Three new triterpenoid saponins with acetylated saccharides, named rubicunosides B(2), C(3), D(4), were isolated from the roots of Silene rubicunda and characterized on the basis of spectral evidence as 3-O- β-D-galactopyranosyl-(1→2)-[β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→3)]-β-D- glucuronopyranosyl quillaic acid 28-O-β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→3)-β-D- xylopyranosyl-(1→4)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→4)-[β-D-glucopyranosyl- (1→4')-β-D-quinovopyranosyl-(1→2)]-[3'-OAc]-β-D-fucopyranoside (2), 3-O-β-D-galactopyranosyl-(1→2)-[β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→3)]-β-D -glucuronopyranosyl quillaic acid 28-O-β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→4)-α-L- rhamnopyranosyl-(1→4)-[4"-OAc-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)]-β-D- Afucopyranoside (3), and 3-O-β-D-galactopyranosyl-(1→2)-[β-D- xylopyranosyl-(1→3)]-[6'-O-n-butyl]-β-D-glucuronopyranosyl quillaic acid 28-O-β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→3)-β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→4)-α-L- rhamnopyranosyl-(1→4)-[2"-OAc-β-D-quinovopyranosyl-(1→2)]-[3'-OAc]- β-D-fucopyranoside (4), respectively.

Key words: INFRARED SPECTROPHOTOMETRY, SAPONINS, MASS SPECTROGRAPHY, NMR SPECTROMETRY, CARYOPHYLLACEAE