A new sulphur glycoside, named descurainoside (1), and the known compound sinapic acid (2) have been isolated from the seeds of Descurainia sophia (L.) Webb ex Prantl. The structure of 1 has been identified as (1R,6S,8R,9S,10S)-9,10-dihydroxy-4-[(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)methylene]-8-(hydroxymethyl)-2,7-dioxa-5-thiabicyclo[4.4.0]decan-3-one by means of physico-chemical properties and spectroscopic methods (1D and 2D NMR, HRMS, ESI-MS).

Six thiophenes were isolated and purified from ethanol extract of the roots of Echinops latifolius Tausch. Their structures were identified on the basis of spectral data. Among them, 5-(3-hydroxmethyl-3-isovaleroyloxyprop-1-ynyl)-2,2'-bithiophene (6) is a new compound, and 5-(3-hydroxy-4-isovaleroyloxybut-1-ynyl)-2,2'-bithiophene (5) was isolated from this plant for the first time.

A new kaempferol glycoside, kaempferol-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside-7-O-alpha-L-arabinofuranoside (1), was isolated from the EtOH extract of Pyrrosiapetiolosa together with six known flavonoids already reported from the same plant. Structural elucidation was performed by means of physico-chemical methods including MS, and 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy.

A new ocotillol-type saponin (PGQ) has been semisynthesised from 20(S)-ginsenoside Rg3 for the first time, in with a yield of 73%, by oxidation and cyclisation of the side-chain. Its structure was characterised by IR, HR-MS, (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR, (1)H-(1)H COSY, DEPT, HMBC and HMQC spectroscopy as 3-O-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-2)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl]-dammar- 20S,24S-epoxy-3beta,12beta,25-triol (1). The saponin produced a beneficial effect on resuscitation of haemorrhagic shock as follows: first, it could significantly rise increased mean arterial pressure; second, it could increased blood oxygen content; third, it could markedly decreased serum lipoperoxidase and increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities. Thus, the saponin had the effect of an anti-haemorrhagic shock.

Two new prosapogenins, 16-O-acetyl-21-O-(4-angeloyl)-alpha-l-rhamnopyranosyl barringtogenol C (1), 28-O-beta-d-glucopyranosyl 16-deoxybarringtogenol C (2), were isolated from the acid hydrolyzate of the crude saponin obtained from the husks of Xanthoceras sorbifolia Bunge, along with six known triterpenoids. These structures were established on the basis of chemical and detailed spectral evidences. Compounds 1 and 2 showed cytotoxic activity against human cell lines (A375-S2, HeLa).