Anti-Proliferative Effect of Triterpenoidal Glycosides from the Roots of Anemone vitifolia through a Pro-Apoptotic Way

A cytotoxicity-guided phytochemical investigation of Anemone vitifolia roots led to the isolation of six oleanane saponins (1–6), which were reported from the species for the first time. Their structures were determined by comparing its MS and NMR data with those in literature. Compounds 1–4 showed significant inhibitory effects on the proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells with IC(50) values ranging from 2.0 to 8.5 μM, compared to positive control methotrexate with IC(50) value of 15.8 μM. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that compounds 1–4 exerted anti-proliferative effects through a pro-apoptotic way of hepatocellular carcinoma cells.