BRODIOSAPONINS-A-F, 6 NEW POLYHYDROXYLATED STEROIDAL SAPONINS FROM THE TUBERS OF BRODIAEA-CALIFORNICA

The constituents of the tubers of Brodiaea californica have been analy zed as part of a systematic study of plants of the subfamily Allioidea e in Liliaceae. Six new polyhydroxylated steroidal saponins designated as brodiosaponins A-F (1-6) were isolated, and their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis, including 2D NMR te chniques, and acid- and alkaline-catalyzed hydrolysis. The bisdesmosid ic saponins, brodiosaponins D-F (4-6) contain 6-deoxy-D-gulopyranose, which has been shown for the first time as a saccharide component amon g the steroidal and triterpene saponins reported to date.