Structure and activities of a steroidal saponin from Chlorophytum nimonii (Grah) Dalz

A new steroidal saponin, chloragin (1), was isolated and characterised from the aerial part of Chlorophytum nimonii. The structure of chloragin (1) was established as tigogenin-3-O--L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 4)--D-glucopyranosyl-(1 3)--D-xylopyranosyl-(1 4)--D-glucopyranosyl-(1 4)--D-xyloopyranoside on the basis of detailed chemical and spectral evidence. The saponin showed potent antihyperglycaemic and antidyslipidaemic activities in albino rats.