LAUSR

Abstract Four new furostanol saponins ( 1  –  4 ) and a new pregane-type saponin ( 5 ) along with six known steroidal saponins ( 6  –  11 ) were isolated from the rhizomes of Smilax china . The structures of 1  –  5 were elucidated by extensive analysis of NMR and HR-ESI-MS data in addition to enzymatic hydrolysis and other chemical methods. Compounds 1, 4 , and 11 showed inhibitory activity against the expression of proinflammatory mediators, inducible nitric oxide synthase, interleukin-1 β , interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor- α in lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW264.7 cells. Compound 1 , at a concentration of 20 µM, decreased the production of inducible nitric oxide synthase, interleukin-1 β , interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor- α by 36, 62, 72, and 67%, respectively, which is comparable to that of the positive control dexamethasone.