Cytotoxic cardenolides from woods of Euonymus alata

Abstract

Three cytotoxic cardenolides, acovenosigenin A 3-O-α-L-ramnopyranoside (1), euonymoside A (2) and euonymusoside A (3), were isolated from the woods of Euonymus alata (Celastraceae). The chemical structure of a new cardenolide, euonymusoside A (3) has been elucidated on the basis of extensive spectral analysis and enzymic hydrolysis to be acovenosigenin A (1β,3β,14β-trihydroxy-5β-cardenolide) 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl(1 → 6)- β-D-glucopyranosyl(1 → 4)-α-L-rhamnopyranoside. All three showed potent cytotoxic activity against some neoplastic cell lines.