Pseudo-ginsenoside

In our previous papers, we reported the identification and structure elucidation of twenty-four known saponins and fourteen new saponins named vina-ginsenosides -R1 — R14 which were isolated from the underground part of P. vietnamensis. We now summarize the result of our further study on the saponin composition of Vietnamese ginseng, which led to the isolation and structure elucidation of two known saponins, pseudo-ginsenoside-RCi (1) and gypenoside-IX (2), and ten new dammarane saponins named vina-ginsenosides-Rl5 — R24 (3 -12, respectively). 

A Chinese-Japanese cooperative chemical study 104) of the rhizomes of this plant from Zhaotong, Yunnan at 2100m led to isolation of the oleanolic acid saponins, G-IV, C-IVa, and C-V in yields of 3.4, 2.8, and 3.1%. In this respect, then Zhujie-shen is very similar to Japanese Chikusetsu-ninjin. However, the composition of the dammarane saponin fraction of Zhujie-shen which consisted of Rd (0.04% yield). Re (0.12%), Rgi(0.15%), Rg (0.05%), NG-R2(0.02%, see Chapter VIII-2, Table II) and pseudo-ginsenoside-Fii (PG-Fn, 0.04%, an ocotillol-type saponin from leaves of Himalayan Panax and also from leaves of American Ginseng, see Chapter IX-2), was significantly different from that of the Japanese plant. 

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