Steroidal Saponins from Dracaena humilis (Dracaenaceae) and their Chemotaxonomic Significance

ABSTRACT

A new steroidal saponin, (23S,24S)-spirosta-5,25(27)-diene-1β,3β,23,24-tetrol 1-O-((2,3-diacetyl-α-Lrhamnopyranosyl)-(1→2)-[β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→3)]-α-L-arabinopyranoside)-24-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (humilisoside) together with the known β-sitosterol 3-O-glucopyranoside, adenosine, dioscin, and methylprotodioscin were isolated from the leaves of Dracaena humilis. Their structures were elucidated by spectral techniques including mass spectrometry (ESIMS, HRESIMS, tandem MS-MS), 1D NMR (1H, 13 C NMR), 2D NMR (HSQC, 1H-1 H COSY, HMBC, NOESY), chemical method as well as by comparison with spectroscopic data reported in the literature. The chemotaxonomic significance of the isolation of these compounds is discussed. This is the first report on the phytochemical investigation of D. humilis.