Barrigenol‐Like Triterpenoid Saponins from the Husks of Xanthoceras sorbifolia Bunge and Their Cytotoxicity

Abstract: The phytochemical study on Xanthoceras sorbifolium Bunge husks, a folk medicinal plant in China, led to the isolation of ten saponins including four new compounds from this plant. Their structures were elucidated based on physical and chemical properties and spectral data analysis. The cytotoxic effects of compounds 1‐5 were evaluated by four different human cancer cell lines: HCT‐116 cell line, MCF‐7 cell line, ASG cell line and Hep3B cell line. Most of the tested compounds showed a certain degree of growth inhibition effect on all four cell lines. Notably, compound 3 demonstrated the highest cytotoxicity to all four cell lines, compound 4 has highly selective anti‐tumor activity on MCF‐7 cells.