Structure and Activity of a New Sapogenin from Chlorophytum laxum R. Br.

A new steroidal sapogenin named 25-R-spirosta-3,5-dien-12β-ol(1) was isolated from the dried roots of Chlorophytum laxum R. Br. along with five known compounds, namely, diosgenin(2), stigmasterol(3), β-sitosterols(4), estigmasterol-3-O-β-D-glicopyranoside(5) and 3-O-β-authemisol(6). The structure of compound 1 was elucidated by the analysis of IR, HRESI-MS, 1D and 2D NMR spectral data. Compounds 2—5 were isolated from Chlorophytum laxum R. Br. In addition, all the compounds were evaluated for cytotoxicity on the human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cancer cell line 5-8F. Among them, the newly identified 25-R-spirosta-3,5-dien-12β-ol(1) and diosgenin(2) exhibited high cytotoxicity on 5-8F cells, with IC50 values of 24.8 and 41.9 μmol/L, respectively.