New Cytotoxic Triterpenoid Saponins from the Roots of Albizia gummifera (J.F.G mel .) C.A. Sm .

As part of our search for new bioactive saponins from Cameroonian medicinal plants, two new oleanane‐type saponins, named gummiferaosides D and E ( 1 and 2 ), along with one known saponin, julibroside J 8 ( 3 ), were isolated from the roots of Albizia gummifera . Their structures were established on the basis of extensive 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR ( 1 H‐ and 13 C‐NMR, DEPT, COSY, TOCSY, NOESY, HSQC, HSQC‐TOCSY, and HMBC) and HR‐ESI‐MS studies, and by chemical evidence. The apoptotic effect of saponins 1  –  3 was evaluated on the A431 human epidermoid cancer cell. Flow cytometric analyses showed that saponins 1  –  3 induced apoptosis of human epidermoid cancer cell (A431) in a dose‐dependent manner.