Cytotoxic steroidal glycosides from the roots of Paris verticillata M.Bieb

Two new furostanol saponins, named parisverticillatosides A and B (1 and 2), together with eleven known steroidal glycosides (3-13), were isolated from the roots of Paris verticillata M.Bieb. The structures of the new compounds were established based on extensive spectroscopic analysis and chemical evidence. Interestingly, Compounds 1 and 2 were identified as a pair of epimers that only differ in the configuration of C-23. The dis-covery of new Compounds 1 and 2 extended the diversity and complexity of the saponin family in the genus Paris. The cytotoxicity of all saponins against human glioblastoma U87 and U251 cell lines was evaluated. The results showed that the new furostanol saponins 1 and 2 were inactive, while the spirostanol saponins 4 and 5 exhibited notable cytotoxicity against two cell lines with IC50 values of 1.44-3.98 mu M.