Preparation and characterisation of two new malonylated rare ginsenosides by acid hydrolysis and their anti-hepatoma activities

Malonylginsenosides (MGR), the primary bioactive constituents in ginseng, exhibit significant pharmacological properties and constitute 35-60% of the total saponins in the plant's fresh and dried states. In this investigation, two new degradation products of malonylginsenosides, named malonylginsenoside 20(<i>S</i>)-Rg₃ and malonylginsenoside 20(<i>R</i>)-Rg₃ (<b>1</b> and <b>2</b>) were prepared through acid hydrolysis. The structural features of these compounds were characterised using IR, ECD, HR-ESI-MS, and NMR spectroscopy. Additionally, the anti-hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) activity of compounds <b>1</b> and <b>2</b> was assessed <i>via in vitro</i> assays on HepG2 cells, revealing that the two compounds markedly inhibited cancer cell growth, colony formation, and metastatic behaviours, alongside inducing apoptotic cell death. Importantly, these new malonylated rare ginsenosides exhibited more pronounced anticancer effects compared to their precursor malonylginsenosides.