Flavonol Glycosides and Cytotoxic Steroidal Saponins from Furcraea Tuberosa (Agavaceae)

Abstract

Phytochemical analysis of the mature fruits of Furcraea tuberosa (Agavaceae) resulted in the isolation of a new bisdesmosidic spirostanol saponin (1), along with eight known steroidal glycosides (2–9), one known phenolic carboxylic acid ester (10) and three known flavonol glycosides (11–13). The structures of these compounds were assigned using a combination of 1D and 2D NMR techniques including 1H, ¹³C, COSY, TOCSY, HSQC and HMBC NMR, and confirmed by mass spectrometry. Thus the new saponin was elucidated as (25R)–6α-(β-D-glucopyranosyloxy)-5α-spirostane-3β-O-[(6-O-hexadecanoyl)-β-D-glucopyranoside]. The literature survey revealed that most of the steroidal saponins isolated have shown potent cytotoxic effects against various human cancer cell lines and the results are herein reviewed.