Triterpenoid saponins from leaves and stems of Panax quinquefolium L.

In the chemical investigation on the saponin composition of leaves and stems of Panax quinquefolium L., two new minor dammarane saponins, quinquenoside L-1 (1) and L-2 (2) have been isolated. By means of physico-chemical evidences and spectral analysis their structures were established as 3-O-[beta -D-glucopyranosyl-(1-2)-beta -D-glucopyranosyl]-20-O-beta -D-glucopyranosyl-dammara-23,25-diene-3 beta, 12 beta, 20(S)-triol (1) and 3-O-[beta -D-glucopyranosyl-(1-2)-beta -D-glucopyranosyl]-20-O-beta -D-glucopyranosyl-(24Z)-dammar-24-ene-3 beta -12 beta, 20(S), 26-tetraol (2).