Steroidal Saponins from the Roots and Rhizomes of Tupistra chinensis.

Two new furostanol saponins 1-2 and a new spirostanol saponin 3 were isolated together with two known furostanol saponins 4-5 from the roots and rhizomes of Tupistra chinensis. Their structures were characterized as 1β,2β,3β,4β,5β,26-hexahydroxyfurost-20(22), 25(27)-dien-5,26-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (1), 1β,2β,3β,4β,5β,6β,7α,23ξ,26-nona-hydroxyfurost- 20(22),25(27)-dien-26-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (2), (20S,22R)-spirost-25 (27)-en-1β,3β,5β- trihydroxy-1-O-β-d-xyloside (3), tupisteroide B (4) and 5β-furost-Δ25(27)-en-1β,2β,3β,4β,5β,7α, 22ξ,26-octahydroxy-6-one-26-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (5), respectively, by extensive use of spectroscopic techniques and chemical evidence. Additionally, the in vitro cytotoxic activity of 1-4 was evaluated on human A549 and H1299 tumor cell lines, and compound 3 exhibited cytotoxicity against A549 cells (IC50 86.63 ± 2.33 μmol·L-1) and H1299 cells (IC50 88.21 ± 1.34 μmol·L-1).