Cytotoxic activity of steroidal glycosides from solanum plants.

Since some Solanum-genera plants have traditionally been used as anti-cancer and anti-herpes agents from olden times, we examined the cytotoxic activity of typical steroidal glycosides with the framework of spirostane, furostane, spirosolane, and pregnane obtained from Solanum plants. Among these steroidal glycosides, the spirostanol glycosides having a beta-lycotetraosyl moiety were the most effective against PC-12 and HCT-116 cell lines. The potency of activity was observed to be decreased in the order of spirostane, furostane, spirosolane, and pregnane type steroid glycosides.

New steroidal glycosides from the fruits of Solanum anguivi.

Four new steroidal saponins, anguiviosides III (1), XI (2), XV (3), and XVI (4), were isolated and characterized from the fruits of Solanum anguivi. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis. The occurrence of the cholestane glycosides 3 and 4 is considered from a biogenetic point of view.