A cyclolanostene-type triterpene and 3 of its saponins, were isolated from the acid-hydrolyzate of the mixture of saponins of Mussaenda pubesecus. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of chem. and UV, IR, 1H, 13C NMR, and mass spectral evidence. The triterpene was identified as heinsiagenin A (I, R = H), a recently, reported new cyclolanostene-type triterpene with a g-lactone attached at its 27-amide group. The saponins were identified as I [R = b-D-glucopyranosyl, b-D-xylopyranosyl, b-D-glucopyranosyl-(1?)-b-D-xylopyranosyl], named mussaendoside A, B, and C, resp.

Key words: ULTRAVIOLET SPECTROPHOTOMETRY, LACTONES, INFRARED SPECTROPHOTOMETRY, SAPONINS, MASS SPECTROGRAPHY, NMR SPECTROMETRY, GLYCOSIDE, TRITERPENE, CONTRACEPTIVE, XYLOSE