Anti-breast cancer triterpenoid saponins from the thorns of Gleditsia sinensis

One new triterpenoid saponin (1), as well as six known ones (2–7), were isolated from the ethanol extract of the thorns of Gleditsia sinensis. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis in conjunction with chemical evidence. Cytotoxic activity of compounds 1–6 was evaluated against human breast cancer MCF 7 cells in vitro by the MTT method. Our results revealed moderate activities for compounds 1–6 with IC50 values of 18.43, 30.47, 18.46, 10.02, 30.76, and 17.32 μM, respectively. Furthermore, compounds 1, 3, 4, and 6 induced apoptosis in MCF 7 cell, with 1 and 6 causing late apoptosis of MCF 7 cells, while 3 and 4 acting oppositely.