ABSTRACT
<b>Objective::To study the chemical constituents from <italic>n</italic>-butanol extract of <italic>Akebia trifoliata</italic> caulis. <b>Method::The 100 kg caulis of <italic>A</italic>. <italic>trifoliata</italic> was extracted with 75% ethanol (EtOH) for three times by heating reflux. These 3 extracts were decompressed and concentrated, and then dissolved in water. The solvent was successively extracted with dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and <italic>n</italic>-butanol. The chemical constituents from the <italic>n</italic>-butanol fraction were isolated by macroporous, silica gel, sephadex LH-20 and ODS columns, and semi-preparative high performance liquid chromatography, and their chemical structures were determined through MS, NMR analysis (<sup>1</sup>H and <sup>13</sup>C-NMR) and spectroscopic data from literatures. <b>Result::Totally 14 compounds were isolated and identified as mutongsaponin B(<bold>1</bold>), mutongsaponin C(<bold>2</bold>), saponin PH(<bold>3</bold>), begoniifolide A(<bold>4</bold>), 2<italic>α</italic>, 3<italic>β</italic>, 23-trihydroxy-30-noroleana-12, 19-dien-28-oicacid-<italic>O</italic>-<italic>β</italic>-<italic>D</italic>-xylopyranosyl-(1→3)-<italic>α</italic>-<italic>L</italic>-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→4)-<italic>β</italic>-<italic>D</italic>-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-<italic>β</italic>-<italic>D</italic>-glucopyranosyl ester(<bold>5</bold>), akemisaponins D(<bold>6</bold>), akemisaponins E(<bold>7</bold>), asiaticoside(<bold>8</bold>), saponin PJ1(<bold>9</bold>), scheffoleoside A(<bold>10</bold>), symplocosneolignan A(<bold>11</bold>), kalopanax-saponins D(<bold>12</bold>), leonticin E(<bold>13</bold>), ciwujianoside A<sub>1</sub>(<bold>14</bold>). <b>Conclusion::Compounds <bold>1-4</bold>, <bold>11</bold>, <bold>13, 14</bold> were isolated from this plant for the first time. The discovery of these compounds further enriched the chemical constituents of <italic>A</italic>. <italic>trifoliata</italic>, and provided experimental and scientific basis for the comprehensive development and utilization of <italic>A</italic>. <italic>trifoliata</italic>.