Steroidal constituents from roots and rhizomes of Smilacina japonica

Abstract

Four new steroidal constituents (1–4) along with two known steroidal glycosides (5 and 6) were isolated from the roots and rhizomes of Smilacina japonica. Analysis of their physicochemical properties and spectroscopic profiles identified the compounds as (25S)-5α-spirostan-9(11)-en-3β, 17α-diol (1); (25S)-5α-spirostan-9(11)-en-3β, 12β-diol (2); (25S)-5α-spirostan-9(11)-en-3β, 17α-diol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (3); (25S)-5α-spirostan-9(11)-en-3β, 17α-diol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-[β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)]-β-D-galactopyranoside (4); japonicoside B (5); and japonicoside C (6). All six compounds showed cytotoxic activity against SMMC-7712, Bel-7402, A549, H460, and K562 human cancer cells.