Bacopasaponin

The neuroprotective actions of B. monnieri are mainly attributed by bacosides, which are dammarane type of triterpenoid saponins [34]. Bacosides were initially thought to be the mixture of bacoside A (melting point 250 °C) and B (melting point 203 °C). But later on, it was revealed that they are the stereoisomers of the same compound, where bacoside A was found levorotatory and bacoside B dextrorotatory [35]. The other active agents as extracted from this medicinal plant, namely, bacopasaponins A, B, C, D, E, and F [36] and also bacopasides I, II, III, IV, and V, were isolated and characterized [37, 38]. Figure 120.6 depicts chemical structures of some important saponins obtained from B. monnieri. 

Bacopasaponin E 3-0-[P-D-glucop3Tanosyl-(l 3)- a-L-arabinofuranosyl-(l 2) -a-L-arabinopyranosyl]-20-C)-(a-L-arabinopyranosyl) jujubogenin... 

Fig. 120.6 Structure of some important saponins obtained from B. monnierv. (a) bacopasaponins A, B, C, D (b) bacoside A3 and bacopasides II, Nl, N2, IV, V (c) bacopaside III G...

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