ABSTRACT
A methanolic extract of Flos puerariae thomsonii (the flowers of P. thomsonii) was separated by Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography to obtain the total saponin fraction. Similarly, the total saponin fraction from Flos puerariae lobatae was prepared. After repeated silica gel chromatography of the total saponin fraction from Flos puerariae thomsonii, saponins 1, 18 and 19 were obtained (Kinjo et al., 1999b) and were identified as Soyasaponin I, Kaikasaponin III, and Kakkasaponin I, respectively (Figure 12.1). Kaikasaponin III (18) was also found to be the major saponins in the leaves of P. lobata (Kinjo et al., 1988).
