Ursane-type triterpene oligoglycosides with anti-hepatosteatosis and anti-hyperlipidemic activity from the leaves of Ilex paraguariensis A. St.-Hil.

The methanol extract from the leaves of Ilex paraguariensis A. St.-Hil. ( Aquifoliaceae ), popularly known as mate, maté, or yerba maté, inhibits the intracellular triglyceride accumulation in HepG2 cells and suppresses the plasma triglyceride elevation in olive oil-treated mice. Three new triterpene saponins, termed mateosides I ( 1 ), II ( 2 ), and III ( 3 ), were isolated from the extract along with 29 known compounds. The structures of 1 – 3 were elucidated based on chemical and spectroscopic evidence. Among the isolates, principal saponin constituents, 2 and matesaponins 1 ( 7 ) and 2 ( 9 ), potently inhibited the triglyceride accumulation in HepG2 cells simultaneously treated with oleic acid and high glucose. In vivo assay of the methanol extract of I. paraguariensis revealed that 7 and 9 showed anti-hyperlipidemic activities in olive oil-treated mice. These results suggested that the saponin constituents of I. paraguariensis could be valuable bioactive marker for the anti-obesogenic activity. Graphical abstract