Triterpenoides de napoleonaea vogelii

Perchloric hydrolysis of the seed saponin of Napoleonaea vogelii allowed the isolation of two prosapogenins. One of these was identified as napoleogenin. The structure of the second component has been established as 21β–|6 deoxy-3, 4 diangelate-β-galactopyranosyl|oxy 3β, 16α, 22α, 24, 28 pentahydroxy-olean-12-ene. The name “Napoleogenin B” is proposed for this new prosapogenin. On further hydrolysis this saponin yields protoaescigenin, isoaescigenin and aescigenin. The structure of napoleogenol previously obtained by hydrolysis of the saponin of Napoleonaea imperialis is revised and shown to be identical to aescigenin.