/C-3, Ara H-1/C-28, Rha
H-1/Ara C-2 and Xyl H-1/Rha C-4 (Table 1 - 3). The structure of platyconic acid C (2) was formulated
as platycogenic acid A 3-O-#-D-glucopyranosido-28-O-#-D-xylopyranosyl(1"4)-!-L-rhamnopyrano-
syl(1"2)-!-L-arabinopyranoside.
Platyconic acid D (3), a white amorphous powder, exhibited an [M+H]+ peak at m/z 1149.5334 in the
HR-FAB MS corresponding to the molecular formula of C54H84O26, which is 42 mass unit (C2H2O) higher
than that of 2. The IR spectrum of 3 exhibited absorption bands at 3422 and 1734 cm-1 due to hydroxyl
1
and ester groups respectively. The H NMR spectrum indicated an acetyl signal at $ 1.99 (Table 3).
13
The C NMR spectroscopic features of 3 resembled those of 2, except for the appearance of acetyl
signals ($ 21.4 and 171.0) (Table 1). On acid hydrolysis, 3 afforded D-Glc, L-Ara, L-Rha, D-Xyl and 1a.
In addition, the cross peak was observed between Rha H-2/the acetyl carbonyl carbon ($ 171.0) in the
HMBC spectrum, suggesting that the acetyl group is located at the Rha C-2. Thus, the structure of
platyconic acid D (3) was determined as platycogenic acid A 3-O-#-D-glucopyranosido-28-O-
#-D-xylopyranosyl(1"4)-[2-O-acetyl-!-L-rhamnopyranosyl](1"2)-!-L-arabinopyranoside.
Platyconic acid E (4), a white amorphous powder, showed an [M+H]+ peak at m/z 1269.5837 in its
HR-FAB MS corresponding to the molecular formula of C58H92O30, 162 mass unit (C6H10O5) larger than
that of 2. The IR spectrum of 4 exhibited characteristic absorption bands at 3409 and 1736 cm-1 due to
hydroxyl and ester groups respectively. On acid hydrolysis 4 afforded D-Glc, L-Ara, L-Rha, D-Xyl and
13
1a, as in the case of 2 and 3. The C NMR spectrum of 4 showed 58 signals, the features of the
spectrum resembled that of 2, except for the appearance of six signals due to another D-glucopyranosyl
moiety.
The 46 signals were ascribable to those of platycogenic acid A 28-O-#-D-xylo-
pyranosyl(1"4)-!-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1"2)-!-L-arabinopyranoside (Table 1), while the other twelve
signals were assignable to those of #-gentiobiosyl moiety was observed in the 13C NMR spectrum of 15.4
The correlation peaks between Glc H-1/Glc C-6 (the terminal Glc H-1 and the inner Glc C-6) and Glc
H-1/C-3 were observed in the HMBC spectrum of 4, indicating the presence of the #-gentiobiosyl moiety
at the C-3 position. This Platyconic acid E (4) was therefore characterized as platycogenic acid A
3-O-#-D-glucopyranosyl(1"6)-#-D-glucopyranosido-28-O-#-D-xylopyranosyl(1"4)-!-L-rhamno-
pyranosyl(1"2)-!-L-arabinopyranoside.
Platycodin J (5), a white amorphous powder, exhibited an [M+H]+ peak at m/z 1239.5626 in its HR-FAB

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MS corresponding to the molecular formula of C57H90O29. The IR spectrum of 5 displayed absorption
bands at 3398 and 1738 cm-1 due to hydroxyl and ester groups respectively. The 13C NMR spectrum of 5
displayed 57 signals including five anomeric carbon signals (Table 1). On acid hydrolysis, 5 gave
D-glucuronic acid (D-GluA), L-Ara, L-Rha, D-Xyl, D-Api and 9a as its aglycone. The 51 carbon signals
of 57 in 5 were identical with those due to platycodigenin 28-O-#-D-apiofuranosyl(1"3)-#-D-xylo-
pyranosyl(1"4)-!-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1"2)-!-L-arabinopyranosyl. As for the location of GluA, the
HMBC correlations were observed GluA H-1/C-3, indicating that GluA is located at the C-3 of the
aglycone. The structure of platycodin J (5) was therefore formulated as platycodigenin 3-O-#-D-
glucuronopyranosido-28-O-#-D-apiofuranosyl(1"3)-#-D-xylopyranosyl(1"4)-!-L-rhamnopyrano-
syl(1"2)-!-L-arabinopyranoside.
