New biologically active triterpenoid saponins from Scabiosa tschiliensis.

Eleven new triterpenoid saponins, scabiosaponins A-K (1-11), and hookerosides A (12) and B (13) were isolated from the whole plants of Scabiosa tschiliensis. The structures of the new compounds were established on the basis of extensive NMR (DEPT, DQF-COSY, HETCOR, TOCSY, HMQC, HMQC-TOCSY, HMBC, and NOESY) and MS studies coupled with chemical degradations. The biological activity of compounds 1-10, 12, and 13 and prosapogenin 1b were examined against pancreatic lipase. Scabiosaponins E, F, G, I (5, 6, 7, 9), hookerosides A, B (12, 13), and prosapogenin 1b all exhibited strong inhibition of pancreatic lipase in vitro.