Triterpene glycosides from Agrostemma gracilis

Four triterpene saponins, agrostemmosides A-D were isolated from the methanol extract of Agrostemma gracilis. The structures of the compounds were determined as 3-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyloleanolic acid 28-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 -> 2)-[beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1 -> 6)]-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 -> 6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester, 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 -> 2)-beta-D-xylopyranosyloleanolic acid 28-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 -> 2)-[beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1 -> 6)]-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 -> 6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester, 3-O-beta-D-xylopyranosylechinocystic acid 28-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 -> 2)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 -> 6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester, 3-O-beta-D-xylopyranosylechinocystic acid 28-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 -> 2)-[beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1 -> 6)]-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 -> 6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester by a combination of one- and two-dimensional NMR techniques, and mass spectrometry. To the best of our knowledge this is the first phytochemical report on A. gracilis, and echinocystic acid saponins were encountered for the first time in Caryophyllaceae family. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.