Platycodin K (6), a white amorphous powder, showed an [M+H]+ peak at m/z 1281.5768 in its HR-FAB
MS corresponding to the molecular formula of C59H92O30, which is 42 mass unit (C2H2O) higher than that
of 5. The IR spectrum of 6 exhibited absorption bands at 3416 and 1735 cm-1 due to hydroxyl and ester
groups respectively. The 1H NMR spectrum of 6 indicated an acetyl signal at $ 2.01 (Table 3). The 13C
NMR spectroscopic features of 6 were similar to that of 5, except for the appearance of two signals due to
the acetyl group in 6 (Table 1). The HMBC correlation was observed between Rha H-2/acetyl carbonyl
carbon, indicating that the acetoxyl group is located at the Rha C-2 position. Thus, platycodin K (6) was
shown to be platycodigenin 3-O-#-D-glucuronopyranosido-28-O-#-D-apiofuranosyl(1"3)-#-D-xylo-
pyranosyl(1"4)-[2-O-acetyl-!-L-rhamnopyranosyl](1"2)-!-L-arabinopyranoside.
Platycodin L (7), a white amorphous powder, showed an [M+H]+ peak at m/z 1281.5787 in its HR-FAB
MS corresponding to the molecular formula of C59H92O30 as in the case of 6. The IR spectrum of 7
exhibited characteristic absorptions at 3408 and 1730 cm-1 due to hydroxyl and ester carbonyl groups,
1
13
respectively, and the H NMR spectrum showed an acetyl signal at $ 2.09 (Table 3). The C NMR
spectroscopic features of 7 were similar to that of 6, except for the chemical shifts of the Rha C-1, C-2,
C-3 and C-4 (Table 1). The HMBC correlation was observed between Rha H-3/acetyl carbonyl carbon,
indicating that the acetoxyl group is located at the Rha C-3 position. The structure of platycodin L (7)
was therefore determined as platycodigenin 3-O-#-D-glucuronopyranosido-28-O-#-D-apiofurano-
syl(1"3)-#-D-xylopyranosyl(1"4)-[3-O-acetyl-!-L-rhamnopyranosyl](1"2)-!-L-arabinopyranoside.
Platycosaponin A (8), a white amorphous powder, showed an [M+H]+ peak at m/z 829.4631 in its
HR-FAB MS corresponding to the molecular formula of C42H68O16. The IR spectrum exhibited an
absorption band due to hydroxyl groups at 3433 cm-1. The C NMR spectrum of 8 showed 42 signals
13

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including two anomeric carbon signals (Table 1). On acid hydrolysis with 1 M hydrochloric acid 8
afforded D-Glc and an aglycone (8a). The aglycone (8a) exhibited an [M+H]+ peak at m/z 505.3492 in its
HR-FAB MS corresponding to the molecular formula C30H49O6. The IR spectrum of 8a exhibited
absorption bands due to hydroxyl and ester groups at 3433 and 1737 cm-1, respectively. Its NMR
spectrum showed the presence of a carboxyl ($C 180.8), a trisubstituted double bond ($C 123.6, 143.4; $H
5.61), four oxygenated methines ($C 66.5, 71.9, 72.3, 78.8; $H 4.69, 4.42, 4.22, 3.45) and seven t-methyls
(3H singlets at $H 1.11, 1.28, 1.30, 1.35, 1.38, 1.39, 1.52), suggesting 8a to be a trihydroxy-oleanolic acid
(Table 1 - 3). The detailed NMR analysis led us to the conclusion that 8a is identical with
2#,3#,16#,21#-tetrahydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid, i.e. platycogenic acid C, found from Platycodon
Root, previously characterized by Kubota et al.,18 although the evidence described in their report was not
good enough for the complete characterization. The partial structure of the A-ring was demonstrated by
1
