Sixteen novel C-21 steroidal glycosides from the roots of Cynanchum mooreanum

•Sixteen new C-21 steroidal glycosides from the roots of Cynanchum mooreanum.•Their immunological activities against proliferation of mice splenocytes were assayed.•It suggests that C-21 steroidal glycosides are the main constituents in Cynanchum mooreanum.

Fourteen novel 14,15-diseco-18-nor-pregnane-type steroidal glycosides, mooreanoside A–C (1–3) and mooreanoside F–P (6–16) and two new 14,15-diseco-pregnane-type steroidal glycosides, mooreanoside D–E (4–5) were isolated from the roots of Cynanchum mooreanum Hemsl. Their structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic and chemical analysis. Compounds 1–6, 8–10, 12–14 and 16 were tested for their immunological activities in vitro against Con-A induced proliferation of mice splenocytes.

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