Product name: Dracaenoside F
Synonym name:
Catalogue No.: BP4705
Cas No.: 109460-83-5
Formula: C₃₉H₆₂O₁₃
Mol Weight: 738.912
Botanical Source:
Type of Compound: Steroids

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

Dracaenoside F is a natural steroidal saponin that was first isolated from the Dracaena cochinchinensis plant. As one of the important active ingredients in the traditional Chinese medicine "Dragon Blood Exhaust," dracaenin saponin F has attracted widespread attention in recent years due to its diverse biological activities. This compound exhibits significant pharmacological effects in hemostasis and hematologic regulation, targeting various key coagulation factors and regulatory proteins such as SERPINE1, prothrombin (F2), coagulation factors F7, F9, F10, plasma fibrinogen binding protein (VWF), and protein C (PROC).

With the deepening development of natural product pharmacology and molecular pharmacology, the structural characteristics, pharmacological mechanisms, and druggability evaluation of Saponin F in Dragon Blood Saponin have gradually become clearer, laying the foundation for its development as a potential novel hemostatic drug. This paper systematically reviews the chemical structure and physicochemical properties of Dracaenin F, plant origin and extraction methods, pharmacological activity and mechanism of action, druggability evaluation, and clinical application prospects, aiming to provide comprehensive reference for related research.

Chemical structure and physicochemical properties

Dragosaenoside F belongs to the steroid saponin class with a molecular formula of C_42H_66O_12 and a molecular weight of 738.9120. Its structural core is a typical steroid backbone, connected to multiple glycoside groups, giving it high polarity and biological activity. The LogP value of dragon saponin F was 2.1291, indicating moderate lipid solubility that facilitates cell membrane penetration, but its polarity is relatively high. TPSA (topological pole surface area) is 196.99 Ų, indicating a large number of polar groups on its molecular surface, affecting its bioavailability and in vivo distribution.

Its low water solubility (0.0355 mg/mL) limits its solubility in the aqueous phase, but moderate lipid solubility favors its interaction with the lipid environment. Dragosaponin F does not have the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier, suggesting its effect is mainly limited to peripheral systems. In terms of safety, the hERG channel inhibition test was negative, indicating a low risk of cardiotoxicity; The Ames mutagenic test result was 0.0, indicating no significant genotoxicity risk.

From the perspective of chemical stability, steroid saponins generally have good stability, but glycosidic bonds are easily affected by acids, bases, and enzymatic hydrolysis. Extraction and preparation require careful control of conditions to ensure the integrity of active ingredients.

Plant Origins and Extraction Methods

Dracaena saponin F is mainly isolated from Dracaena cochinchinensis. This plant is a perennial evergreen woody plant distributed in Southeast Asia and southern China. Its resinous secretion, 'Dragon Blood Exhaust,' is widely used in traditional medicine for hemostasis, anti-inflammation, and to promote wound healing.

Common methods for extracting Saponin F from dragon blood tree include:

1. Solvent extraction: Using ethanol or methanol as extraction solvents, extracted by reflux or ultrasound, can effectively dissolve steroidal saponin components.
2. Liquid-liquid separation: The crude extract is separated by water-ethyl acetate or n-hexane to remove fat-soluble impurities and enrich saponins.
3. Chromatographic separation: Extracts are separated and purified using silica gel column chromatography, medium-pressure liquid chromatography (MPLC), or high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), ultimately obtaining high-purity dragon saponin F.
4. Structural identification: Confirm compound structure using methods such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), mass spectrometry (MS), infrared spectroscopy (IR), and other methods.

In recent years, the application of supercritical CO_2 extraction and membrane separation technologies has provided new technical approaches to improve extraction efficiency and purity, promising large-scale production of dragon blood saponin F.

Pharmacological activity research

Dragosaponin F exhibits multiple biological effects in terms of pharmacological activity, especially showing significant potential in hemostasis and hematologic regulation.

Hemostatic activity

Dragosaenoside F promotes blood coagulation by regulating various coagulation factors and blood-related proteins, thereby exerting a hemostatic effect. In vitro experiments have shown that this compound can enhance the shortening of prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), suggesting it promotes activation of both exogenous and endogenous coagulation pathways.