the following facts: the H-1H COSY correlations between H2-1/H-2 and H-2/H-3 and the HMBC
correlations between H3-23/C-3, H3-24/C-3, H3-23/C-4, H3-24/C-4 and H3-10/C-1; the J values of H-1,
H-2 and H-3 signals included no diaxial coupling. While, the 16#,21#-dihydroxy structure was deduced
1
by the following data: the H-1H COSY correlations between H2-15/H-16 and H2-22/H-21; the HMBC
correlations between H2-15/C-13, H2-22/C-18, H-16/C-28, H3-29/C-21, H3-30/C-21 and H2-22/C-28; the
H-16 and H-21 signals showed a diaxial coupling, 12.0 and 12.1 Hz, respectively. Thus, platycogenic
acid C (8a) was shown to be 2#,3#,16#,21#-tetrahydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid.
The location of two glucosyl moieties were determined to be at C-2 and C-21, since HMBC correlations
were observed between Glc H-1/C-2 and Glc’ H-1/C-21. Consequently, platycosaponin A (8) was
determined to be platycogenic acid C 2-O-#-D-glucopyranosido-21-O-#-D-glucopyranoside.
Twenty compounds including eight new triterpenoid saponins (1 - 8) have been isolated from Platycodon
Root, and their structures elucidated by spectroscopic methods. This is the first isolation of platycogenic
acid A glycosides (1 - 4) in free acid form, 1 although they were isolated as methyl ester and/or lactone
form by Ishii et al.4 In addition, 5 - 7 are the first saponins containing D-glucuronic acid in their sugar
moieties from Platycodon Root, and 8 is the first glycoside of platycogenic acid C.
EXPERIMENTAL
General Procedure
Optical rotations were obtained on a JASCO P-1020 polarimeter. IR spectra
were measured on a JASCO FT/IR-410 spectrometer. NMR spectra were recorded on a JEOL JMN
LA-500 and a JEOL JMN ECA-500 spectrometers (500 MHz for 1H, 125 MHz for 13C), and the chemical
shifts were given in a ppm scale from TMS used as an internal standard. The signals were assigned by
means of DEPT and 2D NMR techniques (1H-1H COSY, HMQC, HMBC). Fast atom bombardment

HETEROCYCLES, Vol. 81, No. 12, 2010
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mass spectra were obtained on a JEOL JMS-700 spectrometer and the matrix employed was 3-nitrobenzyl
alcohol. HPLC was carried out on TSK-gel amide-80 column (4.6 x 250 mm) or COSMOSIL Sugar-D
(nacalai tesque, 4.6 mm x 250 mm) with a RI-8020 (TOSOH Ltd.) and a OR-2090 Plus detector (JASCO
Ltd.) for the D/L determination of monosaccharides. TLC was performed on precoated silica gel 60 F254
or RP-18 WF254 plates (Merck) with detection achieved by spraying with 10% H2SO4 followed by heating.
Column chromatography (cc) was performed on silica gel 60 (spherical, 40~50um, Kanto Chemical Co.
Ltd.) or ODS (chromatorex DM-1020T, Fuji-Silysia Co. Ltd.).
Extraction and Isolation
Commercial Platycodon Root (1.5 Kg, Uchida Wakanyaku Co., Lot. No.
402204: imported from Hubei Province in China) was powdered and percolated with 70% MeOH (9.2 L)
at room temperature; with the resulting 70% MeOH extract (688 g) concentrated in vacuo at 40 !. The
residual syrup was subjected to ODS cc with water containing increasing amounts of methanol to give 8
fractions: Frs. A (H2O, 590 g), B (30% MeOH, 5.1 g), C (30% MeOH, 1.3 g), D (50% MeOH, 9.7 g), E
(50% MeOH, 5.1 g), F (50% MeOH, 7.1 g), G (70% MeOH, 0.6 g) and H (MeOH, 4.2 g).
