Abstract
Three steroidal saponins, including one new and two known compounds, were isolated from the rhizomes of Paris polyphylla Smith. One- and two-dimensional NMR, LC-MS, and interpretation of hydrolytic cleavage experiments led to the identification of the structure of the new saponin as (25R)-spirost-5-ene-3 beta,17 alpha-diol (pennogenin) 3-O-{O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 -> 2)-O-[O-beta-xylopyranosyl-(1 -> 5)-alpha-L-arabinofuranosyl-(1 -> 4)]-beta-D-glucopyranoside}. The isolated saponins were evaluated for their antifungal activity against Cladosporium cladosporioides and Candida species and showed comparable activity to chemicals used in some commercial products.