[A new saikosaponin from Bupleurum Chinese DC].

Bupleurum chinese DC. is a well-known and very important traditional Chinese drug. It is often used to treat common cold with fever, alternating chill and fever, the feeling of fullness and oppression in the chest. A new saikosaponin was isolated from Bupleurum chinese DC. and its structure was identified as 3 beta, 16 beta, 28-trihydroxy-11-alpha-methoxy-olean-12-ene-3-O-beta-D-glucosyl-(1-->3)-beta D-fucoside on the basis of chemical and spectral evidence. In addition, six known saikosaponins were isolated and characterized as saikosaponin a, saikosaponin d, saikosaponin c, saikosaponin f, saikosaponin b3 and saikosaponin b2. All these compounds were isolated from Bupleurum chinese DC. for the first time.