Fr. C was applied to silica gel cc [CHCl3-MeOH-H2O (6:4:1)] to afford five fractions: Frs. C-1 (23 mg),
C-2 (331 mg), C-3 (395 mg), C-4 (269 mg) and C-5 (174 mg). Fr. C-2 was chromatographed on ODS cc
(45%MeOH) to give three fractions: Frs. C-2-1 (98 mg), C-2-2 (132 mg) and C-2-3 (101 mg). Fr. C-2-1
was applied to silica gel cc [CHCl3-MeOH-H2O (78:22:2)] to give 20 (26 mg). Frs. C-2-2 and C-2-3
were applied to silica gel cc [CHCl3-MeOH-H2O (80:20:2 and 70:30:5, respectively)] to give 19 (24 mg),
6 (40 mg), respectively. Fr. C-3 was applied to silica gel cc [CHCl3-MeOH-H2O (65:35:7)] to give 6 (64
mg) and 7 (197 mg). Fr. C-4 was applied to silica gel cc [CHCl3-MeOH-H2O (65:35:7)] followed by an
ODS cc (53% MeOH) to give 5 (75 mg).
Fr. D was applied to ODS cc (54% MeOH) to give six fractions: Frs. D-1 (0.49 g), D-2 (4.0 g), D-3 (1.2
g), D-4 (2.6 g), D-5 (1.2 g) and D-6 (0.62 g). Fr. D-2 was chromatographed on silica gel cc
[CHCl3-MeOH-H2O (56:64:10)] to give 7 (103 mg), 16 (3.5 g) and 19 (189 mg). Fr. D-4 was repeatedly
chromatographed on silica gel cc [CHCl3-MeOH-H2O (6:4:1 to 64:36:8)] to give 1 (159 mg), 2 (28 mg), 3
(16 mg), 4 (31 mg) and 15 (1.5 g). Fr. D-5 was repeatedly chromatographed on silica gel cc
[CHCl3-MeOH-H2O (64:36:8)] to give 1 (342 mg) and 8 (46 mg).
Fr. E was applied to silica gel cc [CHCl3-MeOH-H2O (6:4:1)] to give five fractions: Frs. E-1 (2.1 g), E-2
(1.8 g), E-3 (0.87 g), E-4 (0.93 g) and E-5 (0.19 g). Fr. E-1 was applied to silica gel cc
[CHCl3-MeOH-H2O (64:36:8)] to give three fractions: Frs. E-1-1 (0.15 g), E-1-2 (1.3 g) and E-1-3 (0.13
g). Fr. E-1-2 was repeatedly chromatographed on silica gel cc [CHCl3-MeOH-H2O (64:36:8)] to give 9
(36 mg), 10 (276 mg), 11 (42 mg) and 17 (25 mg). Fr. E-2 was chromatographed on silica gel cc
[CHCl3-MeOH-H2O (64:36:8)] to give 14 (39 mg).
Fr. E-4 was applied to silica gel cc
[CHCl3-MeOH-H2O (62:38:9)] to give 15 (33 mg) and 18 (52 mg).

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Fr. F was applied to a medium pressure ODS cc (57% MeOH) to give six fractions: Frs. F-1 (0.28 g), F-2
(1.2 g), F-3 (4.4 g), F-4 (1.0 g), F-5 (0.15 g) and F-6 (0.30 g). Fr. F-2 was applied to silica gel cc
[CHCl3-MeOH-H2O (64:36:8)] to give four fractions: Frs. F-2-1 (381 mg), F-2-2 (623 mg), F-2-3 (77 mg)
and F-2-4 (77 mg).
