Abstract: Traditional Chinese Medicine “zhonglou”(Paris polyphylla) is the important medicine used to treat traumatism. A new steroidal saponin, together with four known steroidal saponins, was isolated from the rhizoma of Paris polyphylla. The structure of the new steroidal saponin, named Paripolyside A was elucidated as 24-O-β-D-galactopylanosyl-(23S,24S)-spirosta-5, 25(27)-diene-1β,3β,23, 24-tetrol-1-O-β-D-xylopylanosyl(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranosyl(1→3)[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1→2)]-β-D-glucopyranoside mainly by using 1D, 2D NMR techniques, ESI-MS analysis as well as chemical methods.

Key words: Paris polyphylla, Active composition, Steroidal saponin