Filiasparosides A-D, cytotoxic steroidal saponins from the roots of Asparagus filicinus.

Four new steroidal saponins, filiasparosides A-D (1-4), together with known aspafiliosides A (5) and B (6) were isolated from the roots of Asparagus filicinus. The structures of these new compounds were elucidated by detailed spectroscopic study and chemical analysis. Compounds 1-6 were cytotoxic against human lung carcinoma (A549) and breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) tumor cell lines with EC50 values of 2.3-16.8 mu g/mL. Compound 3 showed the most potent cytotoxicity, with EC50 values of 2.3 and 3.0 mu g/mL toward A549 and MCF-7 cell lines, respectively.