1 The mechanisms involved in the apoptotic e ect of saikosaponin-d, a triterpene saponin from Bupleurum falcatum L., were studied in human CEM lymphocytes and compared with those of dexamethasone (3610 77 M). 6 Levels of c-myc, p53, and bcl-2 mRNA were analysed by the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Levels of c-myc and p53 mRNA were signi®cantly increased, while the level of bcl-2 mRNA was decreased, by saikosaponin-d (10 75 M) treatment. Dexamethasone did not signi®cantly change the expression of these genes. 7 It is suggested that the apoptotic e ect of saikosaponin-d may be partly mediated by increases in c-myc and p53 mRNA levels accompanied by a decrease in bcl-2 mRNA level.

4beta-Methoxymethyl-4beta-demethyl territrem B [5] was synthesized from 4beta-hydroxymethyl-beta-demethyl territrem B [4] by treatment with dimethyl sulfate in methanolic NaOH. The structure of 5 was elucidated by uv, nmr and mass spectra. The IC50 of 5 on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) was 6.30 x 10(-5) M, which indicated 0.4% of the anti-AChE activity of territrem B [2].