In vitro antifungal and antileishmanial activities of steroidal saponins from Allium leucanthum C. Koch -- a Caucasian endemic species.

Five steroidal saponins were isolated for the first time in the flower of Allium leucanthum C.Koch. In vitro antifungal and antileishmanial activities of pure compounds as well as crude extract, spirostanoid and furostanoid fractions were evaluated. Spirostanol saponins (25R),5alpha- spirostan -3beta,6beta- diol 3-0-{beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)- 0-[beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->3)]- 0-beta-D- glucopyranosyl -(1-->4)-beta-D- galactopyranoside } compound 3 were more antifungal active especially with a MCF ranging from 6,25 to 12,5 microg/ml on the most yeast stains tested. Spirostanol fraction was more active on amastigote forms of leishmania with IC(50) 0,9 microg/ml.