The bioassay-guided isolation of antifungal saponins from Hosta plantaginea leaves

Abstract

Four new steroidal saponins hostaside Ⅰ (1), hostaside Ⅱ (2), hostaside Ⅲ (3), and hostaside Ⅳ (4), together with five known steroidal saponins (5–9), were isolated by the bioassay-guided fractionation from the leaves of Hosta plantaginea (Lam.) Aschers, a worldwide well-known ornamental plant. Hostasides Ⅰ and Ⅱ showed significant antifungal activities, and they could inhibit the growth of Candida albicans and Fusarium oxysporium with MIC values as low as 4 μg/ml.

Keywords:

• Liliaceae
• Hosta plantaginea
• steroidal saponin
• antifungal
• Candida albicans
• Fusarium oxysporium

Acknowledgments

The authors are really grateful to Dr. Bona Dai of the Instrumental Analysis Center of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, for the measurements of NMR.