Antifungal saponins from Paris Polyphylla Smith

Abstract

Three steroidal saponins, including one new and two known compounds, were isolated from the rhizomes of Paris polyphylla Smith. One- and two-dimensional NMR, LC-MS, and interpretation of hydrolytic cleavage experiments led to the identification of the structure of the new saponin as (25i?)-spirost-5-ene- 3β,17α-diol (pennogenin) 3-0-{0-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-( 1 →2 )-O-[O-β-xylopyranosyl-(l→5)-α-L-arabinofuranosyl-(1→4)]- β-D-glucopyranoside}. The isolated saponins were evaluated for their antifungal activity against Cladosporium cladosporioides and Candida species and showed comparable activity to chemicals used in some commercial products. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG.