Steroidal saponins from the aerial parts of Dracaena draco and their cytostatic activity on HL-60 cells

Chemical examination of the aerial parts of Dracaena draco has led to the isolation of a total of nine steroidal saponins, including five new ones. The structures of the new saponins were determined by spectral data and a few chemical transformations to be (23S,24S)-spirosta-5,25 (27)-diene-1 beta,3 beta,23,24-tetrol 1-O-{O-(2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl)-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl} 24-O-beta-D-fucopyranoside, (23S,24S)-spirosta-5,25(27)-diene-1 beta,3 beta, 1-O-{O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(l-->2)-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside}, (23S,24S)-spirosta-5,25(27)-diene-1 beta,3 beta,23,24-tetrol 1-O-{O-(4-O-acetyl-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl) arabinopyranoside}, (23S)-spirosta-5,25(27)-diene-1 beta,3 beta,23-triol 1-O-{O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl)-(1-->2)-a-L-arabinopyranoside} and (23S)-spirosta-5,25(27)-diene-1 beta,3 beta,23-triol 1-O-{O-(4-O-acetyl-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl) (1-->2)-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside}. The isolated saponins were evaluated for their cytostatic activity on leukemia HL-60 cells. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.