Dammarane-type triterpenoid saponins from Gynostemma pentaphyllum collected from Guangxi, China and their effects on ATP production in C2C12 myotubes.

Ten undescribed dammarane-type triterpenoid saponins (1‒10), along with six known analogues (11‒16) were isolated from the dry leaves of Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) Makino, collected from Guilin City in Guangxi, China. Their diverse structures were elucidated on the basis of comprehensive spectroscopic analysis of 1D and 2D NMR, HR-MS, and acid hydrolysis. Among the isolates, three compounds (5, 12, and 16) significantly increased intracellular ATP levels in C2C12 myotubes, reaching 153.2%, 154.7%, and 134.9%, respectively. Further investigation revealed that these regulatory effects were mediated through the modulation of mitochondrial function, among which compound 12 exhibited the strongest agonist activity on the mitochondrial ATP production, elevating it by 25.45%. These findings deepen the insight into dammarane-type saponins and underscore the potential of G. pentaphyllum in anti-fatigue applications.