Cytotoxic triterpenoid saponins from the roots of Ardisia crenata.

Ardisiacrenoside I (1), a new triterpenoid pentasaccharide with an unusual glycosyl glycerol side chain, was isolated from Ardisia crenata together with five closely related triterpenoid saponins. Their structures were elucidated by a combination of mass spectrometry, IR, 1D, and 2D NMR spectroscopy. Their cytotoxic activities were evaluated against several different human tumor cell lines by the 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) method.