A new phenylpropanoid ester of a pyrroline derivative and two new ster
oidal saponins were isolated from the fresh bulbs of Lilium martagon,
along with several previously known compounds. The structures of the n
ew compounds were determined by spectroscopic data, hydrolysis, and by
comparison with spectral data of known compounds to be (-)-5-hydroxy-
3-methyl-3-pyrrolin-2-one 5-O-(6-O-p-coumaroyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside)
, (25S)-spirost-5-ene-3 beta,17 alpha, 27-triol 3-O-(O-beta-D-glucopyr
anosyl-(1 --> 2)-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 4)-beta-D-glucopyranos
ide) and (25S)-5 alpha-spirostane-3 beta,17 alpha,27-triol 3-O-{O-beta
-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 2)-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 4)-beta-D-g
lucopyranoside}, respectively, Lilium martagon crosses well with L. ha
nsonii to produce a valuable garden hybrid lily. In this study, the se
condary metabolites of L. martagon were revealed to be closely related
to those of L. hansonii, giving a good example of the correlation bet
ween the secondary metabolites and cross-compatibility.