Two new triterpenoid saponins (1, 2) and a known sapogenin (3) were isolated from the dried carpophore of Xanthoceras sorbifolia Bunge. (Sapindaceae), and their structures were established as 3-O-beta-d-glucopyranosyl, 28-O-[alpha-l-rhamnosyl (1 --> 2)]-beta-d-glucopyranosyl 16-deoxybarrin-gtogenol C (1), 3-O-[beta-d-glucopyranosyl(1 --> 6)] 3'-angeloyl)-beta-d-glucopyranosyl, 28-O-[alpha-l-rhamnosyl(1 --> 2)]-beta-d-glucopyranosyl 16-deoxybarringtogenol C (2), 16-deoxybarringtogenol C (3), by spectral and chemical methods. Compounds 1 and 2 were found to have activity of inhibiting the proliferation of two human tumour cell lines while compound 3 was inactive.

A facile method for the characterization of hydrogel swelling is described which is based on the determination of changes in the liquid phase concentration of an excluded tracer as gel swells in a constant volume system. The utility of this approach is demonstrated with two responsive hydrogel preparations, one where swelling is influenced by system pH, the other by changes in specific solute concentration.

No abstract