Steroidal saponins from the roots of Asparagus cochinchinensis

Aim To study the chemical constituents of the roots of Asparagus cochinchinensis (Asparagaceae). Methods The compounds were isolated with Diaion HP20, silica gel, and ODS chromatography, and their structures were determined on the basis of chemical methods, HR-ESI-MS, and 1D- and 2D-NMR techniques. Results Seven compounds were isolated from the n -butanol fraction of the roots of A . cochinchinensis, and their structures were elucidated as (25 S )-26- O -β-D-glucopyranosyl-5β-furostan-3β, 22α, 26-triol-12-one-3- O -β-D-glucopyranoside (1), (25 S )-26- O -β-D-glucopyranosyl-22α-methoxy-5β-furostan-3β, 26-diol-12-one-3- O -β-D-glucopyranoside (2), (25 S )-26- O -β-D-glucopyranosyl-5β-furostan-3β, 22α, 26-triol (3), (25 S )-26- O -β-D-glucopyranosyl-5β-furstan-3β, 22α, 26-triol-3- O -β-D-glucopyranoside (4), (25 S )-26- O -β-D-glucopyranosyl-5β-furostan-3β, 22α, 26-triol-3- O -α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1, 4)-β-D-glucopyranoside (5), (25 S )-5β-spirostan-3β-ol-3- O -α-L-rhamnopyranoside (6), and (25 S )-5β-spirostan-3β-ol-3- O -β-D-glucopyranoside (7). Conclusion Compounds 1 and 2 were two new furostanol saponins.