Fr. F-2-2 was chromatographed on silica gel cc [CHCl3-MeOH-H2O (64:36:8)] to
give 11 (272 mg) and 12 (18 mg). Frs. F-2-3 and F-2-4 were individually chromatographed on silica gel
cc [CHCl3-MeOH-H2O (62:38:9)] to give 9 (65 mg) and 13 (59 mg), respectively. Frs. F-3 and F-5 were
individually chromatographed on silica gel cc [CHCl3-MeOH-H2O (67:33:7)] to give 10 (150 mg) and 17
(69 mg), respectively.
Platyconic acid B (1)
A white amorphous powder, [!]D25 –20.7 (MeOH, c 0.91). Positive FAB-MS
m/z: 1281.5729 ([M+H]+, C59H93O30: 1281.5752). IR %maxKBr cm-1: 3434, 2925, 2854, 1736, 1655, 1074,
1045. 1H and C NMR: Table 1 - 3. HMBC correlations: H-3/C-24, H-5/C-24, Glc H-1/C-3, Ara
13
H-1/C-28, Rha H-1/Ara C-2, Rha H-3/acetyl carbonyl carbon, Xyl H-1/Rha C-4, Api H-1/Xyl C-3.
25
White amorphous powder, [!]D –7.8 (pyridine, c 1.28). Positive FAB-MS
Platyconic acid C (2)
m/z: 1107.5215 ([M+H]+, C52H83O25: 1107.5223). IR %maxKBr cm-1: 3422, 2925, 2853, 1736, 1655, 1078,
1043. 1H and C NMR: Table 1 - 3. HMBC correlations: H-3/C-24, H-5/C-24, Glc H-1/C-3, Ara
13
H-1/C-28, Rha H-1/Ara C-2, Xyl H-1/Rha C-4.
25
White amorphous powder, [!]D +4.5 (pyridine, c 0.94). Positive FAB-MS
Platyconic acid D (3)
m/z: 1149.5334 ([M+H]+, C54H85O26: 1149.5329). IR %maxKBr cm-1: 3422, 2925, 2853, 1734, 1655, 1076,
1043. 1H and 13C NMR: Table 1 - 3. HMBC correlations: H-3/C-24, H-5/C-24, H-23/C-24, Glc H-1/C-3,
Ara H-1/C-28, Rha H-1/Ara C-2, Rha H-2/acetyl carbonyl carbon, Xyl H-1/Rha C-4.
25
White amorphous powder, [!]D -13.4 (MeOH, c 0.64). Positive FAB-MS
Platyconic acid E (4)
m/z: 1269.5837 ([M+H]+, C58H93O30: 1269.5752). IR %maxKBr cm-1: 3409, 2926, 2856, 1736, 1655, 1075,
1043. 1H and C NMR: Table 1 - 3. HMBC correlations: H-3/C-24, H-5/C-24, Glc H-1/C-3, Glc’
13
H-1/Glc C-6, Ara H-1/C-28, Rha H-1/Ara C-2, Xyl H-1/Rha C-4.
25
White amorphous powder, [!]D -33.8 (MeOH, c 1.02). Positive FAB-MS m/z:
Platycodin J (5)
1239.5626 ([M+H]+, C57H91O29: 1239.5646). IR %maxKBr cm-1: 3398, 2926, 2854, 1738, 1614,1077, 1034.
1H and 13C NMR: Table 1 - 3. HMBC correlations: GluA H-1/C-3, Ara H-1/C-28, Rha H-1/Ara C-2, Xyl
H-1/Rha C-4, Api H-1/Xyl C-3.
25
White amorphous powder, [!]D –29.9 (MeOH, c 0.91). Positive FAB-MS m/z:
Platycodin K (6)
1281.5768 ([M+H]+, C59H93O30: 1281.5752). IR %maxKBr cm-1: 3416, 2932, 1735, 1636, 1044. 1H and 13C
NMR: Table 1 - 3. HMBC correlations: GluA H-1/C-3, Ara H-1/C-28, Rha H-1/Ara C-2, Rha
H-2/acetyl carbonyl carbon, Xyl H-1/Rha C-4, Api H-1/Xyl C-3.
