Two New Phenanthrene Glucosides from Cremastra appendiculata and their Cytotoxic Activities.

Two new phenanthrene glucosides, named 2'-hydroxy-4,4',7'-trimethoxy-1, l'-biphenanthrene-2,7-di-O-ß-D-glucoside (1) and 1-(4-hydroxybenzyl)-4-methoxy-2,7-dihydroxy-phenanthrene-8-O-ß-D-glucoside (2), together with three known compounds were isolated from the tubers of Cremastra appendiculata (D.Don) Makino. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral data. Compounds 1-4 showed moderate cytotoxic activity and compound 5 showed weak cytotoxic activity against the two cell lines tested. This is the first reported occurrence of an unusual biphenanthrene glucoside in this plant.