A steroid sapogenin; inhibits proliferation of HeLa cervical, MCF-7 breast, HepG2 liver, A549 lung, A375.S2 melanoma, and HT-1080 fibrosarcoma cells (IC50s = 31.36-48.79 μM); dose-dependently induces apoptosis of HeLa cells; protects human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells from hydrogen peroxide-induced death with a neuroprotective ratio of 27.3% at 100 μM; reduces 2,3,4-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid-induced colon shortening, myeloperoxidase activity, NF-κB activation, and IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6 levels in mice at 10 mg/kg; increases the percentage of correct responses in the Y-maze test in aged rats at 3.6 mg/kg per day; reduces the amount of time mice spend immobile in the forced swim test at 12.5 mg/kg per day