Saponins from Hacquetia epipactis.

Four new estersaponins were isolated from hacquetia epipactis. Using GC-MS, FAB-MS and various 2D-NMR techniques they were identified as 3-O-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)-[alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1--> 3)]- beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl-(1-->)]-21-acetyl-22-(2-methylbutyryl)- barringtogenol C (hacquetiasaponin 1), the corresponding 21-(2-acetoxy-2-methylbutyryl)-22-acetyl-derivative (hacquetiasaponin 2), 3-O-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)-[alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl- (1-->3)]-beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl-(1-->)]-21-acetyl-22-(2-methylb utyryl)- R1-barrigenol (hacquetiasaponin 3) and its corresponding 21-(2-acetoxy-2-methylbutyryl)-22-acetyl-derivative (hacquetiasaponin 4).