TRITERPENOID SAPONINS FROM QUILLAJA-SAPONARIA

Three new saponins were isolated from a commercial bark extract of Qui llaja saponaria in Molina. These compounds were also obtained as degra dation products from larger saponins in this extract when treated with strong alkali. The compounds were characterized, using mainly NMR spe ctroscopy, mass spectrometry and chemical methods, as quillaic acid 3- O-{beta-D-galactopyranosyl-(1 --> 2)-beta-D-glucopyranosiduronic acid} , 3-O-{alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl- (1 --> 3)-[beta-D-glactopyranosyl-(1 - -> 2)]-beta-D-glucopyranosiduronic acid} and 3-O-{beta- D-xylopyranosy l-(1 --> 3)-[beta-D-galactopyranosyl-(1 --> 2]-beta-D-glucopyranosidur onic acid}, respectively. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights re served.