Seven new steroidal glycosides from the roots of Cynanchum forrestii.

Seven new steroidal glycosides, cynaforrosides K (1), L (2), M (3), N (4), and Q (7), based on a 13,14:14,15-disecopregnane-type aglycone, and cynaforrosides O (5) and P (6) with a 14,15-secopregnane-type aglycone, were isolated from the 95% ethanol extract of the roots of Cynanchum forrestii Schlechter. The structures of new compounds were determined on the basis of spectroscopic and chemical evidence. The sugar units of cynaforrosides K-P contained two moieties of glucoses with the mode of 1-->4 linkage and those of cynaforrosides K-O contained six moieties of sugars.