Objective To study the steroidal saponins from the fresh rhizome of Dioscorea zingiberensis and search for new bioactive compounds.MethodsMethods The steroidal saponins were isolated by normal phase silica gel and RP-C₍₁₈₎column chromatography.Their chemical structures were elucidated by IR,MS,and NMR methods.Results Three steroidal saponins were isolated from EtOH extract of the fresh rhizome of D.zingiberensis and identified as gracillin(Ⅰ),zingiberenin A(Ⅱ),and 26-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-3β, 26-diol-25(R)-furosta-5,20(22)-dien-3-O-{α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→4)-[β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-β- D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)]}-β-glucopyranoside,Ⅲ).Conclusion CompoundⅢis a new compound named as zingiberenin G.

江苏省发改委2004年度省级产业技术研究和开发资金资助。