Steroidal saponins from the leaves of Cordyline fruticosa (L.) A. Chev. and their cytotoxic and antimicrobial activity

Three new steroidal saponins, spirosta-5,25(27)-diene-1β,3β-diol-1-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-d-fucopyranoside (fruticoside H) 1, 5α-spirost-25(27)-ene-1β,3β-diol-1-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-(4-O-sulfo)-β-d-fucopyranoside (fruticoside I) 2, and (22S)-cholest-5-ene-1β,3β,16β,22-tetrol 1-O-β-galactopyranosyl-16-O-α-l-rhamnopyranoside (fruticoside J) 3, together with the known quercetin 3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside, quercetin 3-O-[6-trans-p-coumaroyl]-β-d-glucopyranoside, quercetin 3-rutinoside, apigenin 8-C-β-d-glucopyranoside and farrerol, were isolated from the leaves of Cordyline fruticosa. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic techniques (1H NMR, 13C NMR, HSQC, 1H–1H COSY, HMBC, TOCSY, NOESY), mass spectrometry (HRESIMS, Tandem MS–MS), chemical methods and by comparison with published data. Compounds 1 and 2 showed moderate cytotoxic activity against MDA-MB 231 human breast adenocarcinoma cell line, HCT 116 human colon carcinoma cell line, and A375 human malignant melanoma cell line, while compound 3 was not active. Compound 2 also showed a moderate antibacterial activity against the Gram-positive Enterococcus faecalis.