Cytotoxic Triterpenoid Saponins from the Roots of Platycodon grandiflorum

Bioguided fractionation of the ethanol extracts obtained from Platycodon grandiflorum roots led to isolation of two new triterpenoid saponins, characterized as 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-2β,12α,16α,23,24-pentahydroxyoleanane-28(13)-lactone (1) and 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-2β,12α,16α,23α-tetrahydroxyoleanane-28(13)- lactone (2) by 1D- and 2D-NMR and MS techniques, as well as chemical means. Both compounds showed cytotoxic activity against human ECA-109 cells.