A new polyhydroxylated pregnane, named lβ,2β,3β,4β,5β,6β-hexolhydroxy-pregn-16-en-20-one (1), along with nine known (2-10) steroidal saponins were isolated from the whole plant of Reineckia carnea. Structure elucidations of all compounds were established by interpretation of their NMR spectral data, HR-ESI-MS and comparing with literatures. In addition, these compounds were evaluated with anticomplement activity. The result showed that compound 1 exhibited anticomplement effects with the CH50 values of 0.043 mg/mL, but saponins (2-10) showed no inhibition. Interestingly, hydrolysis of steroidal saponins (2-10) resulted in its aglycones (2a-10a) correspondingly which showed anticomplement activity with the CH50 values of 0.049-0.156 mg/mL.
Keywords: anticomplement activity; polyhydroxylated pregnane; steroids.