Triterpenoid saponins from Bupleurum smithii var. parvifolium

Four triterpenoidal saponins, prosaikogenin A and saikosaponins b1, n and o, were isolated from the roots of the title plant for the first time. Saikosaponin O is a new compound, which was identified as 3 beta,16 beta,23,28-tetrahydroxyolean-11,12(18)-diene-3-O-beta-D-glucopy ran osyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1--> 6)-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)]-beta-D-glucopyranoside.