Characterization of new sweet triterpene Saponins from Albizia myriophylla

Five new oleanane-type triterpene saponins, albiziasaponins A-E (1 - 5), were isolated from the stems of Albizia myriophylla collected in Thailand, together with two known triterpene saponins, licorice-saponin F3 and yLinganoside B-1. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated on the basis of chemical and physicochemical evidence. In addition, when sensory tests were performed on sweetness, albiziasaponin B (2), with a carbonyl group at the C-30 position, was found to show a potent sweetness intensity relative to sucrose (600 times).