Chemical Constituents from Rhizomes of Smilax china Linn.

12 compounds are isolated from the rhizomes of Smilax china Linn. by various column chromatographic methods,including open column and preparative HPLC. Their structures are elucidated as( 2R,3R)- dihydrokaempferol- 3- O- β- D- glucopyranoside( 1),( 2R,3R)- dihydroquercetin- 3- O- β- D- glucopyranoside( 2),astilbin( 3),isoastilbin( 4),3,5,7,3',5'- pentahydroxy-( 2R,3R)- flavanonol- 3-O- α- L- rhamnopyranoside( 5),rutin( 6),astragalin( 7),4,6- dihydroxy- 2- O-( β- D- glucopyranosyl) acetophenone( 8),methyl 2- O- β- D- glucopyranosyl- 2,4,6- trihydroxybenzoate( 9),oxyresveratrol( 10),protodioscin( 11),dioscin( 12) by spectral analysis as well as physical and chemical properties. Compounds 1,4- 5,7- 9 are obtained from S. china for the first time. In addition,based on the contrast of chemical constituents between Smilax china Linn. and Smilax glabra Roxb.,it is concluded that steroid saponins and flavonoids are the major chemical constituents of S. china,while S. glabra holds flavonoids as the major chemical constituents.