Triterpene Saponins from Cyclamen trocopteranthum

Two new triterpene saponins ( 1- 2) together with three known saponins, deglucocyclamin I ( 3), cyclamin ( 4), and mirabilin ( 5), were isolated from the tubers of CYCLAMEN TROCOPTERANTHUM. They were elucidated as 3 β- O-{4- O-[3-hydroxyl-3-methylglutaryl]- β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 2)- β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-[ β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 2)]- α-L-arabinopyranosyl}-16 α-hydroxy-13 β,28-epoxy-oleanan-30-al ( 1) and 3 β- O-{4- O-[3-hydroxyl-3-methylglutaryl]- β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-[ β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 6)]- β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-[ β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 2)]- α-L-arabinopyranosyl}-16 α-hydroxy-20,30-lactone-olean-12-ene ( 2). Their structures were characterized mainly by a combination of 1D- and 2D-NMR techniques ( 1 H- 1 H COSY, TOCSY, NOESY, HSQC, and HMBC) and mass spectroscopy. Saponins 1, 3, and 4 showed a weak cytotoxic activity when tested against HT-29 and HCT 116 tumor colon cancer cells.