Ruizgenin, a new steroidal sapogenin diol from Agave lecheguilla

From the leaves of Agave lecheguilla Torrey, two steroidal sapogenin diols have been isolated. Mass spectral, infra-red and nuclear magnetic resonance data of these two compounds showed them to be (25R)-spirost-5-ene-2 alpha, 3 beta-diol (yuccagenin) and (25R)-5 beta-spirostane-3 beta, 6 alpha-diol. The latter is a new compound to which the trivial name ruizgenin has been given.