A cytotoxic triterpenoid saponin from under-ground parts of Gypsophila pilulifera Boiss.& Heldr.

A cytotoxic triterpenoid saponin was isolated from the under-ground parts of Gypsophila pilulifera Boiss.& Heldr. (Caryophyllaceae) naturally grow in the southwestern region of the Turkey. The structures of saponin was elucidated as 3-O-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-(1 -> 2)-[beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1 -> 3)]-beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl quillaic acid 28-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 -> 3)-(beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1 -> 4)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 -> 2)-beta-D-fucopyranosyl ester on the basis of extensive spectral analysis and chemical evidence. The separated triterpenoid saponin was isolated from Gypsophila pilulifera for the first time. The saponin compound displayed significant cytotoxicity against A549 cell line with IC50 values >16 mu M. Crown Copyright (C) 2012 Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.