New Steroidal Saponins from the Leaves of Yucca elephantipes

Two new spirostanol saponins, namely elephanosides G and H ( 1 and 2 , resp.) were isolated from the leaves of Yucca elephantipes (Agavaceae), together with the two known furostanol saponins 3 and 4 and the six known flavonoid O ‐ and C ‐glycosides 5 – 10 . The new structures were elucidated as (3 β ,25 S )‐spirost‐5‐en‐3‐yl O ‐ β ‐ D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→3)‐ O ‐ β ‐ D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐ β ‐ D ‐galactopyranoside ( 1 ) and (3 β ,5 β ,25 R )‐3‐[(2‐ O ‐ β ‐ D ‐glucopyranosyl‐ β ‐ D ‐galactopyranosyl)oxy]spirostan‐12‐one ( 2 ) on the basis of detailed spectroscopic analysis and acidic hydrolysis.