Steroidal Saponins from the Roots and Rhizomes of Tupistra chinensis

Two new furostanol saponins 1–2 and a new spirostanol saponin 3 were isolated together with two known furostanol saponins 4–5 from the roots and rhizomes of Tupistra chinensis. Their structures were characterized as 1β,2β,3β,4β,5β,26-hexahydroxyfurost-20(22),25(27)-dien-5,26-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (1), 1β,2β,3β,4β,5β,6β,7α,23ξ,26-nona-hydroxyfurost-20(22),25(27)-dien-26-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (2), (20S,22R)-spirost-25 (27)-en-1β,3β,5β-trihydroxy-1-O-β-d-xyloside (3), tupisteroide B (4) and 5β-furost-Δ(25(27))-en-1β,2β,3β,4β,5β,7α,22ξ,26-octahydroxy-6-one-26-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (5), respectively, by extensive use of spectroscopic techniques and chemical evidence. Additionally, the in vitro cytotoxic activity of 1–4 was evaluated on human A549 and H1299 tumor cell lines, and compound 3 exhibited cytotoxicity against A549 cells (IC(50) 86.63 ± 2.33 μmol·L(−1)) and H1299 cells (IC(50) 88.21 ± 1.34 μmol·L(−1)).