Steroidal saponins from the fruits of Asparagus racemosus

Three steroidal saponins, racemosides A (1), B (2) and C (3), were isolated from the methanolic extract of the fruits of Asparagus racemosus, and characterized as (25S)-5β-spirostan-3β-ol-3-O-{β-d-glucopyranosyl (1 → 6)-[α-l-rhamnopyranosyl (1 → 6)-β-d-glucopyranosyl (1 → 4)]-β-d-glucopyranoside}, (25S)-5β-spirostan-3β-ol-3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl (1 → 6)-β-d-glucopyranosyl (1 → 6)-β-d-glucopyranoside and (25S)-5β-spirostan-3β-ol-3-O-{α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 6)-[α-l-rhamnopyranosyl (1 → 4)]-β-d-glucopyranoside}, respectively, by spectrometric analysis and some chemical strategies.