Steroidal glycosides from the bulbs of Lilium speciosum

Abstract Steroidal glycosides (1-21), including eight new spirostanol glycosides (1-8) and a new cholestane glycoside (9), were isolated from the bulbs of Lilium speciosum. The structures of the new compounds were determined based on spectroscopic data analysis and hydrolytic cleavage reactions. The isolated compounds and their aglycones (1a, 8a, and 9a) were evaluated for their cytotoxicity against HL-60 human acute promyelocytic leukemia cells and A549 human lung carcinoma cells. Compounds 12 and 21 exhibited moderate cytotoxic activity toward HL-60 and A549 cells, with IC50 values of 6.9 μM and 5.1 μM against HL-60 cells, and 7.6 μM and 4.4 μM against A549 cells, respectively. Compound 20 only showed moderate cytotoxicity toward A549 cells, with an IC50 value of 6.7 μM.