Spirostanol and furostanol glycosides from the fresh tubers of Polianthes tuberosa.

Six new steroid glycosides--two spirostanols, polianthosides B and C (1, 2), and four furostanols, polianthosides D-G (3-6)--were isolated from the fresh tubers of Polianthes tuberosa, together with seven known spirostanols (7-13) and a known furostanol (14) saponins. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis and the results of acidic and enzymatic hydrolysis. The cytotoxic activities of 1-14 against HeLa cells are reported.