Two new monodesmosidic triterpene saponins from Gypsophila oldhamiana.

Two new monodesmosidic triterpene saponins were isolated from the roots of Gypsophila oldhamiana (Caryophyllaceae). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral data to be quillaic acid, alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1-->4)-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1-->3)-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->4)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-fucopyranosyl ester (1), and vaccaric acid, beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)-[beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->4)]-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-fucopyranosyl ester (2). Compound 1 showed a significant enhancement of granulocyte phagocytosis in vitro.