Cytotoxic Constituents from the Roots of Bryonia alba L.

Two cucurbitane-compounds were isolated from the roots of Bryonia alba L. and the chemical structures were established as 19-norlanost-5-ene-3,1l,22-trione-$2{\beta}$, $16{\alpha}$,$20{\beta}$,25-tetrahydroxy-9-methyl (23,24-dihydrocucurbitacin D) and 2-O-${\alpha}$-D-glucopyranosyl 19-norlanost-5-ene-3,11,22-trione-$2{\beta}$,$16{\alpha}$,$20{\beta}$,25-tetrahydroxy-9-methyl (arvenin IV), respectively, on the basis of chemical and spectral methods. Both of the compounds showed cytotoxic activity against cancer cell lines, A549, SK-MEL-2, COLO 205 and L1210.