Acylated Oleanane‐Type Triterpene Saponins with Acceleration of Gastrointestinal Transit and Inhibitory Effect on Pancreatic Lipase from Flower Buds of Chinese Tea Plant (Camellia sinensis)

Abstract magnified image The MeOH extract and its BuOH‐soluble fraction (crude saponin fraction) from the flower buds of Chinese tea plant ( Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze ; Fujian Province) were found to exhibit accelerating effects on gastrointestinal transit in mice and inhibitory effects against pancreatic lipase. From the BuOH‐soluble fraction, three new acylated oleanane‐type triterpene oligoglycosides, chakasaponins I, II, and III ( 1 – 3 , resp.), were isolated together with 13 known compounds. The chemical structures 1 – 3 were elucidated on the basis of chemical and physicochemical evidence. Compounds 1 – 3 showed accelerating effects on gastrointestinal transit in mice and inhibitory effects against porcine pancreatic lipase ( IC 50 =150–530 μ M ).