Biomarkers for Ilex pubescens under anti-platelet activity-oriented isolation

• We studied the chemical constituents of the roots of Ilex pubescens Hook. et Arn. and obtained twenty-one compounds which were elucidated by spectroscopic methods.
• Compounds 12 and 15─17 were isolated from Aquifoliaceae family for the first time, while compounds 2 and 4 were obtained firstly from I. pubescens.
• This study exhibited triterpenoids may serve as biomarkers for seeking alternative sources for I. pubescens.

In the present study, eleven ursane triterpenoids (1—11), seven oleanane triterpenoids (12—18), one lupine sapogenin (19) as well as two sterols (20 and 21) were obtained from Ilex pubescens under the anti-platelet activity-oriented isolation. Among them, compounds 2 and 4 were isolated from I. pubescens for the first time, while the isolation of the compounds 12, 15, 16 and 17 was a new finding in the Aquifoliaceae family. Our present study exhibited the taxonomic relationships (similarities and differences) between I. pubescens and some other species of genus Ilex. The result also suggested that triterpenoids are the anti-platelet components which may be fingerprints and serve as biomarkers for seeking alternative sources for I. pubescens.