Pubescenosides E⁻K, Seven New Triterpenoid Saponins from the Roots of Ilex pubescens and Their Anti-Inflammatory Activity.

Seven new triterpenoid saponins (1⁻7), together with three known ones (8⁻10), were isolated from Ilex pubescens. Elucidation of their structures was performed based on high-resolution electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (HR-ESI-MS), infrared spectra (IR), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic data. The anti-inflammatory activity of the isolates toward lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages was investigated. The results demonstrated that compounds 3, 5, and 6 inhibited the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) protein in comparison with LPS stimulation in RAW264.7 cells.