A modified method of preparing 20（S）-ginsenoside Rh2（G-Rh2） and the inhibitory effect of 20（S）-ginsenoside Rh2 on Hep-A-22 cells were investigated. The total saponins and strong alkali were dissolved in glycerol at the atmospheric pressure, and the degradation was performed at a high temperature. After G-Rh2 had been isolated and purified, MTT（methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium） assay was applied to evaluating the effect of 20（S）-ginsenoside Rh2 on the cells viability and morphological changes were observed. It was shown that 20（S）-ginsenoside Rh2 can reduce Hep-A-22 cells viability in dose-dependent manner and the cells took on cell shrinkage, membrane blebbing, chromosomal condensations, especially under the higher concentrations of it. In conclusion, 20（S）-ginsenoside Rh2 can be prepared effectively that not only decreases viability but also induces the apoptosis of Hep-A-22 cells.
Gross saponins of Tribulus terrestris（GSTT） have exact effect on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.But as a mixture,the specific efficient component of GSTT is still unknown.Nine monomers of spirostanol saponins were isolated and idendified as JA―JI（named transitorily） by means of NMR spectrometry.After bio-activity screening on them,we defined that monomers tigogenin 3-O-β-D-xylopyranosyl（1→2）-[β-D-xylopyranosyl（1→3）]-β-D-glucopyranosyl（1→4）-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl（1→2）]-β-D-galactopyranoside（compound JB） and hecogenin3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl（1→4）-β-D-galactopyranoside（compound JG） have cytoprotective bio-activity.Compound JB display effective dose in 10-8 and 10-9 mol/L,and JG in 10-6―10-9 mol/L.Survival rate,lactate dehydrogenase（LDH） and apoptosis also show that JB（at dose 10-8,10-9 and 10-10 mol/L） can protect myocardial injury caused by hypoxia/reoxygenation（H/R）.While morphology change also shows JG has cytoprotective bio-activity.
