A new leishmanicidal saponin from Brunfelsia grandiflora

Abstract

A new furostan-type saponin (1) was isolated from the methanolic extract of Brunfelsia grandiflora leaves, together with four known compounds. The chemical structure of 1 was determined by spectroscopic analysis and chemical reaction to be 26-O- β-D-glucopyranosyl 22 α-methoxyfurost-3β,26-diol 3-O-β-D-xylopyranosyl(1→3)-{β-D-glucopyranosyl(1→2)} -β-D-glucopyranosyl(1→4)-β-D-glucopyranoside. Compound 1 showed potent leishmanicidal activity in vitro against Leishmania major. © 2008 Pharmaceutical Society of Japan.