Saponins and a lignan derivative of Terminalia tropophylla from the Madagascar Dry Forest

A study of an EtOH extract obtained from the roots of the Madagascan plant Terminalia tropophylla H. Perrier (Combretaceae) led to isolation of the oleanane-type triterpenoid saponin 1, the lignan derivative 2, and the two known saponins arjunglucoside 1 (3) and sericoside (4). The structures of compounds 1 (terminaliaside A) and 2 (4'-O-cinnamoyl cleomiscosin A) were elucidated using 1 D and 2D NMR experiments and mass spectrometry. Compound 1 showed antiproliferative activity against the A2780 human ovarian cancer cell line with an IC50 value of 1.2 mu M. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.