Planta Med 2006; 72 - P_343
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-950143

New Furostanol Glycosides from the Rhizomes of Tacca integrifolia

J Heilmann 3, H Htay Shwe 1, M Aye 2, MM Sein 2, P Kreitmeier 1, O Reiser 1
  • 1Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstr. 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
  • 2Department of Chemistry, University of Mandalay, Mandalay; Myanmar
  • 3Institute of Pharmacy, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstr. 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany

The rhizomes of Tacca integrifolia Ker. Gawler (Taccaceae), a perennial plant growing in central region of Myanmar, are used in traditional medicine for the treatment of carbuncles, skin abrasion, skin diseases and various kinds of cancer. Previous studies on other Tacca species revealed the presence of highly oxygenated steroids named taccalonolides [1, 2] as well as sterol saponins [3]. Phytochemical investigation of the methanol extract of the rhizomes of T. integrifolia let to the isolation of two new furostanol type saponins, namely (25R)-26-[-D-glucopyranosyl)oxy]-22α-methoxyfurost-5-en-3β-yl O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→3)-β-D-glucopyranoside (1) and (25R)-26-[(β-D-glucopyranosyl)oxy]-22α-hydroxyfurost-5-en--yl O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→3)-β-D-glucopyranoside (2), along with the known spirostanol type saponin, diosgenin-3β-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1→2)-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→3)-O-β-D-glucopyranoside.

References: 1. Tinley T.L. et al. (2003), Cancer Res. 63, 3211–3220. 2. Mühlbauer A. et al. (2003), Helv. Chim. Acta 86: 2065–2072. 3. Yokosuka A. et al. (2004), Chem. Pharm. Bull. 52: 1396–1398.