Abstract
Anti-herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) activity of oleanane-tpe triterpenoidal saponins obtained from some fabaceous plants were examined. Among sophoradiol glycosides, the order of potency was kaikasaponins III>I»sophoradiol monoglucurnoide. It was suggested that the trisaccharide group showed greater action than the disaccharide group. Neither the monoglucuronide of sophordadiol nor that of soyasapogenol B showed activity. Among the trisaccharide group of soyasapogenol B, the order of activity was azukisaponin V>soyasaponin II>astragaloside VIII»soyasaponin I. Therefore, the saponin having a glucosyl unit in the central sugar moiety seemed to show greater action. In comparison with the activities for a group having the same trisacchardie, the potency of the sapogenol moieties was found to be in the order of soyasapogenol E>sophoradiol»soyasapogenol B. Hence, the carbonyl group at C-22 would be more effective than the hydroxyl group in anti-HSV-1 activity, while the hydroxyl group at C-24 could reduce the activity.
