Steroidal Saponins from the Rhizomes of Ruscus Hypophyllum

Abstract

Phytochemical screening of the rhizomes of Ruscus hypophyllum (Liliaceae) has resulted in the isolation of five spirostanol saponins (1-5) including a new saponin (4) and nine furostanol saponins (6-14) including three new saponins (9-11), together with a known cholestane glycoside (15) and a new cholestane glycoside (16). The structures of the new compounds were determined on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis, including 2D NMR data, and chemical evidence. The spirostanol saponins 1, 2, and 5 showed moderate cytotoxic activity against HL-60 human promyelocytic leukemia cells.

Ruscus Genus: A Rich Source of Bioactive Steroidal Saponins

“…The first report was compound 108 in R. hypoglossum [21]. The six cholestane saponins 109-113 [22] and 114 have been isolated from R. hypophyllum [23]. Moreover, a sulphated cholestane glycoside (115) has been reported in R. colchicus [17] (l " Fig.…”

“…These aglycones and derived spiro-and furostanol glycosides were subsequently also isolated from other species of the genus. Moreover, a series of cholestane glycosides have been isolated only from R. colchicus, R. hypoglossum, and R. hypophyllum [21][22][23], and few examples of pregnane glycosides have been reported in R. aculeatus, R. hypoglossum, and R. ponticus [6,24]. Generally, the fresh underground parts of the plant material were extracted with methanol, and sometimes the obtained crude extract was partitioned between water and n-butanol.…”

Open-chain steroidal glycosides, a diverse class of plant saponins

“…28 Subsequently, 34 has been reported as a natural product occurring in Reineckea carnea (Andrews) Kunth, 30 Allium jesdianum Boiss. & Buhse, 31 Allium tubersoum Rottler ex Spreng., 32 Ruscus hypophyllum, 33 Convallaria majalis L., 34 and Polygonatum sibiricum F.Delaroche. 35 Additional alliosterol glycosides having two sugar units separately linked at C-1 and C-16 are: 36 and 37 isolated from Beaucarnea recurvata Lem.…”

“…Cytotoxic activity against the HL-60 human promyelocytic leukemia cell line has been evaluated for open-chain saponins isolated from Ornithoglaum saunderisae, 77,78,103,138 O. thyrsoides, 39,101,138 O. candicans (syn. Galtonia candicans), 17,46,138 Ruscus hypophyllum, 33 Allium jesdianum, 31 Polianthes tuberosa, 37 Cordyline terminalis, 107 and Clintonia udensis. 65 Though this is the most common bioactivity assay performed on open-chain plant glycosides, cytotoxicity against other human cancer cell lines has been assessed for saponins isolated from Dioscorea septemloba, 60,105 D. bulbifera, 73,74 Ornithogalum thyrsoides, 39 Allium nigrum, 29 A. macrostemon, 139 Tribulus macropterus, 75 Chamaelirium luteum, 23 Camassia leichtinii, 112 and Cestrum nocturnum.…”