It has been already established that the three hydroxyl groups in kitigenin, a tetrahydroxy sapogenin, are located at C
3, C
4 and C
5, and that the C
3-hydroxyl group is β and the C
4- and C
5-hydroxyl groups are in cis relation. It is now, clarified that the one remaining hydroxyl group is situated at C
1, from the result of the conversion of kitigenin to 25D, 5α-spirostan-1-one synthesized independently from tigogenone. And also, from the results of the C
3, C
4-acetonide formation and C
1, C
5-sulfite formation, it was clarified that the four hydroxyl groups are all β. Consequently, it was determined that kitigenin is 25D, 5β-spirostane-1β, 3β, 4β, 5-tetrol.
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