Anti-inflammatory and promotes wound healing

In traditional use, 'Dragon Blood Exhaust' has anti-inflammatory and wound healing effects. As the main active ingredient, Dragon Blood Saponin F also inhibits the release of inflammatory factors and regulates immune responses. In cell experiments, it can inhibit the expression of inflammatory mediators such as TNF-α and IL-6, reducing tissue inflammatory responses.

Other potential activities

Some studies suggest that Dragosaenoside F may have antioxidant, anti-tumor, and lipid-regulating potential, but the related mechanisms require further elucidation.

Mechanism of action and molecular targets

The hemostatic mechanism of Dragosaenoside F mainly involves regulating key factors in the blood coagulation cascade. Its targets include:

• SERPINE1 (Plasma plasminogen activator inhibitor 1): Promotes blood clot stability by regulating fibrinolytic system balance.
• F2 (prothrombin): Promotes thrombin production and accelerates the formation of the fibrin network.
• F7, F9, F10 (coagulation factors): enhance the cascade of exogenous and endogenous coagulation pathways.
• VWF (plasma fibrinogen binding protein): promotes platelet adhesion and aggregation, enhancing primary hemostasis.
• PROC (Protein C): Regulates the anticoagulant system, maintaining coagulation and anticoagulation balance.

Molecular docking and bioinformatics analysis showed that Dragosaponin F can form stable binding with the active sites of these proteins, regulating their active states. Additionally, Dragosaponin F may indirectly affect the homeostasis of the blood system by regulating signaling pathways such as NF-κB and MAPK.

Druggability evaluation and pharmacokinetics

The druggability parameters of Dragosaponin F indicate that it has certain development potential:

• The molecular weight is 738.9120, which is relatively large but still within an acceptable range.
• The LogP is 2.1291, indicating moderate lipid solubility and favorable cell membrane penetration.
• A relatively high TPSA (196.99 Ų) suggests strong polarity, which may affect oral bioavailability.
• Low water solubility (0.0355 mg/mL) limits its solubility in the aqueous phase and requires formulation optimization to improve it.
• The blood-brain barrier has a low penetration ability, reducing the risk of central nervous system side effects.
• hERG inhibitor is negative, with a low risk of cardiotoxicity.
• Ames test is negative, with low genotoxicity risk.

Pharmacokinetic research is still in its early stages, and its absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion characteristics in vivo require further systematic evaluation. Given their high polarity and molecular weight, oral absorption may be limited. In the future, bioavailability can be enhanced through novel drug delivery systems such as nanocarriers and liposomes.

Prospects and outlooks for clinical applications

As a natural steroid saponin, Dragosaponin F has the potential to become a new type of hemostatic drug due to its remarkable hemostatic activity and good safety. Its diverse targets are coordinated with coagulation and anticoagulation systems, making it suitable for surgery, trauma hemostasis, and adjunctive treatment of certain bleeding disorders.

The future clinical application prospects mainly include:

• Hemostatic agent development: local or systemic medication targeting surgical bleeding and traumatic bleeding.
• Anti-inflammatory and wound repair: combined with its anti-inflammatory and healing effects, it is applied to pathological conditions such as burns and ulcers.
• Combination medication: Combined with anticoagulants and antiplatelet drugs to regulate blood system balance.

However, the clinical translation of Dragosaponin F still faces many challenges, including formulation optimization, pharmacokinetic improvement, toxicological safety system evaluation, and large-scale clinical trial validation. Future research should focus on breaking through its bioavailability limits, clarifying its mechanism of action, conducting multicenter clinical studies, and promoting its advancement toward clinical application.

Conclusion

As an important steroid saponin active ingredient in Dracaena cochinchinensis, Dragosaenoside F exhibits unique hemostatic and blood-regulating functions. Its multi-target mechanism of action and good safety provide important evidence for the development of novel hemostatic drugs. Although there are still shortcomings in pharmacokinetics and clinical validation, with the development of natural product pharmacology and modern pharmaceutical technologies, Dragosaponin F is expected to become an innovative breakthrough in the field of natural-derived hemostatic drugs. In the future, systematic pharmacological mechanism research, formulation technology optimization, and clinical trials will be key factors driving its clinical application.

In summary, Dragosaponin F not only enriches the research system for steroid saponin drugs but also provides a valuable example for the translational application of natural product pharmacology, worthy of ongoing attention and in-depth exploration in scientific research and pharmaceutical development.