25
White amorphous powder, [!]D –37.5 (MeOH, c 1.06). Positive FAB-MS m/z:
Platycodin L (7)
1281.5787 ([M+H]+, C59H93O30: 1281.5752). IR %maxKBr cm-1: 3408, 2926, 2858, 1730, 1635, 1041. H
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13
and C NMR: Table 1 - 3. HMBC correlations: GluA H-1/C-3, Ara H-1/C-28, Rha H-1/Ara C-2, Rha
H-3/acetyl carbonyl carbon, Xyl H-1/Rha C-4, Api H-1/Xyl C-3.
24
White amorphous powder, [!]D +33.4 (MeOH, c 0.59). Positive FAB-MS
Platycosaponin A (8)
m/z: 829.4631 ([M+H]+, C42H69O16: 861.4586). IR %maxKBr cm-1: 3433, 2925, 2855, 1736, 1655, 1048.
1H and 13C NMR: Table 1 - 3. HMBC correlations: Glc H-1/C-2, Glc’ H-1/C-21.
25
White amorphous powder, [!]D +32.9 (pyridine, c 0.21).
Platycogenic acid A lactone (1a)
Positive FAB-MS m/z: 517.3135 ([M+H]+, C30H45O7: 517.3165). IR %maxKBr cm-1: 3447, 2925, 2854, 1772,
1750, 1655, 1036. 13C NMR (pyridine-d5) $: 18.0 (C-25), 18.6 (C-26), 20.0 (C-6), 25.1 (C-11), 25.2
(C-30), 27.8 (C-27), 31.6 (C-20), 33.4 (C-22), 33.8 (C-29), 34.0 (C-7), 36.5 (C-15), 36.7 (C-21), 38.2
(C-10), 40.7 (C-8), 41.7 (C-1), 42.0 (C-18), 42.8 (C-14), 47.7 (C-19), 48.7 (C-9), 49.3 (C-17), 52.0 (C-5),
54.9 (C-4), 58.2 (C-23), 75.1 (C-16), 81.7 (C-3), 84.7 (C-2), 122.4 (C-12), 146.2 (C-13), 179.4 (C-24),
180.5 (C-28). 1H NMR (pyridine-d5) $: 1.03 (3H, s, H3-29), 1.04 (3H, s, H3-26), 1.17 (3H, s, H3-30),
1.33 (1H, overlapped, H-21a), 1.37 (1H, overlapped, H-7a), 1.37 (1H, dd, J=4.6, 12.6 Hz, H-19a), 1.40
(3H, s, H3-25), 1.45 (1H, br. d, J=14.3 Hz, H-1a), 1.66 (1H, dd, J=2.3, 14.9 Hz, H-15a), 1.70 (1H, ddd,
J=2.9, 12.1, 12.1 Hz, H-6a), 1.77 (3H, s, H3-27), 1.81 (1H, ddd, J=2.9, 12.1, 12.1 Hz, H-7b), 2.02 (1H,
overlapped, H-11a), 2.07 (1H, overlapped, H-9), 2.08 (1H, dd, J=4.6, 14.3 Hz, H-1b), 2.08 (1H,
overlapped, H-11b), 2.19 (1H, brd, J=12.1 Hz, H-5), 2.27 (2H, overlapped, H-6b and H-22a), 2.36 (1H,
dd, J=3.4, 14.9 Hz, H-15b), 2.41 (1H, dd, J=2.9, 4.6, 14.3 Hz, H-22b), 2.51 (1H, dd, J=4.6, 12.6, 12.6 Hz,
H-21b), 2.80 (1H, dd, J=12.6, 14.3 Hz, H-19b), 3.60 (1H, dd, J=4.6, 14.3 Hz, H-18), 4.43 (1H, d, J=10.9
Hz, H-23a), 4.63 (1H, brs, H-3), 4.75 (1H, d, J=10.9 Hz, H-23b), 4.98 (1H, brd, J=4.6 Hz, H-2), 5.22,
(1H, brs, H-16), 5.62 (1H, dd, J=2.9, 2.9 Hz, H-12). HMBC correlations: H-2/C-24, H-3/C-24,
H-5/C-24.
