A new cytotoxic triterpene saponin from Lysimachia nummularia L.

•A new triterpene saponin (nummularoside) was isolated from Lysimachia nummularia L.•Its structure was established on the basis of spectroscopic and chemical methods.•The compound possesses a 13β,28-epoxy-bridge and a branched pentasaccharide unit.•Significant cytotoxic activity was seen against five human cancer cell lines.•The compound does not affect normal cells of respective origin.

A new glycosylated triterpene 1 (named nummularoside) was isolated from the underground parts of Lysimachia nummularia L. Its chemical structure was elucidated as 3-O-β-{{[β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1→2)]-[β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1→4)]-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)}-[β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-]-α-l-arabinopyranosyl]}, protoprimulagenin A on the basis of extensive NMR and MS spectral data. The saponin showed significant activity against prostate cancer cells DU145 and PC3 (EC50 1.2 and 7.4 μg/mL, respectively), while it did not affect normal cells (EC50 30 μg/mL), in contrast to the reference compound (mitoxanthrone, EC50 0.45 μg/mL). Glioblastoma cells were also significantly affected by the tested saponin (EC50 6.0 μg/mL), whereas the activity against melanoma cells was moderate (EC50 17.5–23.2 μg/mL).

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