A NEW SAIKOSAPONIN FROM BUPLEURUM CHINESE DC.

Bupleurum chinese DC. is a well-known and very important traditional Chinese drug. It is often used to treat common cold with fever, alternating chill and fever, the feeling of fullness and oppression in the chest. A new saikosaponin was isolated from Bupleurum chinese DC. and its structure was identified as 3β,16β,28-trihydroxy-11-α-methoxy-olean-12-ene-3-O-β-D-glucosyl-(1→3)-β-D-fucoside on the basis of chemical and spectral evidence. In addition, six known saikosaponins were isolated and characterized as saikosaponin a, saikosaponin d, saikosaponin c, saikosaponin f, saikosaponin b₃ and saikosaponin b2. All these compounds were isolated from Bupleurum chinense DC. for the first time.