New triterpene saponins from flowers of Impatiens balsamina L. and their anti-hepatic fibrosis activity

- Impatiens balsamina L. is used as functional food in China.
- Four new triterpene saponins were isolated from this plant.
- The new compounds showed significant anti-hepatic fibrosis activity.

Impatiens balsamina L. is an edible plant and it has also been used as traditional medicine in Asia. Phytochemical investigations of the Impatiens balsamina L. flowers afforded four new triterpene saponins (Balsaminside A-D, 1-4) and six known compounds (5-10) which were first isolated from this plant. The structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic methods including NMR (1D and 2D), and HR-ESI-MS. Analysis of the bioassay result showed that all the new compound had significant cytotoxic activity against t-HSC/Cl-6 cells. The result suggested that triterpene saponins from Impatiens balsamina L. are potential functional food ingredients that can be used as new anti-hepatic fibrosis agent.