Sven Jakupovic

Chemical composition and biological activity of Paris quadrifolia L.

A study of the components of Paris quadrifolia was undertaken to identify compounds with potential influence on cardiac cells, since previous reports suggested a cardiotoxic risk of this plant. Compounds isolated and identified included one new steroidal saponin, (23S,24S)- spirosta-5,25(27)-diene-1β,3β,21,23,24-pentol-1-O-β-D-apiofuranosyl-(1→3)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-( 1→2)-[β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→3)]-β-D-glucopyranoside 21- O- β- D- apiofuranoside 24-O-β-D-fucopyranoside (1), demonstrating quite unusual structural features, as well as the known compounds 26-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(25R)-5-en-furost-3β,17α,22α,26-tetraol- 3- O- α- L- rhamnopyranosyl-(1→4)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→4)-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl - -(1→2)]- β- D- glucopyranoside (2), pennogenin 3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→4)-α-L-rhamno pyranosyl- (1→4)-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→ 2)]-β -D- glucopyranoside (3), 7- O- β- D-glucopyranosyl- kaempferol-3- O- β- D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-β- D-galactopyranoside (4), kaem pferol- 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-galactopyranoside (5), 5-hydroxyecdysterone (6), and 20-hydroxyecdysone (7). The pennogenin derivative 3 showed strong cardiotoxic effects in an in vitro cellular model system, whereas the respective furostanol derivative 2 was inactive.