Triterpenoid saponins from rhizomes of Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis.

Phytochemical investigation of the rhizomes of Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis resulted in the isolation of six new oleanane-type triterpenoid saponins, paritrisides A-F (1-6), along with nine known triterpenoid saponins (7-15). The structures of the new compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis and acid hydrolysis. All the triterpenoid saponins are obtained for the first time from the genus Paris. The isolated compounds were assayed for their cytotoxic activities against human nasopharyngeal carcinoma epithelial (CNE) cells, and compounds 7, 8, and 10 exhibited inhibitory effects on CNE cell growth with IC50 values of 16.53, 16.77, and 12.69 μm, respectively.