Biologically active triterpene saponins from callus tissue of Polygala amarella.

A new bioactive saponin (1), together with a known saponin (polygalasaponin XXVIII) has been isolated from the callus tissue culture of Polygala amarella. Based on spectroscopic data, especially direct and long-range heteronuclear 2D NMR analysis and on chemical transformations, the structure of 1 was elucidated as 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl presenegenin-28-O-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-(1 --> 3)-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1 --> 4)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 --> 2)-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 3)]-beta-D-fucopyranoside. Both saponins showed significant immunological properties based on the enhancement of granulocyte phagocytosis in vitro.