Isolation and Identification of Steroidal Saponins and Sapogenins from Aspidistra zongbayi K. Y. Lang et Z. Y. Zhu

Two steroidal saponins were isolated from the n-BuOH extract of the rhizome of Aspidistra zongbayi K. Y. Lang et Z. Y. Zhu. Their structures were elucidated as 3-O-{β-D-glucopyr-anosyl (l→2)-β-D-xylopyranosyl (1→3)]-β-D-glucopyranosyl (l→4)-β-D-glactopyranosyl}-diosgenin (aspidistrin) and proto-aspidistrin by physical and chemical methods. Three steroidal sapogenins were isolated from the acid-treated n-BuOH extract. They were identified as△3.5 deoxyfigogenin, diosgenin and gentrogenin, β-sitosterol was isolated from the rhizome of this plant also.