Biological and phytochemical investigations of Dianthus barbatus cv. "China Doll" (Caryophyllaceae).

From the aerial parts of Dianthus barbatus cv. "China Doll", two saponins (barbatosides A and B) were isolated and shown to have analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities. The aglycone of each saponin was identified as quillaic acid. The glycone of barbatoside A consisted of rhamnose, arabinose, fucose, xylose, galactose, glucose and one unidentified sugar; whereas the glycone of barbatoside B contained arabinose, fucose, xylose, mannose, galactose, glucose and three unidentified sugars. Astragalin, kaempferol-3-O-beta-D-sophoroside, D-pinitol and L-leucine were also isolated.