Saponin composition of the roots of Eryngium planum L. was investigated. Triterpene saponins found in E. planum and also present in Eryngium maritimum were different from those described previously in Eryngium campestre L. Three primary saponins were isolated and their tentative identifications, based on the electrospray MS/MS fragmentation patterns, were subsequently confirmed by 1D and 2D NMR analyses. Their structures were established as 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-β-D-glucuronopyranosyl-21-O-acetyl-22-O-angeloyl-R1-barrigenol (1) and 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-β-D-glucuronopyranosyl-22-O-angeloyl-A1-barrigenol (2) and 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-β-D-glucuronopyranosyl-22-O-angeloyl-R1-barrigenol (3). Concentrations of the newly identified compounds in aerial parts and roots of both species were estimated using the liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method.
Keywords: Eryngium; barrigenol; liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry; nuclear magnetic resonance; triterpene saponins.