Platycogenic acid C (8a)
White amorphous powder, [!]D24 + 58.8 (pyridine, c 0.59), + 47.6 (EtOH,
KBr
c 0.62). Positive FAB-MS m/z: 505.3492 ([M+H]+, C30H49O6: 505.3529). IR %max
cm-1: 3433, 2925,
2855, 1737, 1655, 1049. 13C NMR (pyridine-d5) $: 17.1 (C-25), 18.0 (C-26), 18.5 (C-30), 18.7 (C-24),
19.1 (C-6), 24.5 (C-11), 27.4 (C-27), 30.3 (C-29), 30.7 (C-23), 33.8 (C-7), 36.4 (C-22), 37.2 (C-20), 37.8
(C-10), 38.9 (C-15), 39.3 (C-4), 40.4 (C-8), 44.2 (C-18), 45.1 (C-14), 45.4 (C-1), 47.6 (C-19), 48.2 (C-9),
53.1 (C-17), 56.4 (C-5), 66.5 (C-16), 71.9 (C-2), 72.3 (C-21), 78.8 (C-3), 123.6 (C-12), 143.4 (C-13),
180.8 (C-28). 1H NMR (pyridine-d5) $: 1.01 (1H, brd, J=10.9 Hz, H-5), 1.11 (3H, s, H3-26), 1.24 (1H,
dd, J=4.1, 13.8 Hz, H-1a), 1.28 (3H, s, H3-23), 1.30 (3H, s, H3-29), 1.35 (3H, s, H3-30), 1.38 (3H, s,
H3-24), 1.39 (3H, s, H3-27), 1.39 (1H, overlapped, H-7a), 1.52 (1H, dd, J=4.6, 13.8 Hz, H-19a), 1.52 (3H,
s, H3-25), 1.57 (2H, overlapped, H-6a and H-7b), 1.66 (2H, overlapped, H-6b and H-9), 1.82 (1H, dd,
J=4.6, 13.2 Hz, H-15a), 2.06 (1H, overlapped, H-11a), 2.14 (1H, overlapped, H-11b), 2.12 (1H, dd,
J=13.8, 14.3 Hz, H-19b), 2.22 (1H, dd, J=12.1, 13.2 Hz, H-22a), 2.32 (1H, dd, J=2.9, 13.8 Hz, H-1b),

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2.34 (1H, dd, J=12.0, 13.2 Hz, H-15b), 3.25 (1H, dd, J=4.6, 13.2 Hz, H-22b), 3.45 (1H, d, J=4.1 Hz, H-3),
3.66 (1H, dd, J=4.6, 14.3 Hz, H-18), 4.22 (1H, dd, J=4.6, 12.1 Hz, H-21), 4.42 (1H, ddd, J=2.9, 4.1, 4.1
Hz, H-2), 4.69 (1H, dd, J=4.6, 12.0 Hz, H-16), 5.61 (1H, dd, J=3.5, 3.5 Hz, H-12).
25
White amorphous powder, [!]D +18.4 (pyridine, c 0.35). Positive FAB-MS
Platycodigenin (9a)
m/z: 521.3456 ([M+H]+, C30H49O7: 521.3478). IR %maxKBr cm-1: 3423, 2925, 2854, 1736, 1675, 1636, 1040.
