Dammarane-type saponins from Panax japonicus and their neurite outgrowth activity in SK-N-SH cells

Four new dammarane-type saponins (1-4), named yesanchinosides G-J, together with nine ginsenosides (5-13) were isolated from Ye-Sanchi, the underground part of Panaxjaponicus collected in the south of Yunnan Province, China. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic and chemical methods. Ginsenosides Rb1 and Rb3 and notoginsenosides R4 (6) and Fa (7) showed significant neurite outgrowth enhancing activities in human neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cells.