[Saponins of anemarrhenae rhizoma]

Three steroidal saponins 3, 4 and 5a were newly isolated from Anemarrhenae Rhizoma. Compounds 3 and 4 were identical with desgalactotigonin and F-gitonin, respectively. Compound 5a was established as (25S)-26-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-22-hydroxy-5 beta-furostane-3 beta,26-diol 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1----2)-O-beta-D-galactopyranoside on the basis of chemical and spectroscopic evidence.