Studies On Chemical Constituents And Pharmacological Activity Of The Seeds Of Herpetospermum Caudigerum Wall

Herpetospermum seed, a commonly used Tibetan medicinal substance, is the dried ripe seed of Herpetospermum caudigerum Wall, which has been recorded in Drug Standards-Tibetan Medicinal Substances (Vol.1). It is bitter in taste and cold in nature. Its actions include clearing heat from fu-organs(e.g.gal I bladder), detoxifying, purging the fire, and aiding the digestion. It is indicated for liver heat syndrome, icterohepatitis, etc.So this paper had studied on pharmacology research, chemical composition and biological activity of the Seeds of Herpetospermum caudigerum Wall.We got twelve compounds from the Seeds of Herpetospermum caudigerum Wall. Structures of them were established, on the basis of spectral data including UV, ESI-MS, HR-ESI-MS,1D-1H NMR,2D-1H NMR,13C NMR and chemical properties.A method was established for the separation and purification of herpetfluorenone from the seeds of Herpetospermum caudigerum Wall. using conventional column chromatography and high-speed counter-current chromatography. Compound I was a new compound. Other is Herpetfluorenone. It was set up for the first time by the column chromatography with conventional high-speed countercurrent chromatography (HSCCC)to separate Herpetfluorenone from200mg of enriched extract in one step separation with the purity of98.3%.The new compound (1) had an antioxidant effect. The result was elvaluated by the method of DPPH. Furthermore, compoud (1) and compound (5) had a significant effect of againsting hepatic injury by the methed of MTT. So Seeds of Herpetospermum caudigerum Wall. has good clinical prospects in the treatment of liver disease.