Isolation and structure of cytostatic steroidal saponins from the African medicinal plant Balanites aegyptica

  • J Nat Prod. 1991 Nov-Dec;54(6):1491-502. doi: 10.1021/np50078a002.
G R Pettit  1 ,  D L Doubek ,  D L Herald ,  A Numata ,  C Takahasi ,  R Fujiki ,  T Miyamoto
Affiliations
  • 1. Cancer Research Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe 85287.
PMID: 1812210 DOI: 10.1021/np50078a002
Abstract

Bioactivity-guided separation of a CH2Cl2/MeOH extract of Balanites aegyptica afforded four new cytostatic saponins, named balanitins 4 [1], 5 [2], 6 [3], and 7 [4]. On the basis of enzymatic hydrolyses and glycosidation nmr chemical shifts employing the peracetates, structures 1-4 were established as yamogenin 3 beta-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1----3)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1----4)-[al pha- L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1----2)]-beta-D-glucopyranoside [1], yamogenin 3 beta-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1----3)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1----4)- [alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1----2)]-beta-D-glucopyranoside [2], yamogenin 3 beta-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1----4)-[alpha-L- rhamnopyranosyl-(1----2)]-beta-D-glucopyranoside [3], and diosgenin 3 beta-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1----3)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1----4)-[alp ha- L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1----2)]-beta-D-glucopyranoside [4].