Anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective triterpenoids from the traditional Mongolian medicine Gentianopsis barbata

Gentianopsis barbata is an essential plant with high ornamental and medicinal values in China. This study aimed to clarify the main components within the plant and explore their pharmacological activity. Fifty triterpenoids (1−50) including nine previously undescribed ones (1, 2, 7, 10, 20, 28, 29, 37, and 41) were isolated and identified from the whole plants of G. barbata. Among them, compounds 1 and 2 shared the novel 3,4;9,10-seco-24-homo-cycloartane triterpenoid skeleton. Significant anti-inflammatory activity via inhibiting the secretion of cytokines TNF-α and IL-6 in LPS-induced macrophages RAW264.7, and hepatoprotective activity via protecting t-BHP-induced oxidative injury in HepG2 cells were observed for these triterpenoid isolates. These findings not only highlight the occurrence of abundant triterpenoids in G. barbata, but also showcase their beneficial effects on the inflammatory and hepatic diseases, offering experimental supports for the potential clinical application of this traditional Mongolian medicinal plant.