Triterpenoid saponins from Quillaja saponaria.

Three new saponins were isolated from a commercial bark extract of Quillaja saponaria Molina. These compounds were also obtained as degradation products from larger saponins in this extract when treated with strong alkali. The compounds were characterized, using mainly NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and chemical methods, as quillaic acid 3-O-¿beta-D-galactopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranosiduronic acid¿, 3-O-¿alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->3)-[beta-D-galactopyranosyl-(1-->2)] -beta-D-glucopyranosiduronic acid¿ and 3-O-¿beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->3)-[beta-D-galactopyranosyl -(1-->2)]-beta-D-glucopyranosiduronic acid¿, respectively.