A new triterpenoid saponin from Ardisia gigantifolia

A new triterpenoid saponin, named 3-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 3)]-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 2)]-α-l-arabinopyranosyl-3β,16α,28,30-tetrahydroxy-olean-12-ene (1), along with four known triterpenoids (2–5), was isolated from the rhizomes of Ardisia gigantifolia. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. Compounds 1–4 showed cytotoxic activity against Hela, EJ, BCG, and HepG-2 cell lines. The percentage of early apoptotic cells after treatment with 1 was significantly increased compared with control cells (p < 0.05).