Undescribed amino acid-sesquiterpene lactone adducts and sesquiterpene glycosides from the roots of Saussurea lappa and their anti-HBV activity

• Published in: Fitoterapia 2023-09, Vol.169, p.105570, Article 105570
• Main Authors: Cong, Xin-Yu, He, Jing-Yi, Shu, Teng-Yun, Chen, Hao, Feng, Yang, Su, Li-Hua, Xu, Min
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Amino acid–sesquiterpene adducts; Anti-HBV activity; Saussurea lappa; Sesquiterpene glycosides
• ISSN: 0367-326X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fitote.2023.105570

Saussurea lappa (Asteraceae family), a traditional Chinese medicine, has been found to possess anti-inflammatory, immune-promoting, antibacterial, antitumor, anti-HBV, cholestatic, and hepatoprotective activities. Herein, two undescribed amino acid-sesquiterpene lactone adducts, saussureamines G and H (1 and 2), and two new sesquiterpene glycosides, saussunosids F and G (3 and 4), along with 26 known sesquiterpenoids (5–30) have been isolated from the roots of S. lappa. Their structures and absolute configurations of these compounds were established by physical data analyses such as HRESIMS, IR, 1D and 2D NMR and ECD calculations. All isolated compounds were tested for anti-hepatitis B virus (anti-HBV) activity. Ten compounds (5, 6, 12, 13, 17, 19, 23, 26, 29, and 30) exhibited activities against the secretions of HBsAg and HBeAg. In particular, compound 6 showed inhibition of HBsAg and HBeAg secretion with IC50 values of 11.24 and 15.12 μM, with SI values of 1.25 and 0.93, respectively. Molecular docking studies were also conducted on the anti-HBV compounds. Overall, this study provides insights into the potential therapeutic uses of the compounds found in the roots of S. lappa, particularly in the treatment of hepatitis B virus infections. [Display omitted] •Thirty sesquiterpenoids including four new ones were isolated from the roots of Saussurea lappa.•Ten compounds (5, 6, 12, 13, 17, 19, 23, 26, 29, and 30) exhibited activities against the secretions of HBsAg and HBeAg.•The most active compound 6 inhibited HBsAg and HBeAg secretion with IC50 values of 11.24 and 15.12 μM.