2 SAPOGENINS FROM TRIBULUS-TERRESTRIS

Studies on the constituents of Tribulus terrestris L. led to the isola tion of two new steroidal sapogenins, (5 alpha, 25R)-spirostan-3,6,12- trione and 25R-spirostan-4-ene-3,6, 12-trione, together with five know n steroidal sapogenins, tigogenin, hecogenin, gitogenin, hecogenone, a nd 25R-spirostan-4-ene-3,12-dione. The structures of the new sapogenin s were established on the basis of chemical and spectroscopic evidence , especially 2D NMR spectroscopic techniques. (C) 1998 Elsevier Scienc e Ltd. All rights reserved.