Two new phenanthrene glucosides, named 2'-hydroxy-4,4',7'-trimethoxy-1,1'-biphenanthrene-2,7-di-O-β-D-glucoside (1) and 1-(4-hydroxybenzyl)-4-methoxy-2,7-dihydroxy-phenanthrene-8-O-β-D-glucoside (2), together with three known compounds were isolated from the tubers of Cremastra appendiculata (D.Don) Makino. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral data. Compounds 1-4 showed moderate cytotoxic activity and compound 5 showed weak cytotoxic activity against the two cell lines tested. This is the first reported occurrence of an unusual biphenanthrene glucoside in this plant.

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