Triterpene saponins with XOD inhibitory activity from the roots of Ilex pubescens

A new triterpene saponin with 28-nor-urs-12(13),18(17)-dien-3β-ol as aglycone, named ilexsaponin C (1) was isolated from the roots of Ilex pubescens, together with three known saponins 2, 3 and 4. The structure of 1 was elucidated on the basis of spectral analysis including 1D and 2D NMR and HR-ESI-MS. Saponins 1 and 4 exhibited significant XOD inhibitory activity in the test.