Steroidal saponins from the stem of Yucca elephantipes.

Ten steroidal saponins with cis-fused A/B ring, including a smilagenin glycoside, elephanoside A (4), and the five furostanol bisdesmosides, elephanosides B-F (6-10), were isolated from the stems of Yucca elephantipes Regel. (Agavaceae). Their structures were determined by detailed chemical and spectroscopic analysis. All the isolated compounds were tested for their in vitro antifungal and antibacterial activities. Only the two known spirostanol glycosides Ys-II (1) and Ys-IV (2) showed moderate inhibitory activity against the growth of Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans.