A New Minor Saponin from the Leaves of Panax ginseng

Seventeen compounds were isolated from the leaves of PANAX GINSENG C. A. Meyer. Among them, a new minor saponin was established as 3beta,6alpha,12beta-trihydroxy-dammar-20(22), 24-diene-6- O-alpha- L-rhamno-pyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta- D-glucopyranoside ( 2). Fourteen compounds were identified as 20( R)-protopanaxadiol ( 1), 20( R)-protopanaxatriol, ginsenoside-Rh (3), 20( R)-ginsenoside-Rh (2), 20( S)-ginsenoside-Rh (2), ginsenoside-Rh (1), -Rg (3), -Rg (2), -Rg (1), -Re, -Rd, -Rc, -Rb (2), -Rb (1); the others are still under investigation.