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.

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).

Two new triterpenoids were isolated from the dried carpophore of Xanthoceras sorbifolia Bunge (Sapindaceae). By means of spectroscopic data (1D and 2D NMR, ESI-MS) and chemical evidence, their structures were established as 16-O-acetyl-21-O-(3',4'-di-O-angeloyl)-beta-D-fucopyranosyl theasapogenol B (1) and 3beta,23-dihyroxy-lup-20(29)en-28-oic acid -23-caffeate (2).

A new triterpenoid saponin, 3-O-[(3-O-alpha-l-arabinofuranosyl-2-O-beta-d-galactopyranosyl)-beta-d-glucuronopyranosyl]-21,22-di-O-angeloyl-R1-barrigenol (1), together with four known triterpenoids, have been isolated from the husks of Xanthoceras sorbifolia Bunge. Their structures were elucidated based on chemical and spectral analysis. Among them, 1 was found to have activity of inhibiting the proliferation of six human tumour cell lines (IC50 10-40 mug/ml).