13C NMR (pyridine-d5) $: 17.9 (C-25), 18.0 (C-26), 19.5 (C-6), 24.7 (C-11), 25.3 (C-30), 27.8 (C-27),
31.5 (C-20), 33.3 (C-22), 33.8 (C-29), 34.3 (C-7), 36.6 (C-15), 36.7 (C-21), 37.7 (C-10), 40.6 (C-8), 42.0
(C-18), 42.7 (C-14), 45.2 (C-1), 47.2 (C-4), 47.7 (C-19), 48.6 (C-9), 49.1 (C-5), 49.4 (C-17), 64.6 (C-23),
65.1 (C-24), 72.3 (C-2), 75.2 (C-16), 75.7 (C-3), 123.0 (C-12), 145.6 (C-13), 180.7 (C-28).
Acid hydrolysis of 1
1 (22.5 mg) was dissolved in 1 ml of 1 M HCl (1,4-dioxane: H2O=1:1) and
heated at 100 ˚C for 2 h. The reaction mixture was diluted with H2O and passed through Sep-pack ODS
(H2O and MeOH) to afford the H2O eluate and the MeOH eluate. The MeOH eluate (14.1 mg) was
chromatographed on silica gel cc [CHCl3-MeOH-H2O (9:1:0.08)] to afford platycogenic acid A lactone
(1a, 6.3 mg).18 The H2O fraction was analyzed by HPLC under the following conditions: column,
TSK-GEL Amido-80 (Tosoh, 4.6 mm x 250 mm); solvent, 100 mM triethylamine in 75% MeCN; flow
rate, 0.5 ml/min; detector, RI-8012 and OR-2090 plus. The constituents of the H2O fraction were
determined to be a mixture of D-Glc (tR 23.6 min, positive), L-Ara (tR 18.2 min, positive), L-Rha (tR 14.7
min, negative), D-Xyl (tR 17.2 min, positive), D-Api (tR 14.1 min, positive), by comparison with authentic
samples.
Acid hydrolysis of 2, 3 and 4
Compounds 2, 3 and 4 (5 mg each) were individually hydrolyzed in a
similar way as in the case of 1, and 1a was obtained from the MeOH fraction and D-Glc, L-Ara, L-Rha,
D-Xyl were detected in the H2O fraction.
Acid hydrolysis of 5
Compound 5 (20.0 mg) was hydrolyzed in a similar fashion to 1, and afforded
a MeOH eluate (6.8 mg) and an H2O eluate. The MeOH eluate was chromatographed on silica gel cc
[CHCl3-MeOH (10:1)] to afford platycodigenin (9a 4.9 mg) identified on the basis of the data with those
already reported.5 The H2O fraction was analyzed by HPLC under the following conditions: column,
COSMOSIL Sugar-D; solvent, MeCN-20 mM phosphate buffer (pH=7.0) (7:3); flow rate, 1.0 ml/min;
detector, RI-8012 and OR-2090 plus. Consequently, the constituents of H2O fraction were clarified to
be a mixture of D-GluA (tR 10.4 min, positive), L-Ara (tR 6.3 min, positive), L-Rha (tR 5.3 min, negative),
D-Xyl (tR 6.1 min, positive), D-Api (tR 5.4 min, positive), by compared with authentic samples.
Acid hydrolysis of 6 and 7
Compounds 6 and 7 (5 mg each) were hydrolyzed in a similar way as in
the case of 5, and afforded 9a from the MeOH fractions and D-GluA, L-Ara, L-Rha, D-Xyl, D-Api from
the H2O fraction, this was determined as described for 5.
Acid hydrolysis of 8
Compound 8 (20.7 mg) was hydrolyzed in a similar way to 1, and afforded a

HETEROCYCLES, Vol. 81, No. 12, 2010
2805
MeOH eluate and an H2O eluate. The MeOH eluate was chromatographed on silica gel cc
[CHCl3-MeOH (9:1:0.08)] to afford platycogenic acid C (8a, 7.5 mg), identified on the basis of the
physical data already reported.18 The H2O fraction was analyzed with similar way to 1, and afforded
D-Glc.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We express our appreciation to Dr. J. Kitajima of Showa Pharmaceutical University for measurement of
mass spectra, also to Ms. K. Shiohara and Y. Odanaka of Showa University for the measurements of MS
and NMR spectra, respectively.
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