Cimitriteromone A–G, Macromolecular Triterpenoid–Chromone Hybrids from the Rhizomes of <i>Cimicifuga foetida</i>

Seven unprecedented high molecular weight hybrids of cycloartane triterpenoid saponins and chromone glycosides, namely, Cimitriteromone A–G (<b>1</b>–<b>7</b>), and three known biogenetic precursors (<b>8</b>–<b>10</b>) were isolated from the rhizomes of <i>Cimicifuga foetida</i> by using the HPLC-UV/MS method. The structures of the new compounds were determined by NMR analysis and HRESIMS data. The absolute configurations of sugar moieties were established by a chemical method. The new compounds <b>2</b> and <b>4</b> showed antiproliferative activities against Taxol-resistant human lung cancer A-549/Taxol with IC₅₀ values of 15.73 ± 0.59 and 24.21 ± 0.61 μM, respectively, while the positive control groups cisplatin and Taxol gave IC₅₀ values of 25.80 ± 1.15 and 0.60 ± 0.09 μM. Notably, compound <b>4</b> showed comparable cytotoxicity to the positive control, cisplatin, whereas the corresponding biogenetic precursors compounds <b>8</b> and <b>10</b> were inactive (IC₅₀ > 40 μM)