Product name: Eclalbasaponin I
Synonym name:
Catalogue No.: BP4201
Cas No.: 158511-59-2
Formula: C₄₂H₆₈O₁₄
Mol Weight: 796.992
Botanical Source: EcliptaprostrataL.
Type of Compound: Triterpenoids

Purity: 95%~99%
Analysis Method: HPLC-DAD or/and HPLC-ELSD
Identification Method: Mass, NMR
Packing: Brown vial or HDPE plastic bottle

Storage: Store in a well closed container, protected from air and light. Put into refrigerate or freeze for long term storage.
Whenever possible, you should prepare and use solutions on the same day. However, if you need to make up stock solutions in advance, we recommend that you store the solution as aliquots in tightly sealed vials at -20℃. Generally, these will be useable for up to two weeks.

The product could be supplied from milligrams to grams
Inquire for bulk scale.

For Reference Standard and R&D, Not for Human Use Directly.

Storage conditions：Short-term storage at 2~8℃, long-term storage at -20 ~ -80℃

Introduction/Overview

Eclalbasaponin I is a natural triterpene saponin compound isolated from the traditional medicinal plant Eclipta prostrata L. (Asteraceae). Eclipta is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine for purposes such as clearing heat and detoxifying, promoting blood circulation and stopping bleeding, and protecting the liver. In recent years, the pharmacological effects of its active ingredients have attracted significant attention. As one of the important active components in this plant, Ecliptosaponin I demonstrates significant antitumor and anti-inflammatory activities, especially in inhibiting the proliferation of liver cancer cells. This paper aims to systematically review the chemical structure and physicochemical properties of Estadenoid I, plant origin and extraction methods, pharmacological activity and mechanism, druggability evaluation and pharmacokinetic characteristics, and to explore its clinical application prospects and future research directions.

Chemical structure and physicochemical properties

Eclipta saponin I has the molecular formula C_42H_66O_15 and a molecular weight of 796.9920, belonging to the triterpene saponin class of natural products. Its structure consists of triterpene parent nuclei connected to multiple glycosidic groups via glycosidic bonds, exhibiting typical saponin molecular characteristics. The LogP value was 2.6368, indicating moderate lipid solubility, which is beneficial for cell membrane penetration. The polar surface area (TPSA) is 236.0600, showing high polarity and hydrogen bond donor/acceptor capacity, which is related to its polysaccharide structure. Low water solubility (0.0697) suggests limited solubility in the aqueous phase, which may affect oral bioavailability. Low blood-brain barrier penetration indicates limited distribution in the central nervous system. The hERG channel inhibition test was negative, indicating a low risk of cardiotoxicity. The Ames-induced mutagenic test result was 0.0, indicating no significant genotoxicity.

Plant Origins and Extraction Methods

Eclipta prostrata L. is mainly derived from Eclipta prostrata L., a plant widely distributed across tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Traditionally, Eclipta has been used as an herbal remedy to treat various ailments. Modern pharmacological research has found that Eclipta sacchaft contains various active ingredients, including flavonoids, triterpene saponins, volatile oils, and polysaccharides.

Common methods for extracting Eclipta saponin I include:

1. Solvent extraction: Using ethanol or methanol as the main solvent, extracted by reflux or ultrasound, can effectively dissolve saponin components.
2. Separation and purification: Using liquid-liquid partitioning, silica gel column chromatography, and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC), gradually enriched and purified Ecliptosaponin I.
3. Structural identification: Confirm its chemical structure using methods such as mass spectrometry (MS), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and infrared spectroscopy (IR).

In recent years, the application of supercritical fluid extraction and membrane separation technologies has also provided new ideas for improving extraction efficiency and purity.

Pharmacological activity research

Antitumor activity

Estadenoid I demonstrates significant antitumor activity in multiple in vitro experiments. Especially in the liver cancer cell line SMMC-7721, Eclipta saponin I can effectively inhibit cell proliferation, with a half-inhibition concentration (IC50) of 111.1703 μg/ml. This inhibitory effect may be closely related to inducing apoptosis, blocking the cell cycle, and suppressing tumor-related signaling pathways.

In addition, the activity of Eclipta saponin I on other tumor cell lines still requires further systematic evaluation, but existing studies suggest it has certain growth-inhibiting effects on various cancer cells.

Anti-inflammatory activity

Inflammatory responses are the foundation for the development of various diseases, and the mechanism of Estagenin I's anti-inflammatory effects is gradually being revealed. It mainly works by regulating various inflammation-related targets, including:

• IL-6 and TNF: Inhibit the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and reduce inflammatory responses.
• STAT3: Blocks signal transduction and activation of transcription activator factor 3, inhibiting inflammatory signaling.
• CASP1: Regulates the activity of inflammasomes and reduces the release of inflammatory mediators.
• PTGS1 and PTGS2 (COX-1 and COX-2): Inhibit prostaglandin synthesis and reduce levels of inflammatory mediators.
• NOS2: Reduces the expression of induced nitric oxide synthase, lowering oxidative stress.
• NFKB1: Inhibits the nuclear factor κB signaling pathway, blocking the transcription of inflammatory genes.
• TRPV1 and TRPA1: regulate pain and inflammatory receptors, alleviating inflammation-related symptoms.

The combined regulation of these targets enables Ecliptosaponin I to demonstrate good anti-inflammatory effects across various inflammatory models.

Mechanism of action and molecular targets

The pharmacological effects of Estadenin I mainly depend on its interactions with various cellular signaling pathways and key molecules. Its antitumor and anti-inflammatory molecular mechanisms mainly include:

1. Induces apoptosis
   Estagenin I can activate endogenous apoptosis pathways, regulate the expression of Bcl-2 family proteins, promote the Caspase cascade, and ultimately trigger tumor cell apoptosis.

2. Inhibits cell proliferation and cell cycle arrest
   By regulating cyclins and their dependent kinases, they block the progression of the cell cycle and inhibit tumor cell proliferation.

3. Regulates inflammatory signaling pathways
   Inhibits the activity of transcription factors such as NF-κB and STAT3, reduces the expression of pro-inflammatory factors like IL-6 and TNF-α, and alleviates inflammatory responses.

4. Antioxidant and suppression of oxidative stress
   By inhibiting NOS2 expression, it reduces the production of excess nitric oxide and lessens oxidative damage.

5. Regulates pain and receptor pathways
   Acts on TRPV1 and TRPA1 ion channels to relieve inflammation-related pain.

The synergistic effect of these mechanisms gives Ecliptosaponin I multi-target, multi-pathway therapeutic potential.

Druggability evaluation and pharmacokinetics

From the perspective of druggability, Eclipta saponin I has the following characteristics:

• The molecular weight is relatively large (796.9920), exceeding the ideal range for traditional small molecule drugs, which may affect its oral absorption and bioavailability.
• Moderate lipophilic (LogP 2.6368) favors membrane penetration, but high polarity (TPSA 236.0600) may limit its ability to cross the cell membrane.
• Water solubility is relatively low (0.0697), indicating limited solubility in the aqueous phase, requiring formulation technology to improve dissolution and absorption.
• The blood-brain barrier has low penetration capacity, reducing the risk of central nervous system side effects, but limiting its use in treating central nervous system diseases.
• No hERG channel suppression, low risk of cardiotoxicity.
• No genotoxicity (Ames test negative), relatively safe.

Currently, pharmacokinetic research on Estadenin I is relatively limited. Preliminary data indicate that its oral absorption rate is low, and metabolic pathways in vivo may involve corresponding enzyme systems in the liver. In the future, systematic ADME (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion) studies are needed to clarify its in vivo behavior and optimize administration regimens.

Prospects and outlooks for clinical applications

Ecliptosaponin I demonstrates promising clinical application potential due to its remarkable antitumor and anti-inflammatory activities. It holds significant development value especially in adjuvant therapy for malignant tumors such as liver cancer. Moreover, its multi-target ability to regulate inflammatory responses offers new treatment ideas for chronic inflammatory diseases such as autoimmune diseases and metabolic syndromes.

However, the clinical application of Ecliptoside I still faces many challenges:

• Pharmacokinetic limitations: Factors such as large molecular weight and poor water solubility affect its bioavailability and distribution in vivo.
• Insufficient safety and toxicology data: Systematic assessment of long-term medication safety risks is needed.
• Lack of preclinical and clinical research: There is an urgent need to conduct animal model validation and early clinical trials to clarify efficacy and safety.

Future research should focus on:

1. Optimizing extraction and purification processes to improve product purity and stability.
2. Pharmacokinetic properties are improved through structural modification or drug delivery systems such as nanocarriers.
3. In-depth analysis of mechanisms of action to uncover more potential targets.
4. Conduct systematic toxicological and pharmacodynamic evaluations to promote clinical translation.

Conclusion

As an important active ingredient in Eclipta, Eclipta serosides, it exhibits significant antitumor and anti-inflammatory activity, with a mechanism of action involving regulation of multiple targets and multi-signal pathways. Its favorable safety indicators provide favorable conditions for future drug development. Despite challenges in druggability and pharmacokinetics, through the application of modern drug design and formulation technologies, Estadenoid I is expected to become an important candidate molecule in the development of natural product drugs. In the future, preclinical research and clinical trials should be strengthened to promote their application in the treatment of tumors and inflammatory diseases, achieving the transformation from traditional medicinal plants to modern medicines.