ABSTRACT
Objective: To separate the saponins from the roots and rhizomes of Caulophyllum robustum and determine their chemical structures. Methods: The chemical constituents were isolated by repeated silica gel chromatography, medium pressure column chromatography, and semi-preparative liquid chromatography. Their structures were elucidated by the data of NMR and MS. Results: Ten compounds were isolated from the roots and rhizomes of C. robustum and the structures of compounds 1-10 were identified as echinocystic acid-3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-α-L-arabinopyranoside (1), 3-O-α-L-arabinopyranosylhederagenin-28-O-β-D- glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranoside (2), HN-saponin H (3), ciwujianosides A1 (4), glycoside L-K1 (5), 3-O-β-D- glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-α-L-arabinopyranosyl-hederagenin-28-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-D-gluco-pyranoside (6), leonticin F (7), 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3) [β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)] α-L-arabinopyranosyl-echinocystic acid-28-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranoside (8), leonticin A (9), and morroniside (10). Conclusion: Compound 10 is a iridoid. Compounds 1 and 10 are firstly isolated from the plants of Caulophyllum Maxim., compouds 2-9 are isolated from this plant for the first time.