OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents of Solanum lyratum, And to explore the anti-tumor effect of some steroidal compounds from it.

METHODThe chemical constituents were isolated and purified via silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography as well as recrystallization. Their structures were determined on the basis of spectral analysis and physicochemical properties. 3 of the steroidal compounds were tested for their in vitro inhibitory activities in Hep G2 cells.

RESULTTweleve compounds were isolated and identified as diosgenin (1), tigogenin (2), tigogenone (3), diosgenin 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucuroniduronic acid methyl ester (4), 4-methyl-cholesta-7-ene-3beta-ol (5), acacetin 7-O-rutinoside (6), 1,5-dihydroxy-3-methoxy-7-methy-anthraquinone (7), 1,3,5-trihydroxy-7-methyl-anthracenedione (8), physcion-8-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (9), soya-cerebroside I (10), isovanillin (11), docosylferulate (12). Compounds 2-4 had no significant inhibition on Hep G2 cells low concentration. With the increased of the concentration, the growth inhibiting effect against the cells increased, too.

CONCLUSIONCompounds 2, 3, 5-12 were isolated from the plant for the first time. Compounds 2-4 had growth inhibiting effect against the Hep G2 cells.