Sitoindoside

As part of a search for chemopreventive agents from natural products, nearly 400 plant extracts were tested for their potential to induce human promyelocytic leukemia (HL-60) cell differentiation. Seventeen of the plant extracts were active, with ED50 values of 4 pg/mL [139], One of most potent was an extract derived from Dirca occidentalis (Thymelaeaceae), which gave an ED50 of 0.14 pg/mL, and from it genkwanin, (+)-lariciresinol and sitoindoside II were isolated as active principles by a bioassay-guided fractionation. The ED50 values of the compounds were 18.3, 1.1 and 0.069 pM, respectively. 

Bhattacharya, S.K., R.K. Goel, R. Kaur, and S. Ghosal. 1987. Antistress activity of Sitoindosides VII and VIII, new acylsteryl-glucosides from Withania somnifera. Phytother. Res. 1 (l) 32-37. 

Oleoyl P-D-glucopyranoside) Sitoindoside II. Constit. of M. paradisiaca. Shows antiulcerogenic activity. Amorph. powder. [of]D —10.2 (CHCI3). 3P,24R)-form [83-46-5]... 

The root of Withania somnifera can exert both immunostimulant and immunodepressant activities. Two glycowithanolides (Sitoindosides IX and X) mobilise and activate macrophages and induce proliferation in murine splenocytes [38]. This effect has been suggested to be the basis of its use as a rasayana in Ayurveda. 

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