and two new saponins named collinsonin and collinsonidin were isolated from the roots of Collinsonia canadensis. On the basis of chemical and spectral studies, the structure of collinsonin [2] has been established as 3-0-ot-L-arabinopyranosylcollinsogenin. 16-a-Hydroxyhederageni , obtained by the hydrolysis of 2, is a new sapogenin named collinsogenin [5]. Collinsonidin [6] has been identified as 3-0-3-D-glucopyranosyl-(l"|->3')--L-arabinopyranosy lhederagenin.Collinsonia canadensis L. (Labiatae) (common names: horse balm, rich weed, stone root, etc.) is native to North America and grows wild from Massachusetts and Vermont to Florida and Arkansas. A tincture of the roots is reported to be used as a tonic, diuretic, and household remedy for headaches and indigestion (1,2). No chemical work has been carried out earlier on the roots of C. canadensis. An EtOH extract of the powdered roots showed in vitro antifungal activity. Bioassay-directed fractionation led to the isolation of three pure compounds which were responsible for the in vitro antifungal activity of the crude EtOH extract. These compounds were found to be saponins, of which two are new. We report here the structure determination of these saponins based mainly on the *Hand 13C-nmr and ms data.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONOn the basis of the ms, 3Hand 13C-nmr spectral data, and elemental analysis (C35H5608), the first saponin was assigned the structure hederagenin-3-0-a-L-arabinopyranoside [!}. A literature search showed that saponin 1 has been isolated from several plant species, e.g., Akebia quínala Decne. (Lardizabalaceae), Falsía japónica Decne et OH 4 R=a-L-arabinopyranosyl, 22-OH 7 R=ß-D-glucopyranosyl-f l"i->4')-a-L-arabinopyranosyl 8 R= P-D-glucopyranosyl-( l"1->2')-a-L-arabinopyranosyl