Search for Molluscicidal Agents: Saponins from Agave cantala Leaves

Abstract

Three spirostanol glycosides, cantalasaponins 6-8, were isolated from the methanolic extract of the leaves of Agave cantala and were partially characterized. The purity of the compounds was established with the help of field desorption (FD)- and fast atom bombardment (FAB)-MS. This study has provided the first example of the co-occurrence of tigogenin and hecogenin glycosides with isomeric sugar chains. Cantalasaponin-7 displayed weak activity towards Biomphalaria glabrata, the snail vector of the parasitic disease schistosomiasis.