Triterpene Saponins from Debittered Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) Seeds

Twelve triterpene saponins have been isolated from the debittered seeds of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa), and their structures were characterized on the basis of hydrolysis and spectral data, especially NMR evidence. Among them, three compounds, including 3-O-β-d-glucuropyranosyl oleanolic acid (1), 3-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-α-l-arabinopyranosyl hederagenin (2), and the new compound 3-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-α-l-arabinopyranosyl-30-O-methyl spergulagenate 28-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl ester (3), are identified for the first time from quinoa seeds. The other isolated saponins have been previously reported in quinoa. Keywords: Quinoa seeds; Chenopodium quinoa; triterpene saponins; NMR