A furostanol saponin and phytoecdysteroid from roots of Helleborus orientalis

Abstract

A furostanol saponin mixture and a known phytoecdysteroid were isolated from the roots of Helleborus orientalis Lam. Their structures were established as 26-[(beta-D-glucopyranosyl)oxy]-22 alpha-hidroxyfurosta-5,25(27)-dien-1 beta,3 beta,11 alpha-triol (1a), 26-[(beta-D-glucopyranosyl)oxy]-22 alpha-methoxyfurosta-5,25(27)-dien-1 beta,3 beta,11 alpha-triol (1b), and 20-hydroxy-beta-ecdyson-3-O-beta-D-glycoside (2). Acid hydrolysis of 1a,b gave (1 beta,3 beta,11 alpha,22 alpha)-22,26-dimethoxyfurosta-5,25(27)-dien-1,3,11-triol (aglycone 1) and of 2 gave 20-hydroxy-beta-ecdyson (aglycone 2). Their structures were elucidated by spectral analysis.