Steroidal saponins from the leaves of Cestrum sendtenerianum

Five steroidal saponins were isolated from the EtOH extract of Cestrum send tenerianum (Solanaceae), as confirmed by detailed analysis of their H-1, C- 13, and two-dimensional NMR spectral data, and by the results of hydrolytic cleavage. The saponins were revealed to contain three hydroxyl groups at t he C-1 beta, C-2 alpha, and C-3 beta positions in the spirostanol skeleton, and to bear a di- or triglycoside at C-3 as the common structural features . One of the compounds, a spirostanol triglycoside, showed weak cytotoxic a ctivity on HL-60 human promyelocytic leukemia cells, with an IC50 value of 7.7 mug/ml. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.