Furostanol Saponins from Promote the Expansion of Human Cord Blood Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells.

is a medicinal plant known to biosynthesize steroidal saponins. A phytochemical investigation of the rhizomes of led to the isolation of nine new furostanol saponins (-) and 11 known analogues (-). Five of these new compounds were shown to have hydroxy groups at the C-5 and C-6 positions, while two possess a rare aglycone containing carbonyl groups at the C-16 and C-22 positions as well as a Δ double bond, and the others have conjugated double bonds in the E-ring or have different sugar chains at